SHAW WASN’T A GREAT IDEA

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EVEN before the Super League started falling apart last night, players at the rebel clubs were beginning to voice their opposition.

Manchester United and England left-back Luke Shaw (right, top) took to Twitter to make an passionate statement on what his club and 11 others were proposing to do and why he was against it.

He said: “Not a minute has passed when I haven’t thought about the current situation.

“I wondered how I could express my opinion without causing any issues for my club, which everyone knows I care about deeply.

“I grew up watching the Premier League and Champions League and fell in love watching what in my opinion are the two biggest club competitions in the world.

“My ambition was to one day to be able to play in these competitions and part of this determination was that with hard work anyone can achieve these dreams and play on the highest stages.

“There is so much passion around the world for football and I have been privileged to experience that first-hand, however I worry these changes could impact the sport that I and millions of others love.”

And he spoke in particular of the fans he hopes to see back soon at Old Trafford and the part they have to play.

“We’ve been without supporters in stadiums for over a year now and I know how much myself and the team have missed them in every game.

“Fans and players should always have a voice and their opinion should always be counted.”

Shaw’s United teammate Marcus Rashford also made his feelings felt on social media (above).

With clubs still committed to the ESL, the 20 Premier League captains agreed yesterday afternoon to meet today to discuss the situation.

Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne (left, below), Cesar Azpilicueta

(left) of

Chelsea and Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson had arranged for the skippers to talk.

As civil war broke out between the warring factions involved at club and European administrative levels, the players swapped text messages before deciding a meeting was necessary to decide on a way forward for them.

UEFA President Alexander Ceferin had warned any player competing in the European Super League would not be allowed to compete in the Champions League or the Euros this summer.

Players’ anger grew that they could potentially be punished for a situation over which they had no control.

There is also frustration they have been a target for fans’ anger while the people responsible for the proposals remain silent in the background.