Only after 48 hours from the announcement of the European Super League it is on the verge of collapse. After strong protest from fans worldwide, Manchester City and Chelsea were the first clubs to pull out from the ESL, followed by the other Premier League clubs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus and Atletico Madrid have all followed the Premier League clubs, and now only Barcelona and Real Madrid are yet to make their withdrawal official.
This comes after Manchester United decided to join the other European clubs to form the Super League but after protest from the fans, the BIG SIX Premier League clubs withdrew from the Super League.
An open letter from Joel Glazer to all Manchester United fans.
And, now Manchester United owner Joel Glazer issues an open letter to all the United fans. Here’s what he had to say:
To all Manchester United supporters,
Over the past few days, we have all witnessed the great passion which football generates, and the deep loyalty our fans have for this great club.
You made very clear your opposition to the European Super League, and we have listened. We got it wrong, and we want to show that we can put things right.
Although the wounds are raw and I understand that it will take time for the scars to heal, I am personally committed to rebuilding trust with our fans and learning from the message you delivered with such conviction.
We continue to believe that European football needs to become more sustainable throughout the pyramid for the long-term. However, we fully accept that the Super League was not the right way to go about it.
In seeking to create a more stable foundation for the game, we failed to show enough respect for its deep-rooted traditions –promotion, relegation, the pyramid – and for that we are sorry.
This is the world’s greatest football club and we apologise unreservedly for the unrest caused during these past few days.
It is important for us to put that right.
Manchester United has a rich heritage and we recognise our responsibility to live up to its great traditions and values.
The pandemic has thrown up so many unique challenges and we are proud of the way Manchester United and its fans from Manchester and around the world have reacted to the enormous pressures during this period.
We also realise that we need to better communicate with you, our fans, because you will always be at the heart of the club.
In the background, you can be sure that we will be taking the necessary steps to rebuild relationships with other stakeholders across the game, with a view to working together on solutions to the long-term challenges facing the football pyramid.
Right now, our priority is to continue to support all of our teams as they push for the strongest possible finish to the season.
In closing, I would like to recognise that it is your support which makes this club so great, and we thank you for that.
Only after 48 hours from the announcement of the European Super League it is on the verge of collapse. After strong protest from fans worldwide, Manchester City and Chelsea were the first clubs to pull out from the ESL, followed by the other Premier League clubs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Now, Spanish club Atletico Madrid and Italian side Inter Milan becomes the latest club to withdraw from the European Super League. The clubs released an official statement confirming their withdrawal.
The Atlético de Madrid Board of Directors, meeting this Wednesday morning, has decided to formally communicate to the Superliga and the rest of the founding clubs its decision not to finally formalize its adherence to the project.
Atlético de Madrid made the decision last Monday to join this project in response to circumstances that no longer exist today.
For the club, harmony between all the groups that make up the rojiblanca family is essential, especially our fans.
The first team squad and their coach have shown their satisfaction with the club’s decision, understanding that sporting merits must prevail over any other criteria.
FC Internazionale Milano confirms that the Club is no longer part of the Super League project. We are always committed to giving the fans the best football experience; innovation and inclusion have been part of our DNA since our foundation. Our commitment with all stakeholders to improve the football industry will never change.
Inter believe that football, like any sector of activity, must have an interest in constantly improving its competitions, in order to continue to excite fans of all ages all over the world, within a framework of financial sustainability.
With this vision we will continue to work together with institutions and all stakeholders for the future of the sport we all love.
On Sunday, the whole football world was in shock after the official announcement of the European Super League was made by the 12 founder clubs. 3 Spanish clubs – Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, 3 Italian clubs – Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan and 6 English clubs – Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have agreed on the formation of the European Super League.
After just 48 hours, the Super League has now collapsed due to the strong protest by the fans and all the BIG SIX Premier League clubs withdrawing from the ESL.
Liverpool owner John W Henry has now given a message to all the supporters on Wednesday morning apologising to Jurgen Klopp, Billy, the players, and everyone who works so hard at LFC to make the fans proud.
Henry said: “I want to apologise to all the fans and supporters of Liverpool Football Club for the disruption I caused over the past 48 hours.”
“It goes without saying but should be said that the project put forward was never going to stand without the support of the fans. No-one ever thought differently in England. Over these 48 hours you were very clear that it would not stand. We heard you. I heard you.”
