European Super League
Liverpool and Man United owners ‘do not love their clubs’ says former Magpies chief
Speaking to talkSPORT, Newcastle United life president and former chairman Sir John Hall has insisted John W Henry and the Glazer family’s motives are purely financial – and not out of passion or love for the English game. Quizzed by host Jim White on whether the likes of Henry and co ‘love their clubs’, Hall was damning in his response. He said: “No, no – it’s a business – that’s not why they came in, they came in because they could see how they could make money. “I think the Americans came in years and years ago into the clubs, and they had a vision for soccer beyond what the UK had thought about it. “They were looking at the clubs like a global brand. And if they got a backer for an idea- which they had got- they would have made millions out of it.” Sportslens view Manchester United fan...
Josh Kroenke apologises to Arsenal fans for ESL, speaks on the club’s future
Arsenal director Josh Kroenke and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham apologised for the club’s involvement in the European Super League during an Arsenal Fans’ Forum meeting earlier today. On Sunday, the Gunners confirmed that they were one of the founding clubs of the breakaway league but withdrew just 48 hours later amid fierce fan opposition. They were the first club to admit their mistake and issue an apology. Despite this, there continues to remain criticism from many of the supporters, and it has been reported that there will be ‘KroenkeOut’‘ protests before the Premier League clash against Everton on Friday. Speaking in today’s Fans’ forum meeting, Venkatesham said that the club deeply regrets the decision to join the Super League. He added that they were not the authors of the ...
Barcelona supremo: European Super League a ‘necessity’
Barcelona president Joan Laporta described the European Super League as a “necessity” on Thursday but said the final decision would be given to the club’s members. Barca, Real Madrid and Juventus are the only clubs yet to withdraw officially from the breakaway competition, which lasted just 48 hours before the project imploded. Nine of the 12 clubs involved have pulled out. With total debts of more than a billion euros, Barcelona are struggling to keep up with Europe’s elite, making the prospect of a hugely lucrative new tournament particularly attractive. But Laporta said Barca’s members would have to approve the idea in a vote. “We understand it is a necessity but on the other hand, the members will have the last word,” Laporta told Catalunya Radio. “It is absolutely necessary the big cl...
European Super League shelved as more clubs withdraw
The European Super League collapsed on Wednesday as eight of the 12 founding members from England, Italy and Spain abandoned the breakaway project. The project collapsed after it came under massive pressure from fans, politicians, football officials and even the British royals. Founder and Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli told Reuters he was reluctantly calling time on the new league. This was after six English clubs withdrew on Tuesday, with Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid following suit and AC Milan indicating they would too. “The voices and the concerns of fans around the world have clearly been expressed about the Super League, and AC Milan must be sensitive to the voice of those who love this wonderful sport,” the Italian club said in a statement. Agnelli said he still believed in the...
What did each club say as all six Premier League teams withdraw from ESL
All six Premier League clubs have now withdrawn from the European Super League. Manchester City and Chelsea claimed yesterday that were preparing documentation to withdraw. The other four Premier League sides – Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham – have all now followed the same path. Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin welcomed the reversal. He said to BBC Sport: “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.” UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson posted on Twitter: “I welcome last night’s announcement. This is the right result for football fans, ...
Chelsea planning to withdraw from European Super League
Chelsea have reportedly prepared documentation to withdraw from the proposed European Super League. On Sunday evening, it was announced that Chelsea were part of controversial plans to form a new European Super League, alongside 11 of Europe’s top clubs. These included fellow Premier League sides Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City, and three clubs each from Italy and Spain. Florentino Perez and Andrea Agnelli have been at the heart of the negotiations The announcement was met with widespread outrage throughout the footballing world. Fans protested against the proposal, while pundits voiced their displeasure at the agreement. Meanwhile, several of football’s governing bodies threatened participating clubs and players with bans from major tournaments...
