Businessman Todd Boehly, who recently took over Chelsea Football Club, has suggested that the Premier League should take more inspiration from across the pond and consider a North vs South All-Star game.
Speaking at the annual SALT conference in New York earlier this week, the US entrepreneur said, “I hope the Premier League takes “a little bit of a lesson from American sports”, posing the questions: “Why wouldn’t we do a tournament with the bottom four teams? Why isn’t there an All-Star game?”
#𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗡𝗬 has got a bit of everything. #ChelseaFC chairman Todd Boehly offers a fascinating glimpse into his global vision for the English Premier League club. pic.twitter.com/wa9aBHuGKe
Aside from the immediate whiplash reaction to the comments, many football fans online have been left divided, and although some instantly rejected the idea for simply not aligning with the identity of UK football, others are now debating the pros and cons.
Whether they had specific reasons in mind or not, it’s clear that plenty have been allured by the Hollywood-esque appeal of the proposal.
Some already have suggestions as to how it could work.
North vs. South isn't the answer though. Just tweak the current NBA formula — vote for the top 30 or whatever (maybe put some limit on players per club), two top vote getters become captains and they pick the teams playground style.
How could a North vs South All-Star game benefit the football pyramid?
Boehly’s foremost argument was the revenue it would generate for the league and all the way down to grassroots football, insisting that “you could do a North vs South All-Star game in the Premier League and fund whatever the pyramid needed very easily”.
He cited Major League Baseball’s (MLB) recent All-Star game which generated $200 million in just two days. In addition to the increased parachute payments which would benefit lower league teams, it goes without saying that special events like these would no doubt bring more eyes to the Premier League – especially from the US, where the popularity of football is growing every year.
ADVERTISEMENT
Moreover, not only could this present the possibility of more American investment and sponsorships, but some people believe the annual exhibition would be more interesting that the FA Community Shield – which many already see as a largely inconsequential pre-season friendly.
So what are your teams north vs south? Scrap the community shield and have it as a curtain raiser for the season. Semi competitive with players showing flair. What would the football version of a slam dunk and 3 point shootout contest be though?😂
All that being said, it’s worth noting that US sporting culture is very much based around franchising – a model which has seen teams go so far as to uproot and move cities entirely and simply would not fly in the UK given how closely linked clubs are to our local communities.
Of course, this is not to say that more transatlantic investors would necessarily mean football would be Americanised in this way, but if the Super League has taught us anything, it’s that we need to proceed with caution.
ADVERTISEMENT
Both Manchester United and Liverpool’s American owners were two of the biggest ringleaders behind the failed proposal which threatened not only the spirit of competition, but the footballing pyramid as a whole and could have led to entire clubs, north or south, ceasing to exist.
With that in mind, many on social media are much more hesitant, regardless of how tempting it might be to see how quickly a team full of the best United, City, Liverpool, Everton players and more would turn over a southern side.
Spoilers: they would.
I am very much against the Americanisation of our game but there’s no denying a North vs South Premier League all-star game would be a fantastic watch.
Love Todd Boehly telling us the Premier League needs to learn from American sports. The last time American owners decided to teach us about American sports, they tried to drag us into a European Super League and we needed a fan uprising to stop it.
Several have also noted that even beyond messy details like TV rights and the corporate scramble to see who gets the next blockbuster fixture, events like this could also create significant scheduling conflicts in a season already overly-congested compared to much of Europe and the US.
At best, he's very naive but I find it a bit arrogant to assume that because something works in the US you can do the same thing in a completely different country and sporting culture. It'd be best for him if he just kept his head down for a while and stopped talking
Following their Champions League victory on Wednesday night, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp laid out his feelings on the idea in no uncertain terms, quipping: “He hasn’t waited long!… Does he want to bring the Harlem Globetrotters as well?”
ADVERTISEMENT
As he went on to argue: “It’s completely different in America… they have four-month breaks’ and while it might be commonplace among their sports franchising model, he’s ‘not sure people want to see that.”
🗣 "He forgets in the big sports in America, they have four month breaks. Does he want to bring the Harlem Globetrotters as well?"
Jurgen Klopp's response to Todd Boehly's idea of a north vs south "All Star" game pic.twitter.com/hpb03mUMFU
It will be interesting to see what the likes of Pep Guardiola and Erik ten Hag have to say on the matter as the two will undoubtedly face similar questions as the two Manchester clubs prepare for their European games in the next 48 hours.
Gary Neville, who has long called for an independent regulator to vet potential takeover bids, believes that rumblings like this only further pay further credence, adding that US investors ‘just don’t get it’ and won’t stop until they get what they want.
I keep saying it but the quicker we get the Regulator in the better. US investment into English football is a clear and present danger to the pyramid and fabric of the game. They just don’t get it and think differently. They also don’t stop till they get what they want! 🛑
Would a North vs South match be a worthwhile watch, or would it signify football as we know it moving even further away from its roots than perhaps it already has?
Featured Image: Premier League
Sport
Global governing body officially recognises Super League Basketball in positive push for the British game
Danny Jones
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the global governing body for professional basketball, has officially recognised the UK’s Super League Basketball competition.
Formerly known as the British Basketball League, our domestic division has been through quite a turbulent time over the past couple of years, with teams disbanding, rebranding, and the organisation being completely overhauled from the ground up.
One of those in question was our very own local team, now known simply as Manchester Basketball, along with several other teams changing names, badges and more in line with the ‘new dawn’ for pro ball in our country.