“And I want to apologise to Jurgen [Klopp], to Billy [Hogan, chief executive], to the players and to everyone who works so hard at LFC to make our fans proud.”
“They have absolutely no responsibility for this disruption. They were the most disrupted and unfairly so. This is what hurts most. They love your club and work to make you proud every single day.”
“I know the entire LFC team has the expertise, leadership and passion necessary to rebuild trust and help us move forward.”
“More than a decade ago when we signed up for the challenges associated with football, we dreamed of what you dreamed of. And we’ve worked hard to improve your club. Our work isn’t done. And I hope you’ll understand that even when we make mistakes, we’re trying to work in your club’s best interests. In this endeavour I’ve let you down.”
“Again, I’m sorry, and I alone am responsible for the unnecessary negativity brought forward over the past couple of days. It’s something I won’t forget. And shows the power the fans have today and will rightly continue to have.”
“If there’s one thing this horrible pandemic has clearly shown, it’s how crucial fans are to our sport and to every sport. It’s shown in every empty stadium. It’s been an incredibly tough year for all of us; virtually no-one unaffected.”
“It’s important that the Liverpool football family remains intact, vital and committed to what we’ve seen from you globally, with local gestures of kindness and support. I can promise you I will do whatever I can to further that.”
Only after 48 hours from the announcement of the European Super League it is on the verge of collapse. After strong protest from fans worldwide, Manchester City and Chelsea were the first clubs to pull out from the ESL.
The other Premier League clubs followed as well. All the BIG SIX Premier League clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur – have released official statements confirming their withdrawal from the European Super League.
Here’s what the BIG SIX Premier League clubs said in their official statements.
As a result of listening to you and the wider football community over recent days we are withdrawing from the proposed Super League.
The last few days have shown us yet again the depth of feeling our supporters around the world have for this great club and the game we love.
We needed no reminding of this but the response from supporters in recent days has given us time for further reflection and deep thought.
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.
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.
We know it will take time to restore your faith in what we are trying to achieve here at Arsenal but let us be clear that the decision to be part of the Super League was driven by our desire to protect Arsenal, the club you love, and to support the game you love through greater solidarity and financial stability.
Stability is essential for the game to prosper and we will continue to strive to bring the security the game needs to move forward.
The system needs to be fixed. We must work together to find solutions which protect the future of the game and harness the extraordinary power football has to get us on the edge of our seats.
Finally, we know this has been hugely unsettling at the end of what has been an incredibly difficult year for us all.
Our aim is always to make the right decisions for this great football club, to protect it for the future and to take us forward. We didn’t make the right decision here, which we fully accept.
As reported earlier this evening, Chelsea Football Club can confirm that it has begun the formal procedures for withdrawal from the group developing plans for a European Super League.
Having joined the group late last week, we have now had time to consider the matter fully and have decided that our continued participation in these plans would not be in the best interests of the Club, our supporters or the wider football community.
Liverpool Football Club can confirm that our involvement in proposed plans to form a European Super League has been discontinued.
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.
Manchester City Football Club can confirm that it has formally enacted the procedures to withdraw from the group developing plans for a European Super League.
We will not be participating in the European Super League.#MUFC
MANCHESTER UNITED WITHDRAW FROM EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE
Manchester United will not be participating in the European Super League. 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.
We can confirm that we have formally commenced procedures to withdraw from the group developing proposals for a European Super League (ESL).#THFC ⚪️ #COYS
We can confirm that we have formally commenced procedures to withdraw from the group developing proposals for a European Super League (ESL).
Chairman Daniel Levy said: “We regret the anxiety and upset caused by the ESL proposal. 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.
“We should like to thank all those supporters who presented their considered opinions.”
The European Super League has been the talk of the footballing world over the last two days. 12 clubs have threatened to break away from the confines that bind the pyramid system in place, with AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham being the founding clubs.
However, at this stage, it is worth pointing out that the women’s variation of the tournament was pretty much an afterthought.
“As soon as practicable after the start of the men’s competition,” a statement said, “a corresponding women’s league will also be launched, helping to advance and develop the women’s game.”
