European Super League promises to transform football but critics see it as a money grab

Follow the money.

That advice works as well for sport as it does for business and politics.

The latest development in football — the announcement that 12 rich European clubs have formed a breakaway European Super League (ESL) — is a heady mix of all of the above: big business and powerful politics wrestling with the heart and soul of the globe’s biggest game.

It has been described by various stakeholders as disgusting, greedy and cynical.

The Super League website promises to transform competition by offering tantalising payments to those clubs on the outer who may be able to fill one of five qualifying spots each year to join the foundation clubs.

“Solidarity payments will grow in line with league revenues and are expected to be in…