By Mason Warde, Sub-edited by Katie Anderholm
Super League: The War for Football (2023) directed by Jeff Zimbalist, is an Apple TV docuseries recounting the emergence of a European breakaway league proposal by some of Europe’s biggest clubs. UEFA fights back in a battle between the love of the sport and monetary gain, deciding the future of European football.
The main spotlight is on UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin and former Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli, particularly the tensions in their friendship while working together. Regular themes of the documentary relate to corruption, power, betrayal, and the commercialisation of modern-day football. The proposed ‘Super League’, a tournament where all of Europe’s biggest clubs compete, goes against any opportunity to climb the football pyramid. The proposed format would allow for select clubs with the most influence and power to receive an even larger slice of revenue, essentially shutting out any opportunity for smaller teams. This documentary relays the gripping battle between the advocates of the Super League and UEFA, the governing body, in a desperate effort to save football.
Embed from Getty ImagesThroughout the episode are instances of archival footage, such as broadcasts from past matches and post-match player interviews, providing context and keeping the story engaging. Much of the documentary relies on narration and re-enactments from Čeferin and includes interviews with notable footballing figures such as Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez. This, combined with carefully composed cinematography and music, allows the viewer to reimagine the events as they are narrated through voice-over. This creates an immersive and refreshing aspect of the documentary that differs from a traditional journalistic approach. However, in my opinion, areas of the documentary are lacking in terms of statistics and figures, especially with such a focus on the economics of football. Despite a brief mention of revenue within football’s governing bodies, I found that some further analysis could help viewers understand the scale at which football is influenced by money and power. However, the documentary has clearly been produced in a formulaic, algorithm-driven format that suits an Apple TV audience.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt changed my perception of how sports journalism can be approached regarding storytelling. More specifically, the way in which its interviewees become the narrator and the significance of cinematography and audio to capture the attention of the viewer. I would recommend this documentary as it provides an engaging and captivating account of events while also remaining committed to authenticity and objectivity.