Considering that the main aim of the proposed tournament is to mint money for the big clubs, it is easy to see why they wouldn’t prioritise a Women’s European Super League. But, if we take into account the off chance that it might rule out the big clubs in the continent, a rather interesting development takes place.
The absence of German and French teams means that the two most successful clubs in Women’s football, Wolfsburg and Lyon who have shared 9 of the last 10 Women’s Champions League trophies between them, will be absent from the tournament.
How a tournament of such implied magnitude would intend on minting money by leaving out the biggest clubs in the continent is something that’s hard to explain. Hence, even if the Super League were to take place, the best women’s clubs would still be in the Champions League which actually makes the quality of the Champions League much higher by cutting out the weaker teams.
Plans for the European Super League seem to be on the verge of collapse merely a day after they came into being. Of the 12 teams that were involved in the competition, including the ‘Big Six’ of English football, Chelsea and Manchester City are reportedly pulling out of the competition.
Rather interestingly, both Chelsea and Manchester City had not a lot of interest in joining the league and they only conceded to the pressures of the tournament due to a case of FOMO. However, no matter the reason, they could be considered equally as bad as the rest. But there is hope that their leading by example of quitting the Super League will encourage fans to forgive the club.
Chelsea fans were livid and protesting outside Stamford Bridge ahead of their game against Brighton. So much so that Technical Director Petr Cech had to come out and confront the fans themselves. They were preventing the team bus from coming into the stadium, and it wasn’t until Cech reasoned with them that they calmed down.
But that is not the only form of protest that is being seen. Chelsea and Liverpool fans have taken down banners from the Shed End and Kop of their respective home stadiums. Moreover, the rest of the 14 clubs are wearing special training kits to protest the Big Six’s privileged stance.
Atletico Madrid are denying reports that they have pulled out of the competition, while there is also pressure on Florentino Perez to resign as the President of the breakaway tournament. Lastly, Manchester United vice-chairman Ed Woodward has resigned from his post at the club alongside Juventus’ Andrea Agnelli.
The FIFA President emphasised his full support to the European sports model, a successful model of openness and inclusivity, promotion and relegation
ZURICH, Switzerland, April 20, 2021/ — FIFA President Gianni Infantino has called for respect and dialogue as he expressed FIFA’s strong disapproval of the proposed European breakaway league project, and has requested that the concerned parties consider their position in line with respecting the institutions that exist to protect the interest of national, European and global football.
“FIFA is an organisation which is built on values, the true values of sport,” said the FIFA President in his address to the 45th Ordinary UEFA Congress in Montreux, Switzerland. “It is an organisation that is built on our statutes, the statutes that define the institutional framework, with the pyramid, with FIFA, the confederations, the associations, the leagues, the clubs, the players. And at FIFA, we can only strongly disapprove the creation of a super league which is a closed shop, which is a breakaway from the current institutions, from the leagues, from the associations, from UEFA and from FIFA, which is outside of the system. There is no doubt whatsoever of FIFA’s disapproval for this.”
The FIFA President emphasised his full support to the European sports model, a successful model of openness and inclusivity, promotion and relegation, and a model that he promoted in his 16 years at UEFA: “FIFA is here, and I am here today as FIFA President, to bring full support to European football, to UEFA, and the 55 member associations of UEFA and of FIFA, to the leagues, clubs, players and to fans. To all the fans, all over Europe, and actually all over the world as well.”
“We can see that there is a lot to throw away for the short-term financial gain of some,” the FIFA President added. “People need to think very carefully, they need to reflect, and they need to assume responsibility. They need to think not only of their shareholders, but they need to think about all the people, of all the fans, of all those who have contributed to make European football what it is today. It goes back not only decades, it goes back more than one hundred years. People – with love, with passion, with commitment – have created all this. And we need to protect this. It is our task.”
“FIFA is a democratic organisation, an organisation that is open,” the FIFA President concluded. “Everyone can bring ideas and proposals, but always with respect for the institutions, leagues, associations, UEFA and FIFA. With respect for the history and with the respect for the passion of so many people around the world. I understand as well that in these particular days, emotions are very high, but we need to always keep the line. Football is hope, and it is our responsibility to make hope reality. So we hope that everything will go back to normal, and that everything will be settled, but always with acting responsibly, with respect, with solidarity, and always in the interest of national, European and global football.”
