By J Hutcherson (Jun 1, 2021) US Soccer Players - A few weeks ago, La Liga announced that it would move its broadcast rights in the United States from beIN Sport to ESPN, beginning with the 2021-22 season. The move required La Liga to buy back their broadcast rights in the US market since beIN Sports held them through 2023-24. The ESPN deal represents a bigger platform, even if it's one crowded by . . .
What did we learn from the 2020-21 European soccer season?
By J Hutcherson (May 25, 2021) US Soccer Players - There's a difference between what we learned and what we think we learned from European soccer during the 2020-21 season. The big picture takeaway is that the game survived without the event revenue from tickets, concessions, and merchandise. The quicker takeaway is that a dozen of Europe's biggest clubs decided that they should be in control of . . .
Is the NFL the Premier League’s biggest competitor?
By J Hutcherson (May 18, 2021) US Soccer Players - Last week, the National Football League continued its run as always newsworthy by announcing the 2021 schedule. It includes two games in London, with the league resuming its International Series. The NY Jets play Atlanta on October 10, with Miami vs Jacksonville the following Sunday. Tottenham's stadium is hosting both games, built with NFL-style . . .
Infantino asks about salary caps
By J Hutcherson (May 11, 2021) US Soccer Players - If you're looking for the European equivalent of talking about promotion and relegation as an answer to American soccer's problems, it might be salary caps. Except in Europe, the people most likely doing that talking are already in positions of power. For example, FIFA president Gianni Infantino. In an interview with AS circulated across other . . .
Mourinho’s move to Roma
By J Hutcherson (May 4, 2021) US Soccer Players - One of the obvious issues with any concept of a super league is who gets left out. The quick demise of The Super League means we never learned the names of the remaining clubs. We don't know who might have been enticed by a new version of European soccer. Bayern Munich and PSG were quick to distance themselves. So was AS Roma, releasing a statement . . .
Will The Super League collapse change European soccer?
By J Hutcherson (Apr 27, 2021) US Soccer Players - It's hard to believe that something that seemed crucial just a week ago is now not much more than a punchline. Imagine the business school instructor trying to use The Super League as a case study a few years from now. "So after an initial leak during Sunday's games, the whole thing was over in 48 hours. Somehow, it involved governments, fans, and . . .
Finally, it’s a Super League
By J Hutcherson (Apr 20, 2021) US Soccer Players - As so many have pointed out over the last 48 hours, the European club soccer model has been in extended flux since the early 90s. The creation of the Premier League and UEFA turning the European Cup into the Champions League started a direct path to what's happening right now. I once wrote a multi-part series called "The Shadow of the Super . . .
MLS and the money league
By J Hutcherson (Apr 13, 2021) US Soccer Players - The idea of a league constantly changing is still relatively new, but it quickly became the hallmark for Major League Soccer. Whether or not you wanted to buy into the league of the future, league of choice, or whatever else officials pushed, there was no doubting change. MLS moves forward with the idea that nothing is off the table, at least in . . .
Squad rotation, fixture congestion, and competitive imbalance
By J Hutcherson (Apr 6, 2021) US Soccer Players - Speaking after the Premier League win at Leicester City on Saturday, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola became the latest to ask a simple question. Why is it alright to compress the schedule and obligate players across multiple competitions for club and country? In Guardiola's more concise version, it's a simple statement. "They are human . . .
UEFA may be pushing for even more change
By J Hutcherson (Mar 30, 2021) US Soccer Players - It's probably easier to look at what might not be changing in the way European club soccer runs. We already knew about the various ideas for revamping the Champions League, the threat of a super league, and FIFA's push for a bigger Club World Cup. Now, there are reports that UEFA is considering doing away with Financial Fair Play. That comes at a . . .
