Major US bank financing it to tune of £4.6bn
due to announce their own proposals for a revamped Champions League today, reacted with fury to the news. A statement issued jointly with the three governing bodies and leagues involved referred to a ‘closed, so-called Super League’.
It continued: ‘If this were to happen, we will remain united in our efforts to stop this cynical project, a project that is founded on the self-interest of a few clubs at a time when society needs solidarity more than ever. We will consider all measures available to us, at all levels, judicial and sporting in order to prevent this happening.
‘The clubs concerned will be banned from playing in any other competition at domestic, European or world level, and their players could be denied the opportunity to represent their national teams. We call on all lovers of football, supporters and politicians to join us in fighting such a project. This self-interest of a few has been going on too long. Enough is enough.’
Meanwhile, a letter sent by Premier League chief executive Richard Masters to all 20 member clubs took a similarly strong stance. ‘We do not and cannot support such a concept,’ he wrote. ‘Premier League rules contain a commitment amongst clubs to remain within the football pyramid and forbid any clubs from entering competitions beyond those listed in Rule L9, without Premier League board permission.
‘I cannot envisage any scenario where such permission would be granted.’
The Premier League board is independent of the clubs and would not need a wider vote to reject permission to join a European Super League.
The board consists of Masters (right), chairman Gary Hoffman and Kevin Beeston, a non-executive director. Hoffman was complaining yesterday that representatives of the Big Six were not returning his calls. He does not regard this latest development as mere brinkmanship around football’s ongoing power struggles.
Equally furious, was UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, who was expecting to publish a joint statement with Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli at the weekend condemning plans for the Super League. Alarm bells started ringing on Saturday when Ceferin, who is godfather to Agnelli’s daughter, could not contact his old friend to finalise the wording.
The new league represents an American takeover of elite European football, which will become a closed shop run by its founder members. One source described it as a US-led operation, adding: ‘This is down mostly to the Americans at United, Liverpool and Arsenal who have believed for a long time they should be making a lot more money. Then you have Tottenham, who’ve just built a new stadium and who would benefit from infrastructure payments.
‘Chelsea and Man City, who have been reluctant, do not really need the money but there is the obvious fear of missing out.’
It is believed Perez or Arsenal’s Stan Kroenke will hold the chairman’s role in the new structure, with Liverpool’s John W Henry, Joel Glazer of Manchester United and Agnelli in vice-chairman roles.
Chelsea and Manchester City are thought to have been presented with the proposals as late as Friday, with Manchester City the last to sign on Saturday.
England’s six clubs are not intending to resign from domestic football, but would need Premier League permission to join any new competition, and the issue could be forced. There is a lot of anger among the other 14 Premier League clubs, with some even advocating excluding the breakaway clubs.
Condemnation from many was swift and strong. On Sky Sports, Gary Neville said: ‘I’m disgusted with United and Liverpool most. Deduct them all points tomorrow, put them at the bottom of the league and take the money off them. Seriously, you have got to stamp on this. It’s criminal.
‘There isn’t a football fan in this country who won’t be and shouldn’t be seething.’ « GARY NEVILLE’S FURY AT SUPER LEAGUE PLAN — VERDICT P6-7