Countdown’s Susie Dent subtly trolls the European Super League with her word of the day

It’s hard to remember a time in recent history when seemingly the entire world was united on one issue like they are about the maligned European Super League and even Susie Dent is joining in the criticism.

To give you a brief rundown, 12 of the biggest clubs in European football (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd, Tottenham, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid) released a statement on Sunday stating their intention to start a breakaway league that could rock the foundations of football to its core.

The mid-week league would reportedly feature 20 teams, with 15 founding members who would stay in the league regardless of results. The final five teams would be based on teams performances in their own domestic leagues.

There were fears that the 15 teams would no longer compete in their domestic leagues but that doesn’t appear to be the case anymore, however, they would be moving away from the UEFA Champions League, the current elite competition in European football. UEFA, who are furious about the plans, has threatened to ban any players from the clubs involved from playing in international tournaments and to expel the clubs that are still involved in this seasons Champions League and Europa League.

It remains to be seen what happens next but there has been widespread condemnation of the plans which have been pinpointed to one thing and one thing only: ‘greed’ – which brings us to an unlikely segue to Countdown’s Dent.

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Dent, who has been seeing over ‘Dictionary Corner’ of Countdown since 1992 and, as a lexicographer, has an encyclopedic knowledge of the English language. She also has a wicked sense of wit and timing.

A regular feature on her Twitter account is her ‘word of the day’ which is often subtly tied to the major story of the day.

On Monday, her word was ‘ingordigiousness’ which means ‘extreme greed; an insatiable desire for wealth at any cost.’

Many enjoyed this subtle dig from the daytime tv legend.

The rumblings around the European Super League will likely go on for many weeks and months to come but it looks doubtful that anyone’s opinion will change, apart from the bigwigs in charge.