In Defense of using the "EPL"

Since I'm thinking about annoying habits of the English, I want to address the use of the abbreviation "EPL" in referring to the FA Premier League of England. If you read the European press, specifically the UK Press, and their associated comment sites and message boards, you can see many examples of someone from, say, "St. Louis, MO" referring to the EPL and promptly having a slew of people from London, Swindon, et al yelling about "American ignorance" for not referring to England's top league as either the "Premiership", "FA Premier League", or the "Barclay's Premiership." Okay, they don't really insist on the last term, but the point remains that somehow referring to the top-flight English league as the EPL is verboten. It is silly and hypocritical for anyone in England to object to the use of EPL by a Yank.

Let's start with why it is silly. In the immediate islands in and around the UK, there are four different "Premier" organizations: the FA Premiership (England), the Scottish Premier League, the Premier Division of the Irish League, and the Irish Premier League (Northern Ireland). Admittedly, only the Scottish Premier League seems to have greater European prominence (Celtic not too shabby, eh?), but given the various genealogies of American citizens, it seems reasonable that we could trace our ancestry, and relatives, to supporters of any of these teams. EPL is a convenient shorthand for specifying which Premiership we're talking about, especially in Europe. Yes, there may be a slightly hidden confusion if you bring the African leagues into the equation. Egypt, Eritrea, and Ethopia all boast "Premier" leagues. But in common soccer fandom, you probably care about your domestic league, South America (maybe) and Europe). Within that context, which is the context of, I think, the vast majority of fans over here, EPL is a sensible abbreviation allowing one to specifically address what you're talking about. Given that at least 13 of the UEFA members use "Premier" in their name, and at least three of those are significant powers, it makes sense.

Now for the hypocrisy. The yanks get a bit of a rap, perhaps deservedly, for being overly American-exceptionalist, USA-centric, and a bit xenophobic for anything outside of the Community Anglais. This is a favored pastime in the various UK tabloids for the amateur sociologist/columnist. Yet the use of "EPL" speaks to a wider intentional view, opening its eyes to old and new Europe, moving away from an anglic-centric view to a more international view. Naturally, this passes right over the head of the anti-"EPL" zealots, who suddenly revert to their own English supremacist views. There is only one premiership, and it is the FA Premiership. There is only one United. There is only one top league in the world. Crikey!

Now, as far as I know, I personally have never been taken to task for using "EPL" and may never get any such flak. I use the term frequently, especially in the blogroll on the right. It is an appropriate term to use. And I'll stop using it when you pry it from my cold, dead, carpel-tunnel ridden fingers.