Plans for a European Super League collapsed on Tuesday, just two days after the proposed football competition was announced.
How it fell: Manchester City, one of six clubs in the English Premier League to join the 12-team separatist league, were the first to confirm their departure.
- Within hours, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool announced that they were also leaving.
- Inter Milan and Atlético Madrid followed, leaving the rest of the clubs – Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and AC Milan – with few options but to abandon the proposal.
- Right after midnight in Europe, the Super League released an official statement confirming that the project had been suspended.
What are they saying:
- Arsenal: “We made a mistake and we apologize for that.”
- Tottenham: “We regret the anxiety and upset caused by the ESL proposal.”
- Manchester United: “We listened carefully to the reaction of our fans, the British government and other key stakeholders.”
- Liverpool: “I want to apologize to all Liverpool football fans and supporters for the disruption we have caused in the last 48 hours,” owner John Henry said in a video.
Game status: The Super League, which would have overturned the structures and economy of football, was greeted with anger. played spoke against her, fans launched protests, and politicians threatened to sue.
- FIFA and UEFA, which oversee football in Europe, have threatened to ban Super League players from global events such as the World Cup. “Either you are, or you are out,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
- Super Liga did not do any favors with its shockingly weak launch strategy. Apart from Florentino Pérez from Real Madrid, the owners have never faced the press, and the lack of planning is truly remarkable.
- Note for itself: when it reveals a proposal to remodel the most popular sport in the world, it comes equipped with more than one press release.
What’s next: A scheme of years in the making collapsed dramatically in two days. Now what?
- It is felt that the Premier League could be irreparably affected. “How can we ever work with these people again?” a source told The Athletic (subscription).
- And if the clubs have really signed 23-year-old binding agreements, as reported, can they simply withdraw or is it more complicated? Will UEFA welcome them back? Will their internal leagues punish them?