Report shows that Liverpool and Arsenal fans lead the charge as ESL farce collapses
Supporters of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur were left devastated by their club’s decision to join the European Super League (ESL). Many fans took to Twitter to vent their frustration and their efforts appear to have paid off, with Chelsea and Man City already having second thoughts about the breakaway. A survey by Compare.bet has now highlighted the strength of feeling, with fans across the ‘Big Six’ united in their disgust at the proposals. The study looked at over 319,000 tweets between April 17-20 which tagged each club’s official Twitter account. The results were as follows: Team Negative Tweets Positive Tweets Neutral Tweets Liverpool 80% 9% 11% Arsenal 79% 10% 11% Tottenham 79% 10% 11% Manchester City 77% 14% 9...
‘It is not sport’: Pep Guardiola speaks out on Manchester City’s Super League inclusion
Premier League manager Pep Guardiola has broken his silence on Manchester City’s inclusion in the proposed European Super League. It was announced on Sunday that Manchester City would be one of the founding members of the European Super League, which has been met with plenty of resistance. Manchester City fans protested against the move on Monday, placing banners outside the Etihad. Now, Pep Guardiola has commented on the plans for his team to join the Super League. “It is not sport when the relation between effort and success, between effort and reward, doesn’t exist,” Guardiola explained, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News. “It is not a sport if success is guaranteed or if it doesn’t matter when you lose. I have said many times I want the best competition, as strong as possib...
‘I’m convinced’: Carragher delivers verdict on ESL after hearing what Leeds and Liverpool fans done
Jamie Carragher has suggested that he is convinced the idea of the European Super League can be stopped if everyone ‘Keep banging the drum’. Twelver clubs – including six Premier League clubs – wants a break away from the existing system. However, the other 14 clubs are getting ready for the fight. Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has even called Juventus’ chairman “a liar” and the clubs “snakes”. The Slovenian criticised the attitude of the club owners who he said view the game as a “product” and fans as “consumers”. There were rumours that Jurgen Klopp, the Reds boss, could leave the club at the end of the season if the plan goes ahead. While Klopp has vowed to honour his contract, he has insisted he would try to “sort it somehow” with Fenway Sports Group. The decision from t...
FIFA chief to break silence as Super League plunges Europe into crisis
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is expected to deliver his verdict on the European Super League on Tuesday after the widely condemned breakaway competition triggered threats of legal action and punitive measures. European body UEFA will look to support from the world football chief at its congress in Switzerland as it attempts to quash an initiative that threatens its prized Champions League and the health of domestic competitions such as England’s Premier League. Twelve powerful clubs – six from England, and three each from Spain and Italy – have signed up for the Super League, which offers guaranteed spots for its founding members and billions of dollars in payments. Currently, clubs have to qualify for the Champions League each year through their national competitions, and face a length...
How players have reacted to the European Super League announcement
Former Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera is one of many players to speak out on the formation of a controversial European Super League. Herrera played for Manchester United from 2014-19, having made 189 appearances for the Red Devils. It was announced on Sunday night that Herrera’s former club would be involved in the formation of a European Super League. The proposed competition has been met with a wave of criticism due to the ‘closed shop’ mentality of the league format. Now, Herrera has led a wave of players speaking out on social media. pic.twitter.com/C9zV59zJxH — Ander Herrera (@AnderHerrera) April 19, 2021 Daniel Podence & Bruno Fernandes Wolves’ Daniel Podence criticised the competition on Instagram on Monday, claiming ‘there are some things we just can’t r...
‘We didn’t know we had snakes so close to us:’ Ceferin slams Woodward and Agnelli
UEFA’s Aleksander Ceferin has slammed Man United chief Ed Woodward and Juventus’ Andrea Agnelli over their involvement in the European Super League. Manchester United and Juventus are both involved in the breakaway Super League, announced on Sunday night. The plans could see both clubs kicked out of their domestic competitions, as well as the Champions League. Speaking in a UEFA news conference on Monday, president Aleksander Ceferin has spoken out on the European Super League, criticising those who helped form it. Speaking on Ed Woodward, as quoted by the BBC, Ceferin explained: “I didn’t have much contact with him, but he called me last Thursday in the evening saying that he’s very satisfied with the [Champions League] reforms, that he fully supports the reforms, and that the ...
