Remove the club, only the players and the fans left. Without a club they are nothing.
Remove the players, you can't have a game without the players. You have nothing.
Remove the fans, who's going to watch your players and support your club?
Very well said. Those 3 entities are vital for them to be successful in the sports industry. Without one of them, I don't think they will enjoy the same success they can get in this field. So yes, this should not be a question in the first place. Just look at the scenario if you will take out any of them, whether fans or clubs or players, there will be nothing to discuss about.
It's like a combination of three of them and they won't work together if there's one lack in the group. There's no competition, everything is valuable as we look to them.
Sports is also a business model, all of them are playing their own parts to grow it and for them to continue in their passion.