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Super League in tatters as Inter, Atletico join England’s ‘big six’ in abandoning plan
By Rob Harris
London: All six English clubs involved in plans to join a breakaway European Super League have abandoned the project, which has imploded less than two days after it was announced.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham deserted the 12-team group amid an escalating backlash that led to a warning from the UK government that it would introduce legislation to stop the competition.
Atlético Madrid and Inter Milan both decided to drop out of the Super League on Wednesday evening (AEST), leaving the new competition with just four clubs still officially involved — Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and AC Milan.
Juventus boss Andrea Agnelli, one of the project’s leading voices, said on Wednesday night that the league could no longer proceed but that he remained convinced about the merits of it despite the overflowing criticism.
“I remain convinced of the beauty of that project,” Agnelli said, adding that it would have created the best competition in the world. “But admittedly ... I mean, I don’t think that that project is now still up and running.”
The Super League project was overseen by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
In a statement, the fledgling Super League organisation blamed “pressure” being applied for forcing out the founding clubs and insisted the proposal complied with the law and could yet be revived in some form.
“Given the current circumstances,” the Super League said in a statement, “we shall reconsider the most appropriate steps to reshape the project, always having in mind our goals of offering fans the best experience possible while enhancing solidarity payments for the entire football community.”
Chelsea fans celebrate outside Stamford Bridge after learning Chelsea’s plan to withdraw from the Super League.Credit: Getty Images
The English sides heeded the appeals from UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin to stay part of the existing Champions League.
“I said yesterday that it is admirable to admit a mistake and these clubs made a big mistake,” he said. “But they are back in the fold now and I know they have a lot to offer, not just to our competitions but to the whole of the European game.
“The important thing now is that we move on, rebuild the unity that the game enjoyed before this and move forward together.”
Chelsea’s decision to withdraw came as fans protested outside the club’s Stamford Bridge stadium on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) before their 0-0 draw with Brighton. When news broke that the club, owned by Russian Roman Abramovich, was pulling out of the new league, Chelsea fans celebrated wildly in the streets.
Chelsea fans protest against the proposed Super League outside Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.Credit: AP
When it became clear Chelsea and City were quitting on Tuesday evening, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and his teammates posted a message advocating staying within the open European competitions.
Liverpool, which is owned by the Boston Red Sox investment group, eventually issued a statement thanking those inside and outside the club for “valuable contributions” before making the decision to stick with the existing competitions.
Manchester United defender Luke Shaw also went against his club by tweeting his backing of the existing Champions League minutes before his club’s U-turn.
“We have listened carefully to the reaction from our fans, the UK government and other key stakeholders,” said a statement from United, which is owned by the American Glazer family. “We remain committed to working with others across the football community to come up with sustainable solutions to the long-term challenges facing the game.”
Just as the Glazers also own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL, Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has the Los Angeles Rams in his portfolio. The closed model of American competitions is believed to be appealing to the US owners as they offer financial certainty.
But they were resisted by fans of English clubs.
“It was never our intention to cause such distress, however when the invitation to join the Super League came, while knowing there were no guarantees, we did not want to be left behind to ensure we protected Arsenal and its future,” the north London club said. “As a result of listening to you and the wider football community over recent days we are withdrawing from the proposed Super League. We made a mistake, and we apologise for it.”
Tottenham also gave an apology for signing up.
Robert Sanchez, of Brighton & Hove Albion, warms up wearing a T-shirt with a message before the team’s Premier League match against Chelsea on Tuesday.Credit: Getty Images
“We regret the anxiety and upset caused by the ESL proposal,” Spurs chairman Daniel Levy said. “We felt it was important that our club participated in the development of a possible new structure that sought to better ensure financial fair play and financial sustainability whilst delivering significantly increased support for the wider football pyramid.
“We believe that we should never stand still and that the sport should constantly review competitions and governance to ensure the game we all love continues to evolve and excite fans around the world.”
The Premier League threatened to sanction the six rebel clubs and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson considered introducing laws to stop them forming a new European competition he called a “cartel”.
Divisions within the Super League clubs also grew, with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola saying the Super League would damage the integrity and values of sport. Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp also expressed concerns about the actions of his club’s owners.
The Premier League had threatened its six Super League clubs with expulsion if they tried to go it alone in Europe. The other 14 English Premier League clubs met on Tuesday and “unanimously and vigorously” rejected the Super League plans, which overshadowed Johnson’s news conference on the pandemic.
Britain’s Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said out-of-touch owners “completely misjudged the strength of feeling from fans, players and the whole country”.
The government is exploring adopting the 50-plus-1 rule from Germany that gives fans the majority of voting rights, nominally to protect clubs from being controlled by private investors.
“Our fan-led review will still happen and I remain convinced of the need for reform,” Dowden said. “We must make sure this never happens again.”
Everton decried the “preposterous arrogance” of Super League clubs. Everton’s nine titles are the fourth most in the history of England’s top division, and the Merseyside club was considered part of the country’s elite in the 1980s and early 1990s.
“The backlash is understandable and deserved — and has to be listened to,” Everton’s board of directors said in a statement. “This preposterous arrogance is not wanted anywhere in football outside of the clubs that have drafted this plan.”
AP, with Reuters