The Reading / Listening - Football / Soccer - Level 3

The plan created by Europe's top football clubs to create a breakaway super league seems to be falling apart less than 48 hours after it was launched. A group of 12 of the richest football teams in Europe announced they would take part in the European Super League (ESL) starting in August. This created fury among fans, players, managers, Premier League teams and even the British Prime Minister and Britain's Prince William. They all said the new league would destroy football. They said it was created by greedy club owners. There has been so much anger that top clubs Chelsea and Manchester City are already preparing to withdraw from the ESL due to a backlash from fans.

Six of England's richest teams agreed to participate in the breakaway ESL, including Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. Top teams from Spain (including Barcelona) and Italy also signed up. No teams from Germany and France are involved, making the ESL less European. In Germany, teams are 51-per-cent owned by fans, so fan power is bigger in Germany than in England. The UK government said it will take "whatever action is necessary," including legal options, to stop the ESL. Fourteen Premier League clubs said they would take legal action to expel the six English clubs from the Premier League. Football's governing bodies FIFA and UEFA said players who played in the ESL could be banned from the World Cup.

* At the time of uploading this lesson, nine of the 12 teams have withdrawn from the ESL.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Football / Soccer - Level 0,  Football / Soccer - Level 1   or  Football / Soccer - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.espn.com/soccer/manchester-united/story/4365066/man-united-man-city-players-voice-super-league-concerns-to-clubs-sources
  • https://sports.yahoo.com/super-league-faces-potential-legal-215850700.html
  • https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/apr/19/european-super-league-government-fa-and-uefa-unite-to-denounce-plans


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. FOOTBALL / SOCCER: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about football / soccer. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       plan / football / clubs / league / fury / fans / greedy / owners / withdraw / backlash /
       teams / participate / European / fan power / legal action / necessary / bodies / players
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. THE BEST GAME: Students A strongly believe fotball is the best game in the world; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. COMPETITIONS: What do you know about these competitions? What are the good and bad things about them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

Good Things

Bad Things

Premier League

 

 

 

Tour de France

 

 

 

Formula 1

 

 

 

Olympics

 

 

 

Wimbledon tennis

 

 

 

Sumo basho

 

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. TEAM: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "team". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. SPORTS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best sports at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Football
  • Cricket
  • Tennis
  • Skiing
  • Sailing
  • Marathon
  • Rugby
  • Basketball

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. falling apart a. Leave a place or situation.
      2. launched b. Started.
      3. fury c. Completely break; put an end to.
      4. destroy d. Breaking up.
      5. greedy e. A strong, angry and negative reaction to something by a large number of people.
      6. withdraw f. Big, big anger.
      7. backlash g. Having a huge and selfish desire for money, cakes, power, etc.

    Paragraph 2

      8. participate h. About the law.
      9. involved i. A person who has a strong interest in or love of a person or thing.
      10. fan j. Force someone to leave a place, especially a school or a country.
      11. legal k. Join in; take part.
      12. option l. Of a situation or event - include something as a necessary part or result.
      13. expel m. Officially or legally stopped.
      14. banned n. A thing that is or may be chosen or selected.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. It took European clubs 48 hours to think of the European Super League.  T / F
  2. The European Super League once had 12 of Europe's richest clubs in it.    T / F
  3. The UK's Prime Minister strongly supported the European Super League.    T / F
  4. People said greedy club owners created the European Super League.     T / F
  5. Six teams from England initially joined the European Super League.     T / F
  6. No teams from France and Germany joined the European Super League.  T / F
  7. The UK government said it would not take legal action against the ESL.   T / F
  8. Players from the ESL would have played in the FIFA World Cup.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. plan
  2. falling apart
  3. fury
  4. destroy
  5. due to
  6. participate
  7. involved
  8. fans
  9. expel
  10. bodies
  1. included
  2. ruin
  3. breaking up
  4. because of
  5. organizations
  6. supporters
  7. scheme
  8. throw out
  9. anger
  10. join

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. create a breakaway
  2. falling apart less than
  3. This created fury
  4. created by greedy
  5. withdraw from the ESL due to
  6. Six of England's richest teams agreed
  7. teams are 51-per-cent owned
  8. it will take whatever action
  9. they would take legal
  10. players who played in the ESL
  1. could be banned
  2. a backlash from fans
  3. is necessary
  4. 48 hours after
  5. by fans
  6. among fans
  7. super league
  8. action
  9. club owners
  10. to participate

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
richest
withdraw
players
backlash
part
greedy
falling
destroy

