EPL clubs back away from Super League plans

PLANS for a European Super League collapsed yesterday as Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham joined Manchester City in withdrawing from controversial proposals that provoked a furious backlash.

Chelsea is reportedly set to follow leaving just six sides: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, AC

Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus still involved in the project.

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

A $4.2 billion pot, financed by US investment bank JPMorgan, had been raised to be distributed among the founding members to offset the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, 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 longterm challenges facing the game.”

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.

Arsenal went further by apologising to supporters for misjudging the move to sign up to proposals.

“It was never our intention cause such distress,” the club said. to