The Bard Posted February 17 Report Share Posted February 17 https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/feb/17/baltic-league-could-be-pioneer-for-cross-border-football-in-europe Interesting. Makes sense as the Nation state isn't always the best basis to organise a league. These 3 together are similar size to England. It will improve the standard of their clubs and players. Surely only a matter of time before they try it in Ireland. Linfield v Derry would be 'Interesting'. Would they try it in Yugoslavia or Czechia & Slovakia? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
22A Posted February 17 Report Share Posted February 17 In 2000 a similar scheme was proposed as "There's really only two teams in Scotland, Holland and Portugal etc". They even got as far as naming it the Atlantic League, but UEFA rejected it the following year. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_League_(football) Most recently Irish and Scandinavian clubs would like to join such a set up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted February 17 Report Share Posted February 17 (edited) If Geographically centred, like a Baltic league clearly would be, it makes sense. The Scots, Dutch, Portuguese idea was random with no clear unifying purpose. Aberdeen playing away to Porto isn’t quite the same as Zalgaris in Vilnius travelling to Skonto Riga. Some minor European leagues with no logistical issues could definitely consider this. As said above the two former countries of Czechoslovakia who parted amicably (unlike Yugoslavia) is definitely another possibility. Derry City of course already plays in the Republic & both Welsh clubs in England & ones from Liechtenstein in Switzerland play outside their own country. Edited February 17 by GrahamC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bard Posted February 17 Author Report Share Posted February 17 Just now, GrahamC said: If Geographically centred, like a Baltic league clearly would be, it makes sense. The Scots, Dutch, Portuguese idea was random with no clear unifying purpose. Aberdeen playing away to Porto isn’t quite the same as Zalgaris in Vilnius travelling to Skonto Riga. Some minor European leagues with no logistical issues could definitely consider this. As said above the two former countries of Czechoslovakia who parted amicably (unlike Yugoslavia) is definitely another possibility. Dynamo Zagreb v Red Star was a major catalyst in the civil war. https://www.soccerphile.com/soccerphile/news/balkans-soccer/football-war.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malago Posted February 17 Report Share Posted February 17 One already exists. It’s called the EFL in which 4 Welsh clubs compete alongside 68 English ones. 2 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
22A Posted February 17 Report Share Posted February 17 48 minutes ago, Malago said: One already exists. It’s called the EFL in which 4 Welsh clubs compete alongside 68 English ones. To compensate for this Berwick Rangers compete in the Scottish system. Berwick, is a town and civil parish in Northumberland, England, 2+1⁄2 mi (4 km) south of the Anglo-Scottish border. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cidercity1987 Posted February 17 Report Share Posted February 17 6 minutes ago, 22A said: To compensate for this Berwick Rangers compete in the Scottish system. Berwick, is a town and civil parish in Northumberland, England, 2+1⁄2 mi (4 km) south of the Anglo-Scottish border. Berwick would add nothing to the English leagues, whereas Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and Wrexham would add loads to the Welsh. Don't think Wrexham would be so famous though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1team Posted February 17 Report Share Posted February 17 Yea but which changing rooms will they use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvio Dante Posted February 17 Report Share Posted February 17 The title of this thread is catnip to one or two posters on the politics forum…. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
22A Posted February 17 Report Share Posted February 17 55 minutes ago, cidercity1987 said: Berwick would add nothing to the English leagues, whereas Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and Wrexham would add loads to the Welsh. Don't think Wrexham would be so famous though I remember when the League of Wales was formed. Many fans rang 606 complaining the Secretary (Alan Williams?) of the LoW was demanding the four Welsh clubs left the EFL to join the LoW. When Newport were relegated he demanded they join it rather than the English Conference. When the turned down the "offer" he refused to let them play in Wales and their first home games were played at Gloucester. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledAjax Posted February 17 Report Share Posted February 17 I'd have a bit of a concern that an transnational league in the Baltic would give a bit of credibility to the European Super League plan. Other than that I presume it makes sense commercially so could be a goer. Ps. The English/Welsh or English/Scottish cross-league teams aren't really examples of a transnational league. They don't cross international borders between proper countries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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