The plan created by Europe's top football clubs to create a breakaway super league seems to be (1) _____________________ apart less than 48 hours after it was launched. A group of 12 of the (2) _____________________ football teams in Europe announced they would take (3) _____________________ in the European Super League (ESL) starting in August. This created fury among fans, (4) _____________________, managers, Premier League teams and even the British Prime Minister and Britain's Prince William. They all said the new league would (5) _____________________ football. They said it was created by (6) _____________________ club owners. There has been so much anger that top clubs Chelsea and Manchester City are already preparing to (7) _____________________ from the ESL due a (8) _____________________ from fans.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
signed
whatever
banned
less
fan
bodies
participate
action

Six of England's richest teams agreed to (9) _____________________ in the breakaway ESL, including Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. Top teams from Spain (including Barcelona) and Italy also (10) _____________________ up. No teams from Germany and France are involved, making the ESL (11) _____________________ European. In Germany, teams are 51-per-cent owned by fans, so (12) _____________________ power is bigger in Germany than in England. The UK government said it will take "(13) _____________________ action is necessary," including legal options, to stop the ESL. Fourteen Premier League clubs said they would take legal (14) _____________________ to expel the six English clubs from the Premier League. Football's governing (15) _____________________ FIFA and UEFA said players who played in the ESL could be (16) _____________________ from the World Cup.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The plan created by Europe's top football clubs to create a ______
     a.  breakaway superb league
     b.  breakaway supra league
     c.  breakaway super league
     d.  breakaway supper league
2)  seems to be falling apart less than 48 hours after ______
     a.  it was lunched
     b.  it was launched
     c.  it was ranched
     d.  it was lashed
3)  They all said the new league would ______
     a.  destroys football
     b.  destroyed football
     c.  destroying football
     d.  destroy football
4)  They said it was created by ______
     a.  glee tea club owners
     b.  greed the club owners
     c.  greedy club owners
     d.  greedily club owners
5)  preparing to withdraw from the ESL due to a ______
     a.  backlash from flans
     b.  backlash from fens
     c.  backlash from fans
     d.  backlash from fonts

6)  Six of England's richest teams ______
     a.  agrees to participate
     b.  age greed to participate
     c.  a greed to participate
     d.  agreed to participate
7)  Top teams from Spain (including Barcelona) and Italy ______
     a.  also singed up
     b.  also sinned up
     c.  also signed up
     d.  also sighed up
8)  In Germany, teams are 51-per-cent owned by fans, so fan ______
     a.  bower is bigger
     b.  power is bigger
     c.  blower is bigger
     d.  bowel is bigger
9)  Fourteen Premier League clubs said they would ______
     a.  take legal action
     b.  stake legal action
     c.  mistake legal action
     d.  task legal action
10)  FIFA and UEFAsaid players who played in the ESL ______
     a.  could being banned
     b.  could be banned
     c.  could been banned
     d.  could bee banned

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The plan created by Europe's top football clubs (1) ____________________ breakaway super league seems to be (2) ____________________ than 48 hours after it was launched. A group of 12 of the richest football teams in Europe announced they would (3) ____________________ the European Super League (ESL) starting in August. This created (4) ____________________, players, managers, Premier League teams and even the British Prime Minister and Britain's Prince William. They all said the new league (5) ____________________. They said it was created by greedy club owners. There has been so much anger that top clubs Chelsea and Manchester City are already preparing (6) ____________________ the ESL due a backlash from fans.

Six of England's richest teams agreed (7) ____________________ the breakaway ESL, including Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. Top teams from Spain (including Barcelona) and Italy (8) ____________________. No teams from Germany and France are involved, making the ESL less European. In Germany, teams are 51-per-cent owned by fans, (9) ____________________ is bigger in Germany than in England. The UK government said it will take "whatever action is necessary," including (10) ____________________ stop the ESL. Fourteen Premier League clubs said they would (11) ____________________ to expel the six English clubs from the Premier League. Football's governing bodies FIFA and UEFA said players who played in the ESL could (12) ____________________ the World Cup.

Comprehension questions

  1. How long did it take the European Super League to fall apart?
  2. How many teams launched the European Super League (ESL)?
  3. When was the European Super League due to start?
  4. What did the UK Prime Minister say the ESL would do to football?
  5. Who did people say created the ESL?
  6. How many teams from England joined the ESL?
  7. How many teams from Germany and France joined the ESL?
  8. What does the article say is bigger in Germany than in England?
  9. What does the article say Premier League clubs wanted to take?
  10. What did FIFA say ESL players could be banned from?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How long did it take the European Super League to fall apart?
a) just over 48 hours
b) exactly 48 hours
c) less than 48 hours
d) around 48 hours
2) How many teams launched the European Super League (ESL)?
a) 12
b) 6
c) 10
d) 8
3) When was the European Super League due to start?
a) August
b) October
c) September
d) December
4) What did the UK Prime Minister say the ESL would do to football?
a) make it better
b) destroy it
c) allow it to make more money
d) make it less popular
5) Who did people say created the ESL?
a) club managers
b) fans
c) venture capitalists
d) greedy club owners

