The dramatic collapse of the billion-dollar league comes less than 48 hours after its first launch, provoking a furious reaction across the continent among football fans, players, sports officials and senior government leaders.
CNN contacted the Superliga for comments and the full statement, but did not respond.
By Tuesday night, all six English Premier League clubs had declared their intention to withdraw from the competition. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed in public statements that they will no longer participate, some citing feedback from fans and other stakeholders.
The initial plans for the closed league, which was to be financed by the American investment bank JP Morgan, would have included the six English clubs together with three teams from Italy – AC Milan, Inter Milano and Juventus – and three from Spain – Atlético Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
“I think this project is dead today … and it’s about to become a complete nuisance,” former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon told CNN.
“I think it’s worth it because it was a project to kill football. I think mainly now that we live where many clubs are struggling to survive because of the economic problems of the pandemic, what football needs is unity, solidarity.”
The league’s announcement on Sunday sent shockwaves through the world of football, sparking riots and a rare show of political unity, with the British government and its main opposition party vowing to support legislation, if necessary, to protect the internal game.
The Football Association of England, as well as European and world governing bodies UEFA and FIFA, have also threatened punitive measures and potential sanctions for separatist clubs.