Despite the second season of SLB being well underway, this latest chapter has still had a fair amount of teething problems and significant obstacles, with FIBA having previously suspended the British Basketball Federation’s (BBF) from licensing domestic men’s club competitions earlier this year.
Super League Basketball (SLB) is proud to announce that FIBA, the global governing body of basketball, has officially recognised SLB.
It continues: “This landmark decision marks a significant breakthrough for the sport across the UK and allows SLB and its member clubs to accelerate ambitious plans to nurture talent, enhance venues, and expand the top-tier league’s reach both domestically and internationally.
“Crucially, FIBA’s recognition also lifts the ban on Great Britain’s men’s national team competing on the international stage.”
As a result, they go on to explain that the league will now play “a pivotal role in the staging of Great Britain’s FIBA World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers fixture on 27 November” – which also serves as a huge plus for elite national programmes, both male and female.
Sanjay Bhandari MBE, who is currently serving as the Interim Independent Chair of Super League Basketball, commented: “We have been working quietly and diligently to secure a sustainable and positive pathway for top-flight basketball in the UK.
“We extend our thanks to the leaders of FIBA’s Task Force for their cooperation and continued support throughout this process. Together, we have reached a solution that gives our clubs the confidence they deserve and provides our fans with peace of mind after a challenging period for the sport…
“FIBA’s recognition is transformative and means that our plans to drive SLB forward as an ambitious, high-growth sports organisation can progress at pace. We look ahead with excitement as we work closely with FIBA, UK Sport and government to ensure the sport achieves the success it deserves across all areas.” With the latest campaign having tipped off in September, they’ve stood tall and steadfast.
The decision comes after a task force with dispatched by FIBA to consult with relevant SLB stakeholders and sporting authorities, which the result being an outcome that benefited both parties: i.e. the body recognising that they represent the best course for “safeguarding the stability and integrity of the sport.”
Sharing their own comment on the watershed breakthrough, FIBA added: “To ensure the stability and continuity of top-tier men’s basketball in Great Britain during this period of suspension, FIBA has entered into a direct recognition agreement with Super League Basketball.
“This agreement provides a framework for the organisation and governance of domestic competitions while preserving regulatory integrity.”
“FIBA, through its Task Force, will continue to work closely with BBF and all relevant stakeholders, including UK Sport and the UK Government, to support BBF in becoming a self-sustaining organisation and to secure the long-term stability and growth of men’s basketball in Great Britain.”
We’re glad this long, drawn-out period of uncertainty has wrapped up in plenty of good time for the competition to now focus on the fast-approaching finals early next year. It’s also a nice bonus that they’re happening right here in Greater Manchester.
We’ve got a new favourite TV show: Erling Haaland’s YouTube channel
Danny Jones
In a world packed with so many different streaming platforms that it can be hard to keep track of which new phenomenon is on what, or even what subscriptions you have, we’re glad to inform you that there’s a new show you can watch for free in the form of Erling Haaland’s YouTube channel.
No, seriously: now Traitors is over, it might just be our latest obsession.
First and foremost, it’s worth noting that in a climate of largely media-trained professional athletes, we always find characters like Erling Haaland refreshing – primarily because he’s an unapologetic but still inoffensive footballer who pretty much does and says whatever he wants, both on the pitch and off.
Including (judging just off the first two episodes alone) cooking and eating steak in the Manchester rain, dressing up like the Joker, talking about how much he loves milk, and chasing his childhood sweetheart through his rather large home.
Ironically, this isn’t technically his debut as a so-called ‘influencer’, having previously released self-made videos of him rapping as ateenager. Yes, it exists.
Nevertheless, now with a proper camera crew behind him and in a much more content-rich stage in his life as one of the most famous sporting personalities on the planet.
Haaland has gone from not only one of the most exciting young players on the planet, to developing an even bigger celebrity profile since arriving in Manchester and the Premier League at large, becoming a persona-led brand in his own right.
The 25-year-old son of former Blue, Alf-Inge Haaland, was always going to be a popular figure among City supporters, but it says quite a lot that other football fans, even from rival clubs, find it hard to find him anything other than personable, funny and fascinating at times.
You only have to look at the reactions to his conveniently timed Halloween episode, where he dressed up as a famous Batman villain and went around Manchester ‘in disguise’. If you can’t spot the big blonde Norwegian number nine in a crowd, then you’re probably too late for Specsavers, to be honest.
You haven’t lived until you’ve seen Haaland as the Joker doing kick-ups – so head to his YouTube and tick that off now.
We’re not entirely sure what motivated him to kickstart these high-production value videos now, but we’re not complaining; already, it’s given us more laughs, whether intentional or not, than most run-of-the-mill sitcoms.
It goes without saying that we can’t wait to see what he drums up after the big win against Liverpool, in which he delivered yet again, netting his 14th goal in just 11 Premier League appearances this season.
We particularly enjoyed how he chose to celebrate scoring against his former club, Borussia Dortmund, in the Champions League this month: by heading to Chinatown, seemingly for not only some Pho Cue but for a special late-night trip to Fat Pats, too.
For now, until we get the next instalment of our new and hopefully regularly scheduled Haaland YouTube programming, please enjoy that video of him spitting bars as a teen…
Bodo/Glimt's Erik Botheim dismantled AS Roma with couple of goals and three assists.
Danny Jones -
14th September 2022 
