Jurgen Klopp mocks Todd Boehly for Premier League All-Star idea as Chelsea owner faces backlash
Jurgen Klopp is unsure that Todd Boehly’s Premier League all-star idea is conceivable amid the fierce rivalries in England, locally and regionally
Head Coach of Liverpool FC Jurgen Klopp during the UEFA Champions League match between SSC Napoli and Liverpool FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona Naples Italy on 7 September 2022
Klopp mocks Boehly for Premier League All-Star idea as owner faces backlash
Jurgen Klopp issued a sarcastic response to Todd Boehly’s suggestion of a Premier League All-Star fixture. The Liverpool boss was unimpressed by the Chelsea owner’s idea, warning the American billionaire that football is ‘completely different’ to sports popular sports in the United States.
Speaking at the SALT conference in New York on Tuesday, Boehly proposed a ‘North vs South’ match which would help raise money for the English football pyramid. He also suggested that the current automatic three-team relegation system should be scrapped in exchange for a four-team mini-tournament instead.
Raising eyebrows, the Chelsea co-owner asked: “Ultimately, I hope that the Premier League takes a little bit of a lesson from American sports and really starts to figure out, ‘Why wouldn’t we do a tournament with the bottom four teams?’
“Why isn’t there an all-star game?’ People are talking about more money for the pyramid. With the all-star game in LA this year, we made $200 million from a Monday and a Tuesday. You could have a North versus South all-star game for the Premier League and fund whatever the pyramid needed very easily.”
When asked whether his proposal was being actively discussed, Boehly said: “Listen, I think everyone likes the idea of more revenue for the league.”
Then, following Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Ajax in the Champions League, Klopp was informed of Boehly’s ideas and offered a sarcastic reply. The German said: “He hasn’t waited long! Oh great, when he finds a date for that, he can call me.
“He forgets that in the big sports in America, these players have four-month breaks and they are quite happy they can do a little bit of sport in these breaks. It is completely different in football.
“What can I say? Does he want to bring the Harlem Globetrotters as well and let them play against a football team?”
“I am surprised by the question so please don’t judge my answers too much,” Klopp added, as he explored about Boehly’s idea further. “Maybe he can explain it to me at one point and find a proper date. I’m not sure people want to see that.
“Imagine that – United players, Liverpool players, Everton players all together on one team. It’s not the national team, it’s just the north-west and the north-east together and the south?
“Ok, north versus south means north-east and Newcastle. Interesting game And all the London guys together – Arsenal, Tottenham, great. Did he really say it? Great.”
An ‘all-star’ concept is already seen in each of the United States’ leading sports; basketball, baseball and American football. Before Boehly’s idea is discussed further, the Premier League will have to determine where clubs from the midlands qualify.