Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham are the teams among the 12 teams that have agreed to join the new European Super League (ESL).
In the wake of the European earthquake, Premier League clubs will also join AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, and Real Madrid.
ESL said the founding clubs have agreed to establish a “new midweek competition.” And teams continue to “compete in their national leagues.”
He said that in the first season, “it will start very soon.” And “three more teams will be in the league ” in practice.
ESL has also said it plans to launch the women’s competition as soon as possible after the men’s tournament kicks off.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Uefa, and the Premier League had condemned the move when the news broke on Sunday.
Speaking on Monday, he said the government “will look at everything. We can do with football officials to ensure that this does not continue the way it is currently being proposed.”
Speaking to the broadcasters during a visit to Gloucestershire, he said: “I don’t think that is a piece of good news for fans. I don’t think it’s good news for football in this country.”
Critics say the move is only for money.
Critics say the move is only for money; it will destroy local leagues and challenge the integrity of the sport.
Unlike the Champions League, which the teams have to compete for, the ESL will field the same 15 teams each year, with the remaining five qualifyings in a year.
The world governing body Fifa had previously said it would not take such a competition. And any players involved could be denied the opportunity to play in the World Cup.
Uefa, Europe’s governing body, reiterated that warning on Sunday. The warning said that the players who are involved would be barred from all competitions at home. European or world level and would not be barred from representing their national teams.
Following the announcement of ESL, Fifa expressed its opposition to the proposed tournament. And called on “all parties involved in the intense negotiations to hold calm, constructive and balanced negotiations to benefit the game.”
ESL has sent a letter to Fifa president Gianni Infantino and Uefa boss Aleksander Ceferin to issue legal proceedings in European courts. Designed to block any sanctions the two governing bodies may try to enforce in the form of ESL.
In a statement, ESL said: “From now on, the founding teams are keen to hold talks with Uefa and Fifa. To work together to bring about positive results for the new league and football as a whole.”
Why now?
In October, talks involving Wall Street bank JP Morgan talked about a new £ 4.6bn competition that would replace the Champions League.
Uefa had hoped that plans for a new Champions League with 36 teams with changes to be confirmed on Monday. It would halt the formation of the Super League.
However, the 12 parties involved in the Super League do not think the changes will go far enough.
They said the global epidemic had “accelerated the instability of the current European football economy.”
“In recent months, there have been extensive discussions with football stakeholders about the upcoming European competitions,” he added.
“The founding clubs believe the solutions proposed after these talks do not address important issues. Including the need to provide quality sports and additional financial resources for this football tower.”
What is the proposed format of the European Super League?
The league will have 20 teams with 12 basic members and three unnamed clubs waiting to join them soon. With five qualifying teams annually based on their home achievements.
Under the proposals, the ESL campaign will begin in August each year, with a midweek schedule. And the clubs will be divided into two groups of 10. They will be playing equally at home and away.
The top three in each team will be able to advance to the quarter-finals, with teams in fourth and fifth place playing two-legged play in the remaining two spots.
From there, there will be the same two-leg knockout format as in the Champions League. Before the one-leg final in May in a neutral position.
ESL has said it will generate more revenue than the Champions League and generate more revenue for the game.
What do Super League leaders say?
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who is also the first chairman of ESL, said that the new tournament “will help football at all levels.”
“Football is the only game in the world with more than four billion fans. And it is our responsibility as big teams to respond to their aspirations,” Florentino added.
Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli has resigned from Uefa’s executive committee and chaired the European Club Association (ECA), pushing for a planned Champions League reshuffle.
He said the 12 clubs “came together at this critical time, making European competition competitive, putting our favorite sport on the table for the future.”
All 12 clubs have resigned from the ECA.
Understandably, all 12 clubs have resigned from the ECA and their respective representatives on the ECA board.
Manchester United vice-chairman Ed Woodward and Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano also stood at Uefa.
Manchester United’s co-chairman Joel Glazer will be vice-chairman of the Super League.
He said that “By bringing together the biggest clubs and the players in the world to play together all season. The Super League will open a new chapter in European football, ensure competition and world-class resources. And also increase financial support for the wider football pyramid.”
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund has said they will not join and commit to the ECA and German club Bayern Munich.
What has been the response of the European Super League?
Widespread condemnation to anyone not involved in the proposed league.
Johnson said the plans could “seriously damage the ball.”
He said: “These clubs are not just the world’s biggest brands. They are the world’s largest producers. And they are the clubs that historically come from their cities, their cities, their communities. They have to have connections with those fans and fans in their community.
“So it is very important that goes on and on. I don’t like the look of these proposals, and we’ll be discussing what we can do.”
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed French clubs who refused to join.
Uefa stated partnership with the England Association, the Premier League, the Spanish Football Federation, La Liga, and the Italian Football Federation. As well as Serie A, saying they would “remain united” in trying to stop the rebels, using “all available measures.”
The ECA said it was “strongly opposing” to the league. And the Football Supporters’ Association said the programs were “not motivated by anything but selfishness.”
The international players’ union Fifpro said it would “strongly oppose both measures that would violate the rights of players. Such as exclusion from their national teams”.
He added: “This decision also leaves the players and their unions with a lot of concerns. And questions about its impact not only on the complexity and culture of football but especially on their careers.”
The League Managers Association said the Super League would “undermine the entire European football pyramid, with profound and far-reaching consequences.”
He added: “Closing the top of the European football pyramid can quickly extinguish the many aspirations and dreams that drive managers, coaches, players, and fans alike.”
Social media reaction on super league
Former Portugal midfielder Luis Figo wrote on Twitter: “This selfish and cruel act could be a disaster for our ranks. Women’s football and the football community for the sake of self-serving owners who stop caring for their fans long ago. And show a complete disregard for sporting fitness.”
This so called « Superleague » is anything but « Super ». This greedy and callous move would spell disaster for our grassroots, for women’s football, and the wider football community… (1/2)
— Luís Figo (@LuisFigo) April 19, 2021
Paris St-Germain and former Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera wrote on Twitter: “I loved the famous football and the football of the fans. With the dream of seeing my heart team compete with the big one.
“If this major European league continues, those dreams are going to fade.
“I love football, and I can’t keep quiet about it. I believe in a developed Champions League. But not for the rich who steal what people have done.”
— Ander Herrera (@AnderHerrera) April 19, 2021
Former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy told BBC Sport the plans “don’t sound like a ghost.”
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville told Sky Sports he was “absolutely disgusted.” His former teammate Rio Ferdinand told BT Sport that the proposals would hurt many fans.
‘The Great Betrayal’
The fan teams that support all six English teams are strongly opposing to the Super League.
Liverpool fan group Spirit of Shankly (SOS) has said it is a shocking decision of Fenway Sports Group, a US-based club owner.
In a statement, SOS said: “FSG has kept fans out of their pursuit of money through carelessness and greed. Football is ours, not theirs. Our football team is ours and not theirs.”
Chelsea Supporters’ Trust called the action “unforgivable.” And said its members and “football supporters worldwide had seen a huge betrayal.”
The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust has called for a club agreement to join “death of Arsenal as a sports center.”
The Official Supporters Club of Manchester City has said the move showed that “those involved are not interested in the game culture. ” Adding that they are “determined to fight the proposed Super League.”
The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust earlier has said the proposals were “totally unacceptable.” And ESL “opposed everything football is doing, and Manchester United should stand for it.”
The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust has said ESL was “an avarice-driven and self-centered concept because of the internal values of the game we love so much.”
