The recent talk about the creation of a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/european-super-league-set-to-attempt-relaunch-in-2024-20221019-WST-404971.html">European Super League</a> in soccer mirrors European basketball over the last two decades. 



Real Madrid, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/joan-laporta-wants-super-league-to-replace-champions-league-20221009-WST-403533.html">Barcelona</a>, Juventus and other clubs continue to pioneer the plan for the competition. In that case, European soccer could very easily wind up with the same look as basketball in Europe. It is not entirely a pretty picture.



Here is a look at basketball’s structure in Europe with a brief history of how we got to this point:



<h5>Today’s European basketball structure</h5>



Currently, there are four continental competitions for basketball in Europe.



<ul><li>EuroLeague (18 teams)</li><li>EuroCup (20 teams)</li><li>Champions League (52 teams)</li><li>Europe Cup (47 teams)</li></ul>



The first two competitions, EuroLeague &amp; EuroCup are controlled by EuroLeague Basketball. Meanwhile, FIBA Europe controls the other two. There are, of course, national leagues, domestic cup competitions and regional leagues, too. 



But, for the purposes of comparing how a future structure of European soccer may look, let’s concentrate on the four continental competitions.



<h5>How did we get here</h5>



The top of the basketball pyramid is FIBA. It is the equivalent of FIFA in soccer. FIBA EUROPE is the arm of FIBA that regulates the game in Europe. Think UEFA overseeing European soccer as a connection to FIFA. FIBA originally established the FIBA European Champions Cup in 1958. In 1996, this competition took on the name EuroLeague in 1996. 



After the 1999-2000 season, nine clubs broke away from FIBA to create a new league. To add insult to injury for FIBA, they never trademarked the name EuroLeague. The breakaway league quickly adopted this name. 



The reason for the breakaway is exactly that which we are witnessing today in European soccer. Select teams brought in more money, and they wanted assurances that they could be in a top, money-making competition without relying on qualifying through league position. Two of those members align with the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/uefa-and-fifa-cant-block-european-super-league-court-rules-20230131-WST-417717.html">European Super League</a> in soccer, Real Madrid and Barcelona.



What followed for the next 2 decades was threats, sanctions and a division of basketball that left fans confused, angry &amp; many never returning to the arenas they once occupied.



<h5>EuroLeague Today</h5>



Today’s EuroLeague operates under the ULEB umbrella, originally formed in 1991 by French, Italian &amp; Spanish clubs. It is very similar to the European Club Association. Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli was the President of the ECA, and he was a leading proponent of the European Super League. 



The EuroLeague has 18 teams, 12 of which have long term licenses. The other six work under one- and two-year licenses. It’s become a complicated semi-closed league structure today. It even introduced a promotion/relegation system. 



In 2002, ‘EuroLeague Basketball’ created a new competition called the ULEB Cup, now known as the EuroCup. The top 2 teams each season in the EuroCup are given one-year licenses to compete in the EuroLeague, thus creating a promotion/relegation system. 



As for FIBA, they operate 2 European competitions which have now been named ‘Champions League’ and ‘Europe Cup.’



The two FIBA competitions are well below in quality to the two ULEB competitions, attracting only lower-tiered clubs. International dates for national competitions come into dispute as well. The European competitions alongside national championships &amp; domestic cup competitions make for crowded calendars.



<h2>Is European soccer following its basketball counterpart?</h2>



Understanding what has transpired in basketball in Europe creates a lot of clarity to the battle going on right now in European soccer. ‘FIBA Europe’ got relegated to second-class citizenship compared to Euroleague Basketball when it comes to club play. 



Certainly, UEFA would face the same fate in soccer. At best, UEFA’s top competition would be at the level of today’s Europa Conference League in the event of a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/european-super-league-is-here-its-called-the-premier-league-20230202-WST-418025.html">Super League</a>. At first, they would have a good selection of clubs to still choose from, if say, 18 clubs broke away. 



