Pitch Imperfect: European Super League, 2021
The game’s gone.
Never before has the world of football been in a state of utter disarray and shock. Just a few days ago, a bombshell report rocked the billions around the globe who love the sport to their core: 15 of the most storied and prestigious clubs in Europe were locked in as permanent members in the league, immune to non-participation even as performance might falter. So often has the planet united around its beautiful game that this perceived betrayal has sent shockwaves around the continent, dividing many. The breakaway incorporation of the European Super League in April 2021 has faced immediate backlash from not only the fans of the 15 constituent teams that it was to represent, but all fans of the sport itself. To them–and seemingly every major body that holds any clout–, it betrays the grassroots essence of the sport in service of unchecked greed. Yet, to its defenders it is the only way out of historic financial difficulties and archaic regulations facing Europe’s upper echelons of sport; La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1 have been heavily impacted by the COVID pandemic, trapped in a spending “arms race,” and facing decreasing broadcasting revenues. The relative domestic dominance of the constituent teams beckoned a higher challenge with far greater rewards than domestic league competition could ever promise.
Delegates will be forced to climb the mountain to establish the Super League as a formidable venture in the vast world of Club Football while recapturing their angry fanbases, or risk total financial annihilation. As managers and presidents of clubs from across Europe, pairs of delegates will navigate this crisis from the locker room to the boardroom, from Lisbon to Kyiv, from Madeira to Manchester. Failure looms in the form of ungodly sums of money invested in the venture and innumerable contractual commitments. Put simply, abandonment is not an option.
In our timeline, the Super League died a quick death in the cradle, doomed to ignominy and obscurity. However, given the chance of a do-over, delegates will have to fight tooth and nail to establish a new status quo, as the game evidently can’t go on like this. Enemies will become friends, and vice versa. Given an ultimatum, will delegates choose to compromise and make deals, or set their own path forward, free of the burdens of governmental bodies? It is up to the delegates to save football, but is the current form of the sport even deserving of being saved?
This will be a double-delegate committee.
Ethan Garcia
Chair
Ethan is a fourth-year majoring in Political Science and Economics. Originally from New Jersey, he transferred into Chicago his second year. Ethan has also served as the Chair of Mexico 1946: Un Partido Muchos Fuegos (Bilingual) at ChoMUN XXIX, and ACed for UNSC: Libya 2014 at ChoMUN XXVII.
Ethan’s passion for international relations extends outside MUN, as he also researches for the Chicago Project on Security and Threats, and is a director for the Society for IR. Ethan also enjoys running and music.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out via email: garciae@uchicago.edu.
Felipe Ruiz
Crisis director
Felipe is a third-year majoring in Law, Letters, and Society. He was born and raised in New York City. Prior to being an Exec for (insert committee name), Felipe served as the Chair of Sack of Rome at ChoMUN XXIX and ACed for UNSC: Libya 2014 at ChoMUN XXVII. He is also involved with UChicago’s travel team, aptly named TEAM along with being the USG of Crisis for MUNUC, UChicago’s high school MUN conference.
Outside of MUN, Felipe loves to explore Chicago with friends, go running (hopefully the Chicago marathon accepts his application!), and play sports, whether it be through intramurals or on a whim. He is also a foodie, and has a Beli which you all can follow for terrific restaurant recs or to provide your own recs (@feliperuiz)!
If you have any questions about the committee (or general ones), please reach out to him at faruiz@uchicago.edu.
Zachary Kraska
crisis director
Zachary is a third-year student at the University of Chicago majoring in Economics and Data Science. Originally from Pennsylvania, he is passionate about sports and enjoys watching baseball, basketball, and football, soccer, especially the New York Yankees.
Outside of academics and sports, he also enjoys historical documentaries and films, especially those focused on major world events and leadership throughout history.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out via email: zkraska@uchicago.edu.
Secretariat oversight:
Ahmed bransi, under-secretary-general