6) How many teams from England joined the ESL?
a) 8
b) 6
c) 7
d) 9
7) How many teams from Germany and France joined the ESL?
a) none
b) one
c) two
d) four
8) What does the article say is bigger in Germany than in England?
a) the World Cup trophy cabinet
b) season ticket prices
c) fan power
d) goal posts
9) What does the article say Premier League clubs wanted to take?
a) all the money
b) penalties
c) a time-out
d) legal action
10) What did FIFA say ESL players could be banned from?
a) the World Cup
b) the Champions League
c) all football
d) entering football stadia

Role play

Role  A – Football
You think football is the best sport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sports. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): tennis, skiing or sailing.

Role  B – Tennis
You think tennis is the best sport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sports. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): football, skiing or sailing.

Role  C – Skiing
You think skiing is the best sport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sports. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): tennis, football or sailing.

Role  D – Sailing
You think sailing is the best sport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sports. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): tennis, skiing or football.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'football'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'fan'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • plan
    • group
    • players
    • greedy
    • much
    • due
    • agreed
    • signed
    • 51
    • options
    • expel
    • banned

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Football / Soccer

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'football'?
    3. What do you think of football?
    4. What is the better word - 'football' or 'soccer'?
    5. Why is football so popular?
    6. What do you think of a European Super League?
    7. What do you think of the ESL falling apart within 48 hours?
    8. What do you think of fan power?
    9. What do you think of billionaire club owners?
    10. How important is football in your country?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'fan'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of England's Premier League?
    5. What is the world's greatest football club?
    6. Should football fans own their clubs?
    7. Are greedy club owners harming football?
    8. What can clubs do to make football better?
    9. What three adjectives best describe this story?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the club owners?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    The plan (1) ____ by Europe's top football clubs to create a breakaway super league seems to be falling (2) ____ less than 48 hours after it was launched. A group of 12 of the richest football teams in Europe announced they would (3) ____ part in the European Super League (ESL) starting in August. This created fury among fans, players, managers, Premier League teams and (4) ____ the British Prime Minister and Britain's Prince William. They all said the new league would destroy football. They said it was created by (5) ____ club owners. There has been so much anger that top clubs Chelsea and Manchester City are already preparing to withdraw from the ESL due a (6) ____ from fans.

    Six of England's richest teams agreed to participate (7) ____ the breakaway ESL, including Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. Top teams from Spain (including Barcelona) and Italy also (8) ____ up. No teams from Germany and France are involved, making the ESL (9) ____ European. In Germany, teams are 51-per-cent owned by fans, so fan power is bigger in Germany than in England. The UK government said it will take "whatever action is (10) ____," including legal options, to stop the ESL. Fourteen Premier League clubs said they would take legal action to (11) ____ the six English clubs from the Premier League. Football's governing bodies FIFA and UEFA said players who played in the ESL could be (12) ____ from the World Cup.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     created     (b)     creates     (c)     creative     (d)     creation    
    2. (a)     part     (b)     party     (c)     apart     (d)     partner    
    3. (a)     give     (b)     do     (c)     take     (d)     have    
    4. (a)     eventual     (b)     even     (c)     every     (d)     even    
    5. (a)     greed     (b)     greedily     (c)     greedy     (d)     greediness    
    6. (a)     whiplash     (b)     backlash     (c)     splash     (d)     lashes    
    7. (a)     at     (b)     in     (c)     of     (d)     on    
    8. (a)     singed     (b)     signed     (c)     sinned     (d)     sine    
    9. (a)     fewer     (b)     smaller     (c)     less     (d)     lower    
    10. (a)     must     (b)     needy     (c)     all     (d)     necessary    
    11. (a)     exalt     (b)     extend     (c)     exhale     (d)     expel    
    12. (a)     bond     (b)     binned     (c)     bend     (d)     banned

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. create a raaeabwky super league
    2. 48 hours after it was uedhanlc
    3. ucndnanoe they would take part
    4. the new league would rosdety football
    5. it was created by edyreg club owners
    6. due to a asclkhba from fans

    Paragraph 2

    1. teams agreed to aetapprtcii
    2. the UK ntogreevmn
    3. take whatever action is reanessyc
    4. take elagl action
    5. plexe the six English clubs
    6. Football's gerngnvoi bodies

