New Chelsea boss Todd Boehly has caused a stir by proposing a ludicrous all-star game between the northern and southern Premier League squads.
The superstar smackdown would, apparently, generate hundreds of millions for the overall footballing pyramid and benefit clubs outside the top-flight.
Boehly stated he wants the Premier League to look at American sports for inspiration and pointed to the success of the MLB All-Star Game as evidence his idea is a good one. The Chelsea boss stated:
‘“People are talking about more money for the pyramid; in the MLB All-Star game this year we made $200m from a Monday and a Tuesday. So we’re thinking we could do a North versus South All-Star game for the Premier League, for whatever the pyramid needed quite easily.”
LORD PING: FOR OPINIONATED PLAYES
Boehly Comments Laughable
I don’t know about you, but I think Boehly should watch what he says. I admire the man (and I’m sure he admires me, too) but this all-star idea is borderline laughable. For starters, our beloved Premier League attracts far more worldwide viewers than Major League Baseball, and the revenues from the two leagues aren’t at all comparable. One has a huge following in its native country, whilst the other is enjoyed all over the globe.
The suggestion was, as you’d expect, derided by those within the football community. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp stated ‘’When he finds a date for that he can call me. In American sports these players have four-month breaks. Does he want to bring the Harlem Globetrotters as well?’’
Klopp has hit the nail on the head there. Boehly may be a great businessman, but his understanding of our national game is woefully out of touch. There is neither the time nor demand for an all-star game anytime soon, and the fixture has never been a part of the football diet. We see all-star matches every week in the Premier League, with elite sides like Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal battling it out for supremacy.
Fans Must Protect Our Game
Todd Boehly’s idea comes only a year after the proposal of the European Super League - a proposition that threatened to strip the game of all its meritocracy and give unfair advantages to those deemed high and mighty enough to enter it. We, as fans, must protect our game from corporate greed and continue to make our voices heard. The new Chelsea boss certainly hasn’t hit a home run with his all-star suggestion, and perhaps I should talk some sense into him.
The new-look Chelsea FC attracted headlines in early September by sacking Thomas Tuchel only a year after the German guided the club to Champions League glory. Boehly has promised big things for Blues fans, though his outrageous proposal has led to some questioning his knowledge of the beautiful game.
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