English Premier League football is done and dusted for the 2019-20 season, despite the enforced break from mid-March due to the global pandemic. And with it is also settled which clubs will figure in the European competitions in the 2020-21 season, all the big names making the grade much to the relief of UEFA.
How valued is the presence of English football clubs in European competitions can be gauged from the fact that as many as seven gain automatic berths in the continent. That is the highest number allotted to any country by UEFA which makes its own evaluation of various national leagues, based on factors like popular and widespread support among other things.
Countries like Spain, Germany, Italy and France all have equally competitive football leagues but what makes the English Premier League more valuable is the fan following it enjoys outside Europe.
Former Biritish colonies and the spread of English as the most widely accepted international language finds the clubs from England attracting far wider audiences than even say newly crowned Spanish La Liga champions Real Madrid who are the most successful club in European competitions.
German Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich despite the string of legends among its current and former stars or famous Serie A names like Juventus and Milanese duo AC and Inter are unable to match the draw of England.
Fans as far away as Asia and the Americas closely follow the fortunes their favourite English clubs on television and with the current scenario making sports solely dependent on the eyeballs for the near future at least, it seems obvious that UEFA would like to draw maximum viewership for its games.
English clubs on the other hand value the continental competition due to the rich cash dividend offered by UEFA. Arsenal serves as the prime example, having profited from a record 19 successive appearances in UEFA Champions League starting from the 1998-99 season to pay off its debt that it incurred to build its swanky new stadium replacing the old Highbury facility.
Little wonder that the club and its fans look upon then manager Frenchman Arsene Wenger as something of a demi-God who seemed to wield the magic wand both on and off the pitch with crucial buying and selling of players as much as keeping the UEFA Champions League spot well in sight.
Manchester City's successful appeal against the two-year ban for racist chants by its fans finds them moving to Europe along with more popular city-mates United and London powerhouse Chelsea.
At the end of the day, its all about balancing the books. UEFA needs the popular English clubs as much as they need the cash from Europe.
How valued is the presence of English football clubs in European competitions can be gauged from the fact that as many as seven gain automatic berths in the continent. That is the highest number allotted to any country by UEFA which makes its own evaluation of various national leagues, based on factors like popular and widespread support among other things.
Countries like Spain, Germany, Italy and France all have equally competitive football leagues but what makes the English Premier League more valuable is the fan following it enjoys outside Europe.
Former Biritish colonies and the spread of English as the most widely accepted international language finds the clubs from England attracting far wider audiences than even say newly crowned Spanish La Liga champions Real Madrid who are the most successful club in European competitions.
German Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich despite the string of legends among its current and former stars or famous Serie A names like Juventus and Milanese duo AC and Inter are unable to match the draw of England.
Fans as far away as Asia and the Americas closely follow the fortunes their favourite English clubs on television and with the current scenario making sports solely dependent on the eyeballs for the near future at least, it seems obvious that UEFA would like to draw maximum viewership for its games.
English clubs on the other hand value the continental competition due to the rich cash dividend offered by UEFA. Arsenal serves as the prime example, having profited from a record 19 successive appearances in UEFA Champions League starting from the 1998-99 season to pay off its debt that it incurred to build its swanky new stadium replacing the old Highbury facility.
Little wonder that the club and its fans look upon then manager Frenchman Arsene Wenger as something of a demi-God who seemed to wield the magic wand both on and off the pitch with crucial buying and selling of players as much as keeping the UEFA Champions League spot well in sight.
Manchester City's successful appeal against the two-year ban for racist chants by its fans finds them moving to Europe along with more popular city-mates United and London powerhouse Chelsea.
At the end of the day, its all about balancing the books. UEFA needs the popular English clubs as much as they need the cash from Europe.
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