The proposal of the European Super League with the big teams of Europe has already raised many questions regarding the future of football. According to some, it will damage the ecosystem of this beautiful game.
‘Big Six’ clubs of the Premier League have agreed to join the European Super League. Clubs like Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Juventus are also joining this league.
It was also rumoured that the teams who have agreed to join ESL would be expelled from the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League this season. It meant Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Manchester City from UCL, and Manchester United from UEL would be kicked off the competition.
But Real Madrid president and also ESL president Florentini Perez assured, “No. They won’t be expelled from the Champions League. That’s for sure. Real Madrid won’t be, Man City won’t be, none of them will be expelled. That’s for sure. I am completely sure of it. Not from the Champions League, not from LaLiga, nothing like that.”
Today according to a story in ESPN, Champions League semi-finals will be played on their respective dates, no exclusion of teams will happen. Chelsea will take on Real Madrid, and PSG will go up against Manchester City in the semi-final. Manchester United will also continue its journey in UEL.
However, UEFA President Aleksandr Čeferin appealed to the club owners to reconsider the decision of playing in ESL. He said at their annual congress in Switzerland, “Gentlemen, you made a mistake. There is still time to change your minds.”
The whole football world is in shock after the official announcement of the European Super League was made by the 12 founder clubs. 3 Spanish clubs – Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, 3 Italian clubs – Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan and 6 English clubs – Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have agreed on the formation of the European Super League.
The Premier League’s BIG SIX clubs have agreed on the formation of the ESL, which have caused anger in the fans and the players. So here we take a look at what the club legends had to say on the involvement of their clubs.
Arsenal’s Martin Keown, Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, Tottenham’s Alan Mullery, Liverpool’s Mark Lawrenson, Chelsea’s Pat Nevin and Manchester City’s Micah Richards have given their thoughts on the plan to Sportsmail, via DailyMail.
MARTIN KEOWN, ARSENAL, 449 APPEARANCES
On my first day at Arsenal, I was handed a little booklet which explained the conduct expected of me. Even now I remember flicking through it and seeing the club’s motto: ‘Remember who you are, what you are and who you represent.’
That was spelled out to me and everyone else who joined.
But in becoming one of the dirty dozen to sign up for this Super League, Arsenal are forgetting who they are, what they are and who they represent.
We have to hope this talk of breaking away is extreme posturing at the negotiation table. These club executives have always wanted to extract more money from UEFA, and news of this Super League comes as the 36-team Champions League is being approved.
If this was a game of poker, they’d be going all-in. Now we wait to see if they win or if it backfires. I hope it doesn’t go through and believe it won’t. To create a closed shop flies in the face of fair competition. When Arsene Wenger left Arsenal in 2018, he said, ‘Take care of the values of the club’. This doesn’t fit with that wish.
You never hear from these mega-rich owners. Now they’ve put their managers in awkward positions as they face questions about why they want to run away and form their own league. But it isn’t on them. It’s on the greedy owners who don’t seem to care about the values of football.
WAYNE ROONEY, MANCHESTER UNITED, 559 APPEARANCES
What Gary Neville is saying is right, but let’s see what comes from it. Whether it’s good news or bad news, we can all have a clearer opinion on the situation.
I completely understand the frustration from everyone. It’s strange timing and a strange situation to come out.
Football is working fine the way it is at the minute. Let’s see if they’re looking to improve that or it’s a backward step. What you have to look at is the history of English football. If this is something on top of what we’ve got, the competitions the teams are playing in, then that’s a decision for those clubs to take.
If they totally break away from the Premier League and the domestic cup competitions in England, I don’t think that would be a great look.
ALAN MULLERY, TOTTENHAM, 374 APPEARANCES
The whole idea is absolutely diabolical. I saw Gary Neville on the television and thought he spoke outstandingly well. It’s the principle of the matter.
You’re talking about getting rid of what we’ve called football for more than 100 years and now they want to change everything when there’s nothing wrong with our game here in England.
People always wanted to play here and to come and watch our football. We have always been able to attract top-class players. Now we find these clubs want to break all that up and change everything because it means they will get huge sums of money.
I don’t know about the finances behind it — it seems to be about money and nothing else. I find it quite sad.
