Blues ‘set to withdraw from league’

CHELSEA are preparing to withdraw from the European Super League, according to the Press Association news agency.

Owner Roman Abramovich is understood to have driven the decision, having listened to fan protests and opted to pull out of the new European league plans.

Chelsea are the first of England’s ‘Big Six’ clubs to choose to quit the competition, which was only announced on Sunday night.

Manchester City refused to comment on reports they too plan to quit when contacted by PA. A spokesperson said: “We cannot comment for legal reasons.”

Atletico Madrid and Barcelona have reportedly also withdrawn, but it is understood Manchester United and Liverpool have not changed their position.

Abramovich’s motivations are thought never to have been about money, and the Blues are now understood to be preparing documents to withdraw formally from the competition.

Stamford Bridge chiefs were only thought to have signed up as a founder member of the Super League in order not to be left behind by the rogue breakaway.

But after resounding condemnation from across the political and sporting spectrum, Chelsea appear to have decided to pull out of the competition.

Chelsea fans launched a mass protest outside of Stamford Bridge, with banners criticising the club for their decision to join the controversial Super League.

Scores of fans chanted, let off blue smoke bombs and marched around the west London ground, with police attempting to control the crowds.

Former Blues goalkeeper Petr Cech, now a technical advisor at the club, spoke to some supporters and could be heard saying “give everybody time” in a video posted on social media.

Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin, working as a pundit for BBC Radio 5 Live, saw his old club’s withdrawal as the first brick in the wall that will bring the rest down with it.

He said: “If you suppose to put up a brick wall and show everybody this solidarity... it needs one brick to fall. If that one brick’s fallen tonight and it’s Chelsea, it’s gone.

“I actually think it’s completely gone and it’s dead in the water, and we can get back to something approaching normality and arguing what the Champions League’s going to look like next season. It is that big, one club coming out of it.”