The tweet that sums up the owners of the clubs creating the superleague:
It wasn’t a shock, but that didn’t make the manner it was delivered any less jaw dropping.
The new “Big 12” – or dirty dozen – has been established after months of scheming behind the scenes. It didn’t matter that Arsenal had just scraped a draw at home to Fulham, or that Real Madrid had been held to a goalless stalemate by Getafe, or that Juventus was beaten by Atalanta this weekend.
If you’re rich enough, you’re good enough, under the new order of European football. Joel Glazer, the Manchester United co-chairman, said the plans were about “ensuring world class competition and facilities, and increased financial support for the wider football pyramid”.
For all the pleadings of helping the little people, make no mistake – this league is all about putting more power and money in the hands of the most elite. It is also a declaration of war on the traditional power brokers of the game, particularly UEFA and the Premier League. In the statement it is assumed, with more than a whiff of arrogance, that all teams involved will continue to compete in their domestic leagues.
But with the Premier League insisting it has the ability and inclination to block the formation of any European breakaway league and UEFA claiming it will ban any players involved from its international competitions, we can brace for a fascinating few days ahead.
There is still a chance that this could be brinkmanship to gain an edge in negotiations about the future of existing European competition but, if that’s the case, it has been one hell of a gamble.
Few events – not even VAR – have united rival fans, former players and pundits in their shared outrage and opposition quite like this one.
“United and the rest of the Big Six that have signed up to it against the rest of the Premier League should be ashamed of themselves,” Gary Neville said on Sky Sports.
“They should deduct six points off all six teams that have signed up to it. Deduct points off them all. To do it during a season – it’s a joke.”
Micah Richards, former Manchester City defender, agreed. “What happens to the fans? They’re just forgotten about for the sake of money. It’s a disgrace.”
The timing of the announcement was incendiary, too: UEFA was scheduled to announce its grand plan to reform the Champions League on Monday.
Any plans it had to head off the threat of a breakaway league by some of the world’s biggest and richest clubs with a bells and whistles news conference have been thrown on the bonfire.
The idea of a so-called European Super League has been mooted for several years now, with the detail of its latest iteration revealed by Sky News last October, including the crucial information that a multibillion-pound financing package by JP Morgan had already been secured.
The fear of the top leagues and governing bodies alike could be felt in their fast and furious reaction.
“Enough is enough,” screamed UEFA in its joint statement with the FA and Italy and Spain’s football associations, language they usually reserve for responding to incidents of racism.
“All our member associations will remain united in our efforts to stop this cynical project, a project that is founded on the self-interest of a few clubs at a time when society needs solidarity more than ever.”
The Premier League also readied its arsenal of weapons.
“Fans of any club in England and across Europe can currently dream that their team may climb to the top and play against the best,” it said.
“We believe that the concept of a European Super League would destroy this dream.”
They are correct that this breakaway league would make European club football something of a closed shop, with only five teams each year able to qualify by virtue of sporting merit.
The invention of this European Super League is not in the interest of fans, most of whom believe the Champions League, Europe’s premier club football competition, is perfectly adequate and enjoy the unpredictability of the qualification.
Rather, it is something Real Madrid’s president Florentino Perez has long agitated for in order to put more of the power and money in the hands of Europe’s elite.
Now crucially, Perez has gained the support of some of England’s billionaire football club owners – notably the American trio John W Henry of Liverpool, Joel Glazer of Manchester United, and Stan Kroenke of Arsenal.
Gallery of greedy monsters:
Fans of all clubs believe their wishes and the rich history of the game are being trampled over in yet another example of the game’s obsession with money and power at the expense of fair competition.
Fan cubs responses:
Fan clubs attached to the greedy six have come out united against the monsters:
Man Utd:
These proposals are completely unacceptable and will shock Manchester United fans, as well as those of many other clubs,” it began. “A “Super League” based on a closed shop of self-selected wealthy clubs goes against everything football, and Manchester United, should stand for. “To bring forward these proposals without any fan consultation, and in the midst of a global pandemic when people should be pulling together not serving their own selfish interests, just adds insult to injury. When Sir Matt Busby led us into the European Cup in the 1950s, the modern Manchester United was founded in the tragedy and then triumph that followed. To even contemplate walking away from that competition would be a betrayal of everything this club has ever stood for. We urge everyone involved in this proposal including Manchester United to immediately withdraw from this proposal.”
Tottenham:
The betrayal of Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur was the first British club to win a European trophy. We blazed a trail that caught the imagination of fans everywhere. Yesterday, the current Board of THFC betrayed the Club, its history and the magic that makes this game so special when they put their name to a statement announcing the formation of a breakaway European Super League. This statement, signed by self-appointed “leading clubs”, was put out late on a Sunday night. It was made not only after no consultation with supporters, but in the face of clearly stated opposition to key parts of the announcement. We have always tried to maintain a pragmatic position of engagement with the Board of THFC, even under the most trying of circumstances. But enough is enough. The current Board is prepared to risk the Club’s reputation and its future in the opportunistic pursuit of greed. One of England’s most famous clubs could find itself expelled from English league competition. Its players could be banned from international competition. And yet the current owners – mere custodians of a 139-year-old institution – are prepared to risk it all for avarice and self-aggrandisement. We demand the Board immediately disassociates itself from the breakaway league. Only then can meaningful discussions about change take place. If the Board does not do this, we will have no choice but to call on new owners prepared to safeguard the past, present and future of our great Club to step forward and work with us.
THST Board 19 April 2021
Chelsea:
Man City:
Football Supporters will have seen reports in the media that 6 English PL Clubs – Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs have agreed to form a breakaway European Super League along with other high profile European teams
These stories have now been confirmed and do include City and we are extremely disappointed to have that confirmation
Manchester City FC Official Supporters Club are totally opposed to anything which creates a breakaway ‘European Super League” .This proposed new competition has no sporting merit and would seem to be motivated by greed
Furthermore it has been created without the knowledge or input of any Supporters Groups and once again shows those involved have zero regard for the game’s traditions .
We are determined to fight against this proposed Super League and will once again work with the 1894 Group all other Fan Groups to do everything we can to ensure our voices are heard
These owners, irrespective of where they come from, seem to think Football belongs to them – It doesn’t it belongs to us – The Supporters, irrespective of which team we support.
Arsenal:
The AST deplores the announcement by Arsenal that they are breaking away to form a European SuperLeague. This represents the death of everything that football should be about. As fans we want to see Arsenal play in competitions based on sporting merit and competitive balance. Not surprisingly this action has been taken with no consultation or dialogue, continuing the silence and contempt that Kroenke has shown for Arsenal supporters since day one. The AST will do everything we can to oppose this. It will require firm action by the Government and the Football Authorities. We urge all Arsenal fans and all football fans to fight this by speaking up and acting against. By standing together we can see off this greedy proposal. The AST will now work with FSE, FSA, and other fan groups at both Arsenal and across the game in opposition to this.
Liverpool:
As of yet no official announcement has been made.
Our role as fans of football, sport and ultimately fairness is to stop this in its tracks. We must remove these corporate monsters and focus upon the whole football fraternity becoming strong not just the gluttonous few.
Jason Cridland
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