It's a super controversy! Breakaway Super League draws ire from fans, federations

Europe’s leading clubs join hands to form breakaway Super League; fans and federations condemn new concept; UEFA, FIFA to ban players

A planned breakaway Super League announced by 12 of European football’s top clubs and backed by US investment bank JPMorgan was condemned by fans and federations across the continent on Monday, with UEFA set to hold crisis talks over the threat posed to its flagship events.

Six Premier League teams—Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur—joined forces with Spanish giants Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid and Italian trio Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan to launch the planned competition. A joint statement said three more clubs would be invited to join the founding members before the start of the competition “as soon as possible”. Organisers have also filed a motion “before the relevant courts” to “ensure the seamless establishment and operation” of the Super League, according to a letter seen by AFP and addressed to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin as well as FIFA chief Gianni Infantino.

The competition threatens to completely shake up the world’s biggest sport and leaves UEFA’s flagship Champions League facing an uncertain future. The clubs, most of them saddled with debt and large wage bills, and hit hard by the pandemic, stand to benefit financially.

JPMorgan confirmed it is financing the breakaway league. The founding clubs will share 3.5 billion euros for infrastructure investment and to offset pandemic costs, and are expected to receive a further 10 billion euros in “solidarity payments” over the life of the initial commitment—much more than is available in the current Champions League. The 15 eventual founders will be guaranteed to play each year in midweek ties, allowing clubs to continue playing domestic leagues. Another five places will be available “based on achievements in the prior season”.

The absence of French and German teams is notable, despite Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain reaching last season’s Champions League final. However, it is learnt that “at least two French clubs” are set to be involved every year.

The Super League announcement was timed to pre-empt UEFA’s unveiling of reforms to the Champions League on Monday, with an expansion to 36 teams from 32 and a minimum of 10 group games for each team. UEFA met for an executive committee meeting having already described the plans as “cynical” in a joint statement with the three countries’ football associations and domestic leagues. “The clubs concerned will be banned from playing in any other competition at domestic, European or world level, and their players could be denied the opportunity to represent their national teams,” the statement said.

The reaction from fans and pundits was furious. The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust called it a betrayal. “It’s the death of football. Football is based on the concept of competitive balance, sporting competition and qualifying on merit. What’s the point of going to watch Arsenal play Everton this Friday if we know they’ve already qualified for a so-called Super League next year,” Tim Payton, head of the Arsenal Supporters Trust, said.

13.5bn pounds
The amount Super League clubs will receive for infrastructure investment, to offset pandemic costs and as part of solidarity payments

European Super League plan

. The clubs: Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City, Tottenham, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan and 
AC Milan.

. Two groups of 10 teams to play each other on a home and away basis. Matches will be held mid-week.

. Top three will qualify for the quarter-finals.

. Fourth and fifth-placed teams will contest play-offs for two remaining spots.

. Knockouts will be two-legged encounters.

. Final will be in May.

Football World Reacts

Florentino Perez Real Madrid president and new European Super League president
Football is the only global sport in the world with more than four billion fans and our responsibility as big clubs is to respond to their desires.

English Premier League
Fans of any club in England and Europe can currently dream that their team may climb to the top and play against the best. The European Super League will destroy this dream.

Gary Neville Former Manchester United captain
I’m disgusted. It’s an absolute disgrace. We have to wrestle back power from the clubs at the top of this league and that includes my club.

Boris Johnson UK’s Prime Minister
The ESL is damaging for football. We support football authorities in taking action. The clubs involved must answer their fans and the wider footballing community before taking any steps.

Spartak Moscow Russian club
Dear AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter, Juventus, Liverpool, Man City, Man United, Real Madrid and Spurs fans. If you need a new club to support, we are always here for you. Kind regards, FC Spartak Moscow.

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