The English Super League: a defining moment for a future King

As the outpouring of grief and outrage grows in Britain over the mutiny of 4 of its jewels from the EPL. We can imagine one man having a quiet moment to recover from the shock of the moment. And weighing the options left to him.

The man is Prince William. Believed by some the heir apparent to the throne of England. William is head of the British component of UEFA which currently runs football in Europe. And, therefore, head of an organization facing ruination at the professional fan level. And ruination at the junior development level.

For angry British fans the optics are clear: rich foreigners, driven by greed, want to ruin our professional game and the amateur developmental leagues under it. And we’re not having it.

Stakeholders in the existing architecture will be looking to William and the English Football Association for answers where there may be few.

And they will look to him to stand with them through a storm of public controversy and recriminations. No doubt, the fact that three of the four departing teams are owned by foreign billionaires (Manchester United; Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC) will no doubt be featured in these recriminations. So, the scope of the storm would be international. And might even raise questions about whether the government should intervene in such matters. As a matter of public interest.

Historically, Royals are admonished from involving themselves in political issues such as this.

But because so many Britons and ordinary citizens identify with the game of football, the head of the nation’s football association is obliged to take this on.

Even if that person happens to be the heir to the British throne.