5
Shambolic death of Democracy
Soccer is a game. Or soccer was a game. The past was glorious, the present is satisfactory, while the future looks gloomy. On the European stage, corporate greed now seems to dictate. Great nights are numbered. Democracy is DEAD...
I just cannot relieve myself of these inner-feelings of anger. St. Patrick's Athletic won the title in glorious fashion last season. Colin Hawkins played an integral role in this success. He was playing for the club because he "wanted to play in Europe". A starring role was played by the Galway man in this superb breakthrough into European competition. Now, I wonder why he is even bothered about Europe.
Firstly, Saint Patrick's Athletic are champions of the Republic of Ireland. The very same as Barcelona are the champions of Spain. So when these clubs champion their leagues, they obviously enter the European Champions League. Well, okay, there are but 32 teams allowed in, hence the winners of all the National Leagues contest among each other to earn a rightful entrance into this European Champions League.
No, I am afraid that is not the case. The present set-up must be in the running for the most farcial design engineered by people at such a high power in any sport. Take this into account:
What is going on? How can the injustice continue? Why have our representatives to play 6 games to gain access to a league which allows several "second bests" in automatically? The current mish-mash is absolutely shameful. It is nothing short of a disgrace what is going on. Have the authorities ever established the crookedness of their ways? Did these supposedly intelligent people ever hear of one man-one vote?
It is a sad scenario. This potentially super competition had 24 teams in it last year. This season, it was decided to add in 8 more clubs. And the essential result of this will be the same amount of nations represented with the fundamental alteration of more representatives per country. Addying in some smaller clubs of course could hardly occur. Think of it: "Oh yeah, er..ah..am...ye smaller teams..yeh...ye now have a more difficult task." "But there are now 8 more teams!", cry the smaller clubs to deaf ears.
I have no need to tell all of you that the English team Manchester United won the Champions League last year. I researched this, and solve this one: How does a team prove victorious in a European Champions League without winning any competition the season prior? My, my, my.
I would suggest to these idiots to change the name of the "competition". Something like "The League of Eight Nations", then again do eight nations even get represented! It is a sad scenario and can only fuel more passion in all of us to cheer on Saint Patrick's Athletic to glory, and we shall see all of this would ruin their plans for the crippling of the smaller clubs. I am scared and very scared that all these atrocious alterations are leading to an even more corrupt "competition", namely the inaptly titled "SUPER LEAGUE". Us fans must roar from the roof tops and make our views heard. They may be heard. They will not be heeded.
* The Champions of the Republic of Ireland have to defeat 3 teams, over 2 legs each time, to gain entry into a European Champions League.
* The Champions of Germany gain automatic access into the Champions League.
* The team that comes SECOND in Germany gain automatic entry into the Champions League.
* The 3rd best team in England have to overcome one team to enter the Champions League.