German magazine Der Spiegel and European Investigative Collaborations, a network of international media, reported last week that plans for a Super League, involving top clubs such as Real Madrid and Manchester United, were back on the table.
The European Leagues group, representing 25 domestic leagues including England’s Premier League, Germany’s Bundesliga, and Spain’s La Liga, voiced “strong opposition” to any such plan yesterday.
Speaking to reporters after a Sport Industry Breakfast Club event in London, Cook said all sectors of industry evolved.
“I think we’re watching the natural evolution… the supermarket industry was built out of the fact that you combined the greengrocer, the butcher, the baker, and they rationalised to create one big, super size.”
“I think there’s always going to be a demand to watch that very fine, elite level in all walks of life and consume at that level at the very top,” added the Briton, who worked for Manchester City from 2008-11 and is now chief executive of e-sports company Gfinity.
“If football is going to go on a path that would be evolutionary, it would be the fact that the top 16 clubs in Europe are going to join together to create an entity that is marketable for additional growth economically.”
According to Der Spiegel, a 16-team Super League would replace the Champions League and feature 11 ‘founders’, including Barcelona and Real Madrid, who could not be relegated for the first 20 years.
Manchester City would fall into that category along with Premier League rivals Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool.
There would also be five “guest” clubs.
Asked how far away he thought a Super League might be, Cook suggested a number of factors could come into play, including the departure at the end of this year of Premier league Executive Chairman Richard Scudamore.
“It’s inevitable on the basis that it would follow the trajectory of traditional industry. There’s always the demand to watch the very few play the very best. And so, if you imagine that, then it’s inevitable,” Cook added.