    Put the text back together

    (...)  and Britain's Prince William. They all said the new league would destroy football. They said it was created
    (...)  FIFA and UEFA said players who played in the ESL could be banned from the World Cup.
    (...)  by greedy club owners. There has been so much anger that top clubs Chelsea and Manchester City
    (...)  among fans, players, managers, Premier League teams and even the British Prime Minister
    (...)  Six of England's richest teams agreed to participate in the breakaway ESL, including Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. Top
    (...)  Europe announced they would take part in the European Super League (ESL) starting in August. This created fury
    (...)  teams from Spain, including Barcelona, and Italy also signed up. No teams from Germany
    (  1  ) The plan created by Europe's top football clubs to create a breakaway super league seems to be falling
    (...)  apart less than 48 hours after it was launched. A group of 12 of the richest football teams in
    (...)  and France are involved, making the ESL less European. In Germany, teams are 51-per-cent owned by fans, so fan
    (...)  are already preparing to withdraw from the ESL due a backlash from fans.
    (...)  power is bigger in Germany than in England. The UK government said it will take "whatever action is
    (...)  action to expel the six English clubs from the Premier League. Football's governing bodies
    (...)  necessary," including legal options, to stop the ESL. Fourteen Premier League clubs said they would take legal

    Put the words in the right order

    1. clubs   super   Football   league   .   breakaway   a   create   to
    2. of   richest   12   group   teams   .   A   the   of
    3. said   destroy   new   football   .   They   league   would   the
    4. greedy   by   it   was   said   They   created   owners   .
    5. preparing   Chelsea   ESL   .   are   from   to   withdraw   the
    6. to   of   agreed   teams   England's   richest   Six   participate   .
    7. by   In   teams   are   Germany,   owned   fans   .   51-per-cent
    8. The   will   take   government   necessary   .   action   is   whatever
    9. clubs   .   legal   to   action   six   Take   the   expel
    10. ESL   .   ban   They   in   who   played   players   could   the

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The plan created to / by Europe's top football clubs to create a breakaway super league seems to be falling part / apart less than 48 hours after it was launched / lunched. A group of 12 of the richest football teams in Europe announced they would take part on / in the European Super League (ESL) starting in August. This created fury among fans, players, managers, Premier League teams and ever / even the British Prime Minister and Britain's Prince William. They all / whole said the new league would destroy football. They said it was created by greedy club owner / owners. There has been so much anger / hunger that top clubs Chelsea and Manchester City are already preparing for / to withdraw from the ESL due a backlash from fan / fans.

    Six of England's richest teams greedy / agreed to participate in the breakaway ESL, including Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. Top teams from Spain (including Barcelona) and Italy also singed / signed up. No teams from Germany and France be / are involved, making the ESL less / fewer European. In Germany, teams are 51-per-cent own / owned by fans, so fan power is bigger in Germany than at / in England. The UK government said it will take "whatever action is necessary," including legally / legal options, to stop the ESL. Fourteen Premier League clubs said they would take legal action to exhale / expel the six English clubs from the Premier League. Football's governing bodies / hips FIFA and UEFA said players who played in the ESL could be binned / banned from the World Cup.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    Th_  pl_n  cr__t_d  by  __r_p_'s  t_p  f__tb_ll  cl_bs  t_  cr__t_  _  br__k_w_y  s_p_r  l__g__  s__ms  t_  b_  f_ll_ng  _p_rt  l_ss  th_n  48  h__rs  _ft_r  _t  w_s  l__nch_d.  _  gr__p  _f  12  _f  th_  r_ch_st  f__tb_ll  t__ms  _n  __r_p_  _nn__nc_d  th_y  w__ld  t_k_  p_rt  _n  th_  __r_p__n  S_p_r  L__g__  (_SL)  st_rt_ng  _n  __g_st.  Th_s  cr__t_d  f_ry  _m_ng  f_ns,  pl_y_rs,  m_n_g_rs,  Pr_m__r  L__g__  t__ms  _nd  _v_n  th_  Br_t_sh  Pr_m_  M_n_st_r  _nd  Br_t__n's  Pr_nc_  W_ll__m.  Th_y  _ll  s__d  th_  n_w  l__g__  w__ld  d_str_y  f__tb_ll.  Th_y  s__d  _t  w_s  cr__t_d  by  gr__dy  cl_b  _wn_rs.  Th_r_  h_s  b__n  s_  m_ch  _ng_r  th_t  t_p  cl_bs  Ch_ls__  _nd  M_nch_st_r  C_ty  _r_  _lr__dy  pr_p_r_ng  t_  w_thdr_w  fr_m  th_  _SL  d__  _  b_ckl_sh  fr_m  f_ns. 