As we see in basketball, it’s not just a club competition that gets created. Rather, it is a new type of ‘federation.’ There is a simple promise of promotion to the Super League. Many clubs just outside of the elite group would clamor to start a new competition under the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/laliga-warns-of-impending-european-super-league-20221104-WST-406842.html">Super League</a> umbrella. That would leave UEFA with a poor selection of clubs for it’s own competitions. More importantly, this new competition would sap all the TV revenue away from UEFA. 



Basketball’s schedule is manageable. Teams play 3-4 games per week. Using that structure for soccer, where teams max out at two games per week, is a huge problem. 



<h5>The future of soccer</h5>



There are two options if soccer goes down this path of European basketball.



One, UEFA’s new structured Champions League format (starting in 2024-25 season) could be enough to appease the top clubs to stay with UEFA. Option two, is very much what we have seen in European basketball. A creation of de facto two ruling bodies.



The new Champions League format could buy UEFA a few more seasons. However, based on <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/latest-chelsea-transfers-not-at-fault-for-aimless-spending-20230114-WST-415145.html">spending of clubs</a> in the modern era as well as the ownership changes with little regard for tradition, European soccer may be unrecognizable in 10 years by today’s fans.

European basketball could be setting the blueprint for soccer as it continues to go down a path of super leagues.

Is European soccer going the way of European basketball?

In order for Soccer to find the success it seeks in the U.S., it must make changes to the traditional rules without changing the integrity of the sport.&nbsp; Soccer can be that viable alternative for sports fans in the U.S. if it plays with American rules and also&nbsp;promotes&nbsp;the game to fit U.S. sports fans expectations, not&nbsp;the expectations of soccer enthusiasts.
The game of Soccer, like all other American spectator sports, must be tinkered with from time to time in order to maintain its entertainment value for the newest generation.&nbsp; But, the sport must not be altered significantly to where it is not recognized as Soccer.&nbsp; The integity of the sport must be kept intact (10 on 10 where no one touches the ball with their hands and one Goalkeeper for each side).
In sport, it is common for rules to vary from country to country.&nbsp; FIBA, the International Federation of Basketball plays its games under its rules, including a trapezoid key (paint).&nbsp; The U.S. adheres to these rules during international play and reverts back to its own rules for play in the NBA.
All&nbsp;strategies&nbsp;for delivering the product must adjust&nbsp;to the spectatorship landscape of the U.S. sports fans.&nbsp; If done with an American flavor,&nbsp;soccer can be an enduring spectator sport in the&nbsp;U.S.&nbsp; It has the ability to provide unique drama, escape and entertainment.&nbsp; It is definitely possible to raise the American consciousness for the appreciation of Soccer and it can become the 4th most dominating spectator sport in America.&nbsp;
Soccer needs to be serious, competitive, fun, and&nbsp;unapologetically American.&nbsp; The rules changes and marketing schemes must take responsibility in perfecting the art in the sport.&nbsp; They must make sure that the skill involved in the sport is showcased and that every match is played with contemporary sports drama and theatre.&nbsp; Action, tension during the contests and common sense in the rules must take precedence so that every game has the potential to rise to the occasion and be an unforgettable sporting spectacle.
There is a lot that must be done for American soccer to succeed.&nbsp; Sports fans in the U.S. expect more from their spectator sports.&nbsp; They are different than sports fans from other parts of the world.&nbsp; They are more sophisticated and they have been spoiled.&nbsp; The greatest moments in the recent history of sports have occurred in American sports or with American athletes.
The&nbsp;sport has been built-up significantly over time at the youth level and upwards through high-school and college levels.&nbsp; But, in order for professional soccer in the U.S. to derive the most amount of fan support possible, the marketing must become event-driven and reach&nbsp;the diehard sports fans.
Soccer can become a fabric of the American sports fans environment just as football,&nbsp;basketball, and&nbsp;baseball have consistently achieved from year to year.&nbsp;&nbsp;Soccer must think&nbsp;progressive in their rules amendments and consider what makes 4th down, the 3 and 2 count and the last-second shot so appealing to sports fans.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "FIBA"

European Super League

Is European soccer going the way of European basketball?

American Soccer

Americanizing Soccer for the U.S. Sports Fan pt. 1