‘Rebel’ six could still face Premier League sanctions
English football's 'Big Six' clubs could still face Premier League sanctions, despite backing out of the breakaway Super League.
The European Super League has also announced that it is considering "appropriate steps to reshape the project" , despite most of the 12 clubs having now withdrawn due to the backlash from fans.
The Super League remained defiant in its statement yesterday morning, insisting that it is "convinced that the current status quo of European football needs to change".
In England, Brighton chief executive Paul Barber called for "appropriate action" to be taken against the clubs involved, even though by then Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea had indicated their intention to withdraw. It is understood that the league' s position has not altered since it issued a statement on Tuesday afternoon, when all six were still signatories to the breakaway Super League.
At the time, it said: "The Premier League is considering all actions available to prevent it from progressing, as well as holding those (clubs) involved to account under its rules."
Section L9 of the league's handbook states member clubs shall not enter or play in extra competitions without the prior written approval of the league's board.
Tuesday's statement from the league followed an emergency meeting of its other 14 clubs in response to the crisis. by yesterday morning, the six had pulled out following a huge backlash from supporters, governing bodies and other clubs, as well as their own players and managers.
Their withdrawals were marked in some cases by apologies – and in the case of Manchester United their executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward announced he would leave the club by the end of the year.
The six Premier League clubs had joined forces with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan to create a rival competition to the Champions League.
By yesterday afternoon only Spanish duo Real Madrid and Barcelona remained. Fellow Laliga side Atletico Madrid were the first of the sides outside England to pull out, followed by Inter Milan and then AC Milan.
Juventus' statement stopped short of withdrawal. Instead they observed that the intended withdrawals of others meant the project had "limited possibilities". Their chairman Andrea Agnelli came in for scathing criticism from UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin for his role in the breakaway on Monday as the Slovenian said: "I've never seen a person that would lie so many times, so persistently as he did ."
The Super League was highly controversial because its 12 ‘founder members’ – who were all apparently unhappy with UEFA'S proposed changes to the Champions League – were to be granted automatic entry each year along with three additional teams who would be involved without the threat of relegation. It would, critics said, create a closed shop which would undermine the principles of sporting merit.
The plan was met with immediate and fierce condemnation from across the sporting and political spectrum as well as widespread fan protest. There was also disgruntlement from within the clubs involved, with managers such as Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp, pictured inset, and Manchester City's Pep Guardiola voicing dissatisfaction. News of the English clubs' withdrawal was met with a positiveresponse from the football Association, which said the move had “threatened the whole football pyramid”.
The English clubs' actions have in some cases fuelled fresh sentiment against their owners and directors, and were described by Football Supporters' Association vice-chair Tom Greatrex as a "spectacular miscalculation". The concessions they gained in the 202425 Champions League format – more matches, extra places for teams based on historic performance–could be revisited by UEFA and its stakeholder partners.
European Leagues, which includes the Premier League as a member, was on record in its opposition to the number of games and the qualification process, and is understood to be prepared to challenge the format again, even though it was only signed off byuefa' s executive committee on Monday.
All 12 rebel clubs resigned from the European Club Association,a lobbying group which has previously been perceived as representing the most powerful clubs, and there has been no official word from the ECA about whether they will be let back in and, if so, on what terms.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said the club "regret the anxiety and upset caused by the proposal ", while arsenal apologisedfor their" mistake" in signing up for the venture.
Liverpool principal owner John w henry took full responsibility for the" disruption" caused by the project in a video message to supporters.
The Football Supporters' Association warned that fans "could not take their foot off the accelerator" after helping force the clubs to change tack, and said it was vital that football did not try to ignore or dilute the recommendations of the fanled review which the UK government launched in response to the Super League news.
The Super League said in a statement: "Despite the announced departure of the English clubs, we are convinced our proposal is fully aligned with European law and regulations as was demonstrated by a court decision to protect the Super League from third party actions. We are proposing a new European competitionbecause the existing system does not work.
“Our proposal is aimed at allowing the sport to evolve while generating resources and stability for the full football pyramid,including helping to overcome the financial difficulties experienced by the entire footballcommunity as a result of the pandemic."