    S_x  _f  _ngl_nd's  r_ch_st  t__ms  _gr__d  t_  p_rt_c_p_t_  _n  th_  br__k_w_y  _SL,  _ncl_d_ng  M_nch_st_r  _n_t_d,  L_v_rp__l  _nd  _rs_n_l.  T_p  t__ms  fr_m  Sp__n  (_ncl_d_ng  B_rc_l_n_)  _nd  _t_ly  _ls_  s_gn_d  _p.  N_  t__ms  fr_m  G_rm_ny  _nd  Fr_nc_  _r_  _nv_lv_d,  m_k_ng  th_  _SL  l_ss  __r_p__n.  _n  G_rm_ny,  t__ms  _r_  51-p_r-c_nt  _wn_d  by  f_ns,  s_  f_n  p_w_r  _s  b_gg_r  _n  G_rm_ny  th_n  _n  _ngl_nd.  Th_  _K  g_v_rnm_nt  s__d  _t  w_ll  t_k_  "wh_t_v_r  _ct__n  _s  n_c_ss_ry,"  _ncl_d_ng  l_g_l  _pt__ns,  t_  st_p  th_  _SL.  F__rt__n  Pr_m__r  L__g__  cl_bs  s__d  th_y  w__ld  t_k_  l_g_l  _ct__n  t_  _xp_l  th_  s_x  _ngl_sh  cl_bs  fr_m  th_  Pr_m__r  L__g__.  F__tb_ll's  g_v_rn_ng  b_d__s  F_F_  _nd  __F_  s__d  pl_y_rs  wh_  pl_y_d  _n  th_  _SL  c__ld  b_  b_nn_d  fr_m  th_  W_rld  C_p.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the plan created by europes top football clubs to create a breakaway super league seems to be falling apart less than 48 hours after it was launched a group of 12 of the richest football teams in europe announced they would take part in the european super league esl starting in august this created fury among fans players managers premier league teams and even the british prime minister and britains prince william they all said the new league would destroy football they said it was created by greedy club owners there has been so much anger that top clubs chelsea and manchester city are already preparing to withdraw from the esl due a backlash from fans

    six of englands richest teams agreed to participate in the breakaway esl including manchester united liverpool and arsenal top teams from spain including barcelona and italy also signed up no teams from germany and france are involved making the esl less european in germany teams are 51percent owned by fans so fan power is bigger in germany than in england the uk government said it will take whatever action is necessary including legal options to stop the esl fourteen premier league clubs said they would take legal action to expel the six english clubs from the premier league footballs governing bodies fifa and uefa said players who played in the esl could be banned from the world cup

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheplancreatedbyEurope'stopfootballclubstocreateabreakawaysup
    erleagueseemstobefallingapartlessthan48hoursafteritwaslaunched
    .Agroupof12oftherichestfootballteamsinEuropeannouncedtheywoul
    dtakepartintheEuropeanSuperLeague(ESL)startinginAugust.Thiscr
    eatedfuryamongfans,players,managers,PremierLeagueteamsande
    ventheBritishPrimeMinisterandBritain'sPrinceWilliam.Theyallsaidth
    enewleaguewoulddestroyfootball.Theysaiditwascreatedbygreedycl
    ubowners.TherehasbeensomuchangerthattopclubsChelseaandMan
    chesterCityarealreadypreparingtowithdrawfromtheESLduetoabackl
    ashfromfans.SixofEngland'srichestteamsagreedtoparticipateintheb
    reakawayESL,includingManchesterUnited,LiverpoolandArsenal.Top
    teamsfromSpain(includingBarcelona)andItalyalsosignedup.Notea
    msfromGermanyandFranceareinvolved,makingtheESLlessEuropea
    n.InGermany,teamsare51-per-centownedbyfans,sofanpowerisbigg
    erinGermanythaninEngland.TheUKgovernmentsaiditwilltake"what
    everactionisnecessary,"includinglegaloptions,tostoptheESL.Fourte
    enPremierLeagueclubssaidtheywouldtakelegalactiontoexpelthesixE
    nglishclubsfromthePremierLeague.Football'sgoverningbodiesFIFAa
    ndUEFAsaidplayerswhoplayedintheESLcouldbebannedfromtheWorl
    dCup.

    Free writing

    Write about European Super League for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Football (soccer) is the best sport in the world. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. FOOTBALL / SOCCER: Make a poster about football / soccer. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. 51%: Write a magazine article about all sports teams having to be 51% controlled by fans. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on football / soccer. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on "the beautiful game". Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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