Most fans in Asia would still follow their teams in a different competition. But kick-off times could be a problem
In normal times, about 120 fans meet at the 3 Wise Monkeys bar in Mumbai to watch
Manchester United games, but if plans for the new European Super League (ESL) go ahead, Prasanth Nair will not be one of them in the future. “It’s bullshit,” he said. “It is sacrificing the ethos of the club. It’s wrong. I will stop supporting.”
But the question is not whether the diehards will stop watching but whether the average fan in Asia will do the same. Will those in Jeddah, Jakarta or Jinan really care if their favourite teams are playing in the ESL or the Champions League? The answer is probably no, but it remains to be seen how lucrative an audience it would be.