Football, often referred to as the “beautiful game,” has long been a sport that transcends borders, cultures, and social classes. It has the power to unite nations, create heroes, and bring millions to their feet with moments of sheer brilliance. However, in recent years, many have begun to argue that the sport is losing its essence due to commercialization, with some questioning whether the sport is becoming a business first and a game second.

The issue at hand is not just the rising ticket prices, the monopolization of broadcasting rights, or the growing influence of billionaire owners. It’s about the soul of football itself—its purity, its unpredictability, and its connection to the fans. In this article, I will explore how football’s commercialization is driving a wedge between clubs and their supporters, and how the increasing financial influence is slowly eroding the very fabric of the game. I’ll present evidence from multiple perspectives and offer proof of how this trend is threatening the game’s integrity.

The Money Over Tradition Dilemma

1. The Super League Fiasco: A Tipping Point for Fans

One of the most glaring signs of football’s descent into pure commercialism came in April 2021, when twelve of Europe’s most prestigious clubs announced the formation of the European Super League (ESL). The idea behind the league was to create an exclusive competition for the “elite” clubs, with guaranteed places for teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, and Juventus—a move that would have effectively killed the traditional promotion and relegation system in European football.

The announcement of the ESL sparked outrage across the footballing world. Fans, pundits, players, and even governments rallied against the proposal, with many arguing that it was the final nail in the coffin for the sport’s rich traditions. This was a competition designed to maximize revenue for the clubs involved, sidelining the interests of fans and undermining the values that football was built on.

Proof of backlash:
The backlash was swift and unrelenting. In just 48 hours, all six English clubs involved—Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur—withdrew from the Super League after protests by fans in stadiums and outside the club’s headquarters. The fact that clubs, some of which had been loyal to their communities for over a century, could so quickly betray their fans for financial gain spoke volumes about the growing influence of money in football. Even the UEFA and FIFA, typically seen as power brokers in the footballing world, voiced their opposition.

2. Skyrocketing Player Salaries: The End of Meritocracy?

The explosion of player salaries in the last two decades is another key example of football’s commercialization problem. While top players have always earned significant wages, the increase in recent years has been astronomical.

In 2000, the highest-paid player in the world, Zinedine Zidane, earned around £10 million a year at Real Madrid. Fast forward to 2024, and players like Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi are reported to be making upwards of £70 million annually in base salary, not including endorsements, image rights, and other off-field earnings. This rapid inflation of wages is partly driven by TV deals and sponsorships, as the clubs themselves rake in huge sums from broadcast rights.

But what does this mean for football as a sport? Well, first and foremost, it suggests that football is no longer a meritocratic game. The emphasis is not on the most skillful or talented players, but on those who can attract the most attention and generate the most revenue. Players are often more concerned with their off-field brand than their on-field performance, and this shift in focus has been noticeable in recent years.

Proof of change:
A striking example of this can be seen in the case of Cristiano Ronaldo. While Ronaldo’s talent and achievements on the field are undeniable, his move to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia in December 2022 raised eyebrows. Despite being well past his peak, Ronaldo secured a record-breaking £173 million-per-year contract, far exceeding the earnings of any player in Europe. This move had little to do with footballing ambition and everything to do with commercial interests, as the Saudi league sought to increase its global profile.

The same issue applies to many other moves around the world, where players opt for high-paying contracts in lesser-known leagues instead of staying at top European clubs to compete for titles. This trend highlights how the financial power of certain leagues and clubs is now dictating where players play, rather than footballing merit or the desire to compete at the highest level.

3. Ticket Prices and Accessibility: Football Becoming a Luxury Sport

Another symptom of the commercialization of football is the ever-increasing ticket prices. In the 1990s, it was still relatively affordable to attend top-flight matches in Europe. However, as television revenues and sponsorships grew, clubs began raising ticket prices, often to exorbitant levels. The Premier League is the most glaring example of this, with average ticket prices for matches at Old Trafford (Manchester United) and Anfield (Liverpool) regularly exceeding £50, and sometimes much more for big matches.

Proof of inequality:
Research conducted by the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) revealed that matchday ticket prices for Premier League clubs have increased by over 300% since 1992. For example, in 1992, a ticket for a match at Manchester United was approximately £10. Fast forward to 2023, and the price for the cheapest ticket at Old Trafford has soared to £60-£70 for regular games, with premium seats for big matches costing even more.

This price hike has led to a growing divide between the rich and the working-class fans who traditionally supported these clubs. Now, football is increasingly becoming a sport for the elite, with corporate boxes, VIP seats, and luxury hospitality becoming the norm, while ordinary fans are priced out of attending games. The average working-class fan simply cannot afford to regularly attend top-tier matches, and this disconnection from the stadium experience has further alienated supporters.

4. The Rise of the Sugar Daddy Owners

The influx of wealthy, often foreign owners into football clubs has been another controversial aspect of the sport’s commercialization. Owners such as Roman Abramovich at Chelsea, Sheikh Mansour at Manchester City, and more recently, Todd Boehly at Chelsea, have reshaped the landscape of the sport by injecting vast amounts of money into their clubs. While this has led to immediate success in terms of silverware, it has also raised questions about the fairness of financial competition.

Proof of financial dominance:
Consider Manchester City’s spending spree since their takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008. Under their ownership, City has spent over £1.5 billion on players, and their financial dominance has helped them secure multiple Premier League titles and other trophies. However, this financial muscle has created a situation where smaller clubs, unable to compete financially, have been left behind. The Premier League’s financial “fair play” regulations have done little to curb this growing inequality, with clubs like Manchester City being able to bypass the rules with the support of their wealthy owners.

Conclusion: Football’s Identity Crisis

Football is at a crossroads. On one hand, the sport continues to captivate millions of fans worldwide, drawing huge crowds and generating massive revenues. On the other, it risks losing its identity, becoming more about business and less about the beautiful game that once united fans from all walks of life.

The commercialization of football—through inflated player salaries, inflated ticket prices, the creation of elitist leagues like the Super League, and the dominance of billionaire owners—has undoubtedly changed the game. While there is no denying that football is now more global and more accessible through TV and digital platforms, there is a growing fear that the sport’s soul has been compromised in the process.

For football to return to its roots, it may require a reassessment of how the game is governed, how revenue is shared, and how fans are treated by the clubs they support. Until that happens, the game will continue to be a commercial juggernaut, and the “beautiful game” may become nothing more than a commodity—driven by money, but increasingly detached from the very people who made it great.