What is the latest news about European Super League?
The European Super League project is dead, its founder Andrea Agnelli has admitted. Twelve teams had agreed to join a breakaway Super League but plans collapsed when all six English clubs withdrew. Here is the latest.
Summary:
- All six English clubs confirm plans to exit 12-team plan, Agnelli admits idea is dead
- German sides Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund never involved — or invited
- Bayern Munich: “Our fans reject a Super League”
- UEFA and national leagues reject “cynical” proposals
Super League is dead, admits Agnelli
Breakaway European Super League founder and Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli said on Wednesday that the league can longer go ahead after six English clubs withdrew. They were followed by Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan on Wednesday morning.
Asked whether the project could still happen after the exits, Agnelli said: “To be frank and honest no, evidently that is not the case.”
However, Agnelli seems to believe the project can continue in some form with the remaining clubs: Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan, and his club, Juventus. “There is a blood pact binding our clubs together,” Agnelli told Italian newspaper La Repubblica.
Agnelli confirmed that he would not be stepping down from his role as Juventus chairman, despite reports to the contrary.
Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan withdraw
Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan became the latest clubs to withdraw from the European Super League fiasco on Wednesday.
Atletico, whose board of directors met on Wednesday, said it “decided to formally communicate to the Super League and the rest of the founding clubs its decision not to formalize its participation in the project.”
Inter said the club was committed to delivering the best soccer experience for fans because “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,” the Italian club said.
German clubs weren’t invited – Perez
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said many contentious things in his El Chiringuito appearance on Monday night but one of his claims was correct: neither Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund were invited to join the Super League prior to the founding member’s announcement on Sunday night.
Aware of the two German giants’ concerns over a breakaway move, Perez and his co-conspirators had never shown their hand to them. DW sources can confirm that Dortmund were never involved in the talks at any stage.
“Florentino’s idea was to create maximum momentum with all the clubs that were on board,” a senior official from another top European club suggests. “Approaching the two German teams (and Paris Saint-Germain, who also harbored doubts) would have slowed things down and might have led to damaging leaks. You don’t start a revolution with guys who are not fully committed.”
Manchester United and Spurs complete English exit
That’s the full set of English clubs, and half the teams gone. Spurs, unlike their counterparts, have attributed quotes to chairman Daniel Levy, but there’s not quite an apology.
“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.”
United’s missive was very brief and mentioned that the club had “listened carefully to the reaction from our fans, the UK government and other key stakeholders.”
Liverpool and Arsenal the next to go
Two more of the six English sides initially signed up for the Super League have officially announced their desire to pull out within 48 hours of its unveiling. Liverpool and Arsenal now join Manchester City, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham unlikely to be far behind.
“Liverpool Football Club can confirm that our involvement in proposed plans to form a European Super League has been discontinued,” said a statement on the Liverpool website.
“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’s tweet took a more contrite tone.
12 clubs set to meet
The 12 clubs who initially wanted to break away are reportedly set to join together for a Zoom call at 23:30 CET. Sparks will surely fly.
Manchester City confirm plan to leave
The first domino has fallen. A statement on Manchester City’s website reads, in full: “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.”
UEFA, who had appeared to be acting forcefully against any clubs that signed up, have already welcomed the English side “back in to the European football family”, according to Rob Harris, of the Associated Press.
Liverpool players: ‘No to Super League’
Another one bites the dust? A number of Liverpool players, including captain Jordan Henderson, have posted the tweet below. It’s not entirely clear whether they are speaking for themselves or the club. But it may not matter.
Big guns gone?
Again, these are reports, but it seems as if one or two of the main protagonists in this farce may soon fall on their swords. Manchester United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward will reportedly step down from his role at the end of 2021, bringing his planned departure forward a year.
There have also been suggestions that Andrea Agnelli, the Juventus president, will leave his post, but this is far from confirmed. If the league is as close to collapse as it seems, plenty of executive heads will surely have to roll.
Verge of collapse?
There are now reports coming in that Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are ready to withdraw their participation and more clubs could yet follow. The house of cards looks set to collapse.
It should be stressed that none of this is officially confirmed but signs are that the European Super League could only last a couple of days.
However, Real Madrid’s Florentino Perez, one of the plan’s chief architects said this earlier today: “The contract of the Super League is binding. Nobody can leave, we will work all together. All the clubs signed the contracts last Saturday, there’s no problem.”
Manchester City also looking to leave — reports
It now appears Manchester City will also send notice of their intention to pull out of the Super League.
City and Chelsea, who are relative latecomers to England’s financial elite, were reportedly the last clubs to be informed of plans made by the 12 to withdraw.
Chelsea to withdraw?
Various reports in England suggest Chelsea are set to pull out of the European Super League less than 48 hours after announcing they would be part of the breakaway.
There have been protests outside the London club’s Stamford Bridge stadium tonight, with thousands in attendance ahead of a Premier League match with Brighton and Hove Albion.
If confirmed, the club’s exit will surely put pressure on the other English outfits to follow suit.
