The topic of a European League is raised with predictable regularity. Anyone who thinks this is a new phenomenon is mistaken. Way back in 1957, the English Football Association called a meeting of the four home countries, together with Spain, Italy, Germany, France, and Belgium, to explore the possibility of some kind of European link-up. At the time, the English First Division (the precursor to the Premier League) was being heavily criticized from all quarters. Improvements to air travel and a growing interest