MARK LAWRENSON, LIVERPOOL, 356 APPEARANCES
The more I think about it, the less I can fathom it. Yes, I know this is all about money — isn’t everything these days? — but it’s the willingness to turn your back on history and shut down the stories that have made our club what it is that is hardest to comprehend.
I’m one of the lucky ones. I got my hands on the European Cup in 1984. I’ll never be able to put into words the exhilarating feeling of winning it. What made it so special was how we used to have to go into the unknown and overcome the challenges that were placed in front of us.
Beating Panathinaikos in a European Cup semi-final, being told by Bob Paisley not to drink the local water in Tbilisi, silencing a baying crowd in Bucharest — that is the story of Liverpool and helped the club get its reputation. European tradition did not come by playing the same teams each year.
As a football supporter you love your club unconditionally, but these guys, Fenway Sports Group, just do not get it. They might own Liverpool but this shows me that they will never understand what they have got.
It’s the sheer arrogance of it all that bothers me. I’m surprised and disappointed that our club has gone down this road. In the middle of a global pandemic, the timing is awful. And for what? More cash and a bigger slice of the pie.
PAT NEVIN, CHELSEA, 242 APPEARANCES
I’m not convinced all of the clubs were desperately keen to be involved in such an extreme way. It seems like a game of poker and they’ve thrown in the biggest chip and gone almost all-in.
They must have known they would get some stick but they might be shocked because I don’t think anyone’s behind them. They’ve got the hackles up of absolutely everyone. I’ve yet to talk to anyone who thinks it’s a decent idea.
I’m old-fashioned enough to have not enjoyed the Premier League doing what it did. It was the same thing in a smaller way, cutting off those beneath and making sure vast sums of money went to an elite group.
I don’t particularly like it. That’s not my politics but that’s how the business world works. These clubs are coming from different points. Some will be trying to maximise the opportunity and others need to get out of schtuck, but they’re all businesses so there’s a fear of being left out.
I’d be amazed if Chelsea were one of the driving forces. But you miss the train and you’re left behind on the platform, and if you’re not in the original group you’re already at a massive disadvantage.
MICAH RICHARDS, MANCHESTER CITY, 246 APPEARANCES
We have seen everybody throwing stones at Manchester City over the years, since the new owners came in and transformed the club. Throughout that, the current owners have handled themselves impeccably. They have tried to keep that feel of a family club.
So when this news came out, it felt like a bit of a slap in the face for City supporters, as it did for fans of all the clubs involved.
This is a complicated situation for clubs, but I do not want this European Super League to go ahead and would be disappointed if it does and City are part it.
Perhaps the City hierarchy felt caught between a rock and a hard place. It’s fair to suspect that Sheikh Mansour would not have been amongst the instigators of the European Super League.
There are a few established European giants who will have been driving it. For the rest — and that includes City — you suspect they have that fear of missing out.
The beauty of the Champions League has been its unpredictability. Playing the same teams every single year doesn’t appeal to me. What good is that to anybody? Many will look at it as greed, and I would be in agreement.
I’m not sure it will happen, it feels there are many barriers. Regardless, whichever way this now goes, the ramifications will be significant.
The whole football world is in shock after the official announcement of the European Super League was made by the 12 founder clubs. 3 Spanish clubs – Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, 3 Italian clubs – Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan and 6 English clubs – Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have agreed on the formation of the European Super League.
However, German clubs, including Borussia Dortmund and now Bayern Munich, along with French club PSG, have rejected the chance of joining the European Super League.
Bundesliga clubs share a close relationship with their fans, and they own the majority stakes of the clubs which is something that RB Leipzig loopholed, and is the reason why they are so hated in the country.
FC Bayern Munich takes a closed position on the Super League. President Herbert Hainer says: “Our members and fans reject a Super League. It is our wish as FC Bayern and our goal that the European clubs live this wonderful and emotional Champions League competition and develop it together with UEFA. FC Bayern says no to the Super League. “
The chairman of the board, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, confirms: “On behalf of the board, I can expressly state that FC Bayern does not take part in the Super League. FC Bayern stands in solidarity with the Bundesliga. It was and is always a great pleasure for us to be able to play as the German representative in the Champions League. We all still fondly remember our Champions League victory in Lisbon in 2020, such a happy moment is never forgotten. For FC Bayern, the Champions League is the best club competition in the world. “
