On Saturday at 5:30 pm UK time, Bayern Munich will host Borussia Dortmund in what promises to be a highly anticipated match between two of the top teams in the Bundesliga. Meanwhile, the Premier League's 3 pm kick-offs, which include matches such as Nottingham Forest vs Wolves, Bournemouth vs Fulham, and Crystal Palace vs Leicester City, will be coming to a close.
On the surface, the Bundesliga clash between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund may seem like the more appealing match, but the reality is that the Premier League is quickly becoming the European super league. Despite winning their 10th successive Bundesliga last year, Bayern earned only £79 million (€90 million) in broadcasting and central commercial payments from the league.
In contrast, even bottom-placed Norwich in the Premier League earned £100 million in broadcasting and central commercial payments. This means that coming last in the Premier League pays better than winning the Bundesliga, Serie A or Ligue 1, and even the amounts earned by Real Madrid and Barcelona from La Liga are less than any of the Premier League's big six.
In fact, the Premier League now has 11 of the 20 wealthiest clubs in the world, according to Deloitte's latest Football Money League report, which predicts that all 20 Premier League clubs could soon be among the world's 30 wealthiest clubs. This year, nine of the 10 biggest spenders in European football are from England, solidifying the Premier League's position as the new European super league, despite the fact that there is no official European Super League.
In summary, the article argues that the financial dominance of the Premier League is increasingly translating into sporting dominance, as the league continues to outstrip its European counterparts in terms of revenue, both domestically and overseas.
Despite lagging behind in recent years in European competitions, the article suggests that this trend is likely to reverse in the longer term, as the Premier League's financial muscle enables it to attract the best players and coaches from around the world. Ultimately, the article suggests that this could lead to a situation in which the Premier League becomes the undisputed global powerhouse of football, leaving other leagues struggling to keep up.
It seems that the Premier League's financial dominance is set to continue, with experts such as sports lawyer Jake Cohen predicting that the gap between the Premier League and other European leagues will only continue to grow. Cohen also believes that the Premier League has yet to fully tap into the US market, which could further increase its revenue and global influence.
In conclusion, the financial power of the Premier League, driven by its global appeal and lucrative overseas broadcasting deals, is likely to continue to grow, making it the dominant force in European football.
However, the league could face challenges from a potential independent regulator in English football or UEFA's Financial Sustainability Regulations, which could limit spending. La Liga's president has criticized the Premier League's financial model, calling it "unsustainable" and "financial doping." The Premier League's competitiveness has been boosted by owner investment, but the question of who should be allowed to own clubs remains.
The Bundesliga's ownership rule is also a potential threat to the Premier League's dominance. In the global sports landscape, football is unique in having major leagues compete against each other for supremacy, but the Premier League's financial power is increasingly making it look like the top league while others slip further behind.
While the Premier League has no need for a Super League, it could represent the best hope of quelling the league's dominance for the continental elite.