#2 The formation of the Premier League was necessary
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The Premier League was visualised as a solution to many of the problems facing the Football League in the late 1980s. Even though English football had experienced considerable success in the decade and a half prior to that, the later part of the 80s was a low point. The quality of domestic football in the first division was a far cry from what it is now and there was in desperate need for some change.
Fans suffered because hooliganism and vandalism were rife, stadium quality was poor and in the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster and the five-year ban from European competition as a direct result of the Heysel Stadium disaster of 1985, the establishment of a new order became imperative.
The English league had also fallen behind its counterparts in Spain and Italy in terms of revenue and match attendance. Around 1988, 10 first division clubs even threatened to secede and form a ‘super league’ but the break was mitigated by an improved television deal.
