England’s ‘big six’ clubs agree to join Euro Super League

Six English clubs have agreed to join a new breakaway European Super League (ESL), it has been announced.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham have linked up with six European clubs – three from Spain and three from Italy – to create a rival competition to the Champions League.

It is anticipated three more clubs will join the breakaway group as founding members with the new competition to eventually feature 20 teams.

A joint statement read: “Twelve of Europe’s leading football clubs have today come together to announce they have agreed to establish a new midweek competition, the Super League, governed by its founding clubs.

“AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur have all joined as founding clubs.

“It is anticipated that a further three clubs will join ahead of the inaugural season, which is intended to commence as soon as practicable.”

The timing of the announcement is incendiary coming ahead of an anticipated announcement today from Uefa confirming changes to the Champions League format.

The statement from the 12 clubs makes clear they do not believe the proposed changes go far enough.

The ESL said its new competition will be played in midweek with the eventual 15 founding members being joined by five qualifiers. It will be played initially in two groups of 10 with an eightteam knockout stage.

The ESL added that all participating clubs would continue to compete in their respective national leagues.

News of the breakaway leaked out before it was officially announced and provoked a fierce backlash from Uefa and various national leagues and associations.

World governing body Fifa also issued a strong condemnation after the announcement was made, pointing out that the competition was unsanctioned.