this is how people used to talk about the european cup.
the english first division didn't even bother to enter the first european cup
today's "distraction" becomes tomorrows premier competition. that is the hope with the world club cup btw.
" English champions Chelsea initially agreed to compete and were drawn against Swedish side Djurgården; however, under pressure from the Football League, who saw the tournament as a distraction to domestic football, they later withdrew from the competition,"
en.wikipedia.org