SUPER GREED
SIX feet under as Super League gets buried from outset Plus Own-goal a victory for the people A32
The Super League collapsed before a ball was kicked in the European breakaway football competition, after being abandoned by the six English clubs, leaving the Spanish and Italian participants stranded.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham deserted the proposal to launch a largely-closed midweek competition amid an escalating backlash from their supporters and warnings from the British government that legislation could be introduced to thwart it.
The Super League project was overseen by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who also signed Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in Spain, and Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan from Italy.
The rival for the UEFA-run Champions League became unviable without the six clubs from the world’s richest league.
The remaining fledgling Super League organisation was defiant, blaming “pressure” being applied for forcing out the English clubs and insisting the proposal complied with the law and could be revived.
“Given the circumstances,” the Super League said in a statement, “we shall reconsider the most appropriate steps to reshape the project, always having in mind our goals of offering fans the best experience possible while enhancing solidarity payments for the entire football community.”
The English clubs heeded the appeals from UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin to remain part of the Champions League, which has a qualification criteria based on a team’s performance in the domestic league.
“I said that it is admirable to admit a mistake and these clubs made a big mistake,” he said.
“But they are back in the fold now and I know they have a lot to offer not just to our competitions but to the whole of the European game.
“The important thing now is that we move on, rebuild the unity that the game enjoyed before this and move forward together.”
As it became clear Chelsea and City were quitting the Super League yesterday, Liverpool co-captain Jordan Henderson and his teammates posted a message advocating staying within the open European competitions.
Manchester United defender Luke Shaw also went against his club by tweeting his backing of the existing Champions League minutes before his club’s about-turn.
The Premier League 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 the Super League would damage the integrity and values of sport. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has also expressed concerns about the actions of his club’s owners.
The Premier League had threatened the six clubs with expulsion if they tried to go it alone in Europe.
The other 14 Premier League clubs met yesterday and “unanimously and vigorously” rejected the Super League plans.
Everton decried the “preposterous arrogance” of Super League clubs. Everton’s nine titles are the fourth most by a team in the history of the English top division, and the club from Merseyside were considered part of the country’s elite in the 1980s and early 1990s.
“The backlash is understandable and deserved — and has to be listened to,” Everton’s board of directors said in a statement.
“This preposterous arrogance is not wanted anywhere in football outside of the clubs that have drafted this plan.”