Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)

HOW THE PREM REBELS BROKE NEWS OF THEIR OWN BREXIT JUST HOURS AFTER SPARKING CRISIS

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ARSENAL

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 in 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. We have heard you.

The Arsenal Board

CHELSEA

AS REPORTED earlier this evening, conchelsea

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

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.

MAN CITY

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.

MAN UNITED

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.

TOTTENHAM

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.”

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