BEYOND THE GRASS

Football is more than just 90 minutes on the pitch. The writings on this page go beyond tactical breakdowns and formation analysis. Beyond the Grass is a space dedicated to exploring the off-the-pitch dimensions of the game — its culture, its structural challenges, its ingrained habits, and the hidden layers that shape it.

Here, the tone is conversational, but the intention is clear: to provoke thought rather than provide simplicity. One article might focus on a player's personal journey, another on the systemic issues within a club, or a fresh perspective on football’s future.

My goal is to encourage readers to think critically — both positively and negatively — after engaging with these pieces. Because to truly understand football, one must look not only at what happens on the field, but also beyond the grass.

1-) THE SUPER LEAGUE PROJECT: Redefining The Game’s Future

The Super League project caused major controversy in the football world when it first emerged around five years ago. The lack of support from clubs in Germany and France, along with strong backlash from fans—particularly in England and other countries involved—led many of the founding clubs to quickly withdraw from the project. As far as I know, only two of the original 12 founding clubs still stand behind it: Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Most people who closely follow football are already familiar with this process. Instead of retelling the story, I want to focus on three key questions: Read More...

2-) WHY IS FOOTBALL THE WORLD’S MOST POPULAR SPORT?

In my opinion, football is the most popular sport in the world. There are hardly any countries without professional or amateur leagues. Of course, due to certain political or economic reasons, there might be a few countries where football is not played at all. However, I am confident that even in those countries, children who see or hear about this sport likely play it among themselves. To speak with greater certainty, one would need to examine various articles and studies to draw a conclusion. However, the purpose of this piece is not to prove this point. Read More...