English clubs quick to rue flirting with rebels
Super League plan appears doomed
All six English clubs dramatically abandoned plans to join a breakaway Super League yesterday, threatening to implode the project by a group of elite English, Spanish and Italian clubs less than two days after it was announced.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham deserted the 12-team project amid an escalating backlash that saw the Government warn of legislating to stop the breakaway competition.
Manchester City were the first club to withdraw from the proposed competition. Hours later, all six of the Premier League teams were out.
The Premier League leaders posted a statement.
“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,” the brief statement said.
Arsenal’s board released an open letter admitting they made a mistake to join the proposed 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,” the statement said.
“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.”
They were all set to be part of the 15-team competition — a breakaway from the UEFA Champions League — which was revealed on Monday.
The remaining six clubs are Inter Milan, Juventus and AC Milan of Italy and Spain’s Atle´tico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid. Three clubs were yet to be named to join.
Chelsea fans gathered outside home ground Stamford Bridge ahead of yesterday’s Premier League draw with Brighton to protest the Super League move.
Liverpool players all posted on social media saying they are against the competition before the club officially withdrew.
The Premier League had threatened to sanction the six rebel clubs and 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 joining a largely closed competition away from UEFA’S existing Champions League could damage the integrity and values of sport. Liverpool manager Ju¨rgen Klopp has also expressed concerns about the actions of his club’s owners.
The Premier League had threatened the six Super League clubs with expulsion if they went it alone in Europe. The other 14 EPL clubs met and “unanimously and vigorously” rejected the Super League plans.
“The Premier League is considering all actions available to prevent it from progressing, as well as holding those shareholders involved to account under its rules,” the English top division said in a statement.
There was a no-relegation plan in the Super League proposal meaning the 15 clubs would be secure, regardless of results.
“Sport is not a sport when the relationship between the effort and the success, the effort and reward doesn’t exist,” said Guardiola, whose Manchester City side lead the Premier League. “It’s not a sport. It’s not a sport when success is already guaranteed. It’s not a sport when it doesn’t matter when you lose.” — AP