Premier League clubs withdraw from European Super League plans

The proposal for a European Super League has collapsed as all six Premier League clubs walk away amid a furious backlash.

Lewis Dunk and Joel Veltman of Brighton & Hove Albion warm up wearing a t-shirt with a message in protest against the European Super League prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham joined Manchester City in withdrawing from proposals for a European Super League (ESL) as the controversial plan collapsed amid a furious backlash.

Chelsea are reportedly set to follow leaving just six sides: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus still involved in the project.

Reaction to the plans has been scathing, with politicians and football authorities threatening to take legal action against the so-called “dirty dozen”, who were told they faced potential bans from domestic and continental competitions.

“Manchester United will not be participating in the European Super League,” the 20-time English champions said in a statement.

“We have listened carefully to the reaction from our fans, the UK government and other key stakeholders.

“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.”

Chelsea Football Club fans outside the team’s Stamford Bridge home ground.

United also announced that executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward will leave his role by the end of the year.

The 20-team ESL was designed by the European giants to guarantee revenue from regular matches against one another without the risk of failing to qualify for 15 founder members.

However, the plan was fiercely criticised by even their own players and managers for acting as a closed shop.

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson posted his disapproval of the plans on behalf of the squad on Twitter.

In a statement, Liverpool said: “Liverpool Football Club can confirm that our involvement in proposed plans to form a European Super League has been discontinued.

“In recent days, the club has received representations from various key stakeholders, both internally and externally, and we would like to thank them for their valuable contributions.” Arsenal went further by apologising to supporters for misjudging the move to sign up to proposals.

“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 Gunners said in a statement.

Football supporters demonstrate against the proposed European Super League outside of Stamford Bridge football stadium in London.

“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.”

The withdrawals leave the project dead in the water. Reigning European champions Bayern Munich and French giants Paris Saint-Germain both came out strongly opposed to the breakaway league — damaging the legitimacy of the project further.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin welcomed City’s U-turn.

“I am delighted to welcome City back to the European football family,” said the Slovenian, who encouraged the breakaway clubs to realise their mistake earlier on Tuesday.

“They have shown great intelligence in listening to the many voices - most notably their fans — that have spelled out the vital benefits that the current system has for the whole of European football.”

Chelsea protest

More than 1000 fans gathered outside Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium to protest against the plan before their Premier League match against Brighton, which ended in a 0-0 draw.

Fans held up signs reading: “RIP Football 1863 - 2021”, “Created by the poor, stolen by the rich”, “We want our cold nights in Stoke” and “Roman do the right thing” -- in reference to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

Less than two hours after the protesters made their feelings known, it was first reported that Chelsea were preparing documentation to withdraw from the competition.

Abramovich is understood to have driven the decision, which is yet to be made official.

British Prime Minster Boris Johnson earlier met Premier League clubs, the FA and fan groups, vowing to do all in his power to kill the ESL plan.

He tweeted later, before City’s decision was confirmed: “The decision by Chelsea and Manchester City is - if confirmed - absolutely the right one and I commend them for it.”

The decision by Chelsea and Manchester City is – if confirmed – absolutely the right one and I commend them for it.

I hope the other clubs involved in the European Super League will follow their lead.

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 20, 2021

The 20-team ESL was designed by the European giants to guarantee revenue from regular matches against one another without the risk of failing to qualify for 15 founder members.

‘It’s not a sport’

However, the plan was fiercely criticised by even their own players and managers for acting as a closed shop.

“It’s not a sport when the relation between effort and reward doesn’t exist,” said Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

“It’s not a sport when success is already guaranteed, it’s not a sport if it doesn’t matter if you lose.”

The 12 teams had signed up to share in an initial pot of more than 3.5 billion euros ($4.2 billion) -- vastly boosting their revenues, which have been badly hit during the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the proposals, announced late Sunday, five more clubs would have had to qualify for the 20-team midweek competition, joining the 15 permanent members.

Currently, teams have to qualify for the Champions League each year through their national competitions, and survive a group phase before reaching the high-profile latter stages.

The breakaway announcement came just hours before UEFA announced a new, 36-team format for the Champions League, which had been conceived to placate the continent’s biggest clubs.

AFP

More to come