ARSENAL, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United have CONFIRMED their plans to join a European Super League.
The tournament would be held throughout the season and would make the clubs even richer than they already are.
Follow ALL of the latest updates below from this developing story…
- Josh Graham
GO WITH THE FLO
Real Madrid President Florentino Perez claims the Super League will 'save football' – and wants it to start in AUGUST.
Perez, the prime driver of the £4.6billion project, became the first of the 12 breakaway club owners to speak publicly about the plans in a TV interview in Spain.
And as the Premier League’s left-out 14 prepare to meet today and even call for the 'Big Six' to resign from the League, the Bernabeu boss made clear there was no going back and that it is full steam ahead for the Super League.
Perez, 74, said: “Football has to evolve, like companies and people. Networks have changed the way they behave and football has to change and adapt to the times we live in.
“Fans are losing interest in football. There are many poor quality matches and the younger people are not interested.
“Audiences are decreasing and rights are decreasing and something had to be done.
“After the pandemic as well, which has cost clubs £4.3bn and Real Madrid £350million, we are all ruined.
“But football is global. These 12 teams, as well as a few more, have fans all over the world. We need to create something to make them put down their tablets and start watching football again."
- James Orr
- James Orr
NO KLOPP NO KOP
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes the club's owners Fenway Sports Group will be forced out of Anfield if Jurgen Klopp quits over the European Super League.
The German manager appeared to be upset and angry over their plans to join the breakaway league and the criticism he and his players have subsequently received.
Speaking on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, Carragher said: "The only reason Liverpool are in this is or have a chance in being in this Super League is because they've won six European Cups and 19 league titles.
"Only one of each came under FSG.
"They have used everything Liverpool have done in their history, going to even before Bill Shankly, to line their own pockets.
"If Liverpool lose their manager on the back of this in the next 12 months, then the owners will be run out of that club in a week. I can assure you of that.
"It hurts me more because this ownership bought Liverpool on the back of other American owners who ran the club badly and the fans got them out.
"These [owners] got the club for a steal. It is now six or seven times bigger, they've made their money and they won the lottery with Liverpool."
- Jack Figg
EF-HELL
The ‘Big Six’ claim they do not just want to sail off into the Super League sunset and sink the rest.
But irrespective of their motives and the post-Covid financial squeeze, the consequences for those left behind will be immense.
As Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester City and United turn their backs on Uefa and join the money hunt they will:
As Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester City and United turn their backs on Uefa and join the money hunt they will:
- Cause a £35million-per-club drop in Premier League TV revenues — even if they stay in the top flight
- See that figure drop by more than double if they are banned from playing in the Prem
- Render the league’s “top-four” race redundant
- Smash a huge hole in the potential value of top-flight clubs
- Make clubs ponder whether stadium expansion or rebuilding plans have any real merit
- See a huge knock-on impact on the Championship, where many clubs are already on the brink
- And bring the very existence of clubs in Leagues One and Two under real and genuine threat — despite promises of a huge cash windfall.
TROY DEENEY SPEAKS OUT ABOUT THE ESL
In an exclusive column with The Sun, Deeney writes: "In my heart of hearts, I believe — and I hope — that a breakaway European Super League will not happen.
"But the threat is real and the questions, for footballers as well fans, are endless. Will Watford be promoted into a Premier League without the Big Six next season?
"Will we ever see another story as inspiring as Jamie Vardy’s, who rose from non-league to Leicester, where he won promotion, won the Premier League and played in the Champions League?
"Will Harry Kane have to choose between playing Super League football with Tottenham or breaking the England goalscoring record because players from the proposed “rebel” league will have been banned from the international game?
"There are a million more questions — but one thing we know for certain is the owners of English football’s Big Six do not care too much about their own loyal match-going supporters.
"Because fans of the breakaway clubs hate the idea of ruining football’s pyramid system as much as anyone else.The vast majority do not want a breakaway league."
READY TROY DEENEY'S FULL COLUMN HERE
LIONS IN WAIT
England's starting XI at the World Cup in 2022 without 'Big Six' stars could see some fan-favourite players getting their chance.
Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and the two Manchester clubs have signed up to a 20-team breakaway European Super League.
The Premier League's so-called 'Big Six' are joined by Spanish trio Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Italian sides Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus.
But Uefa and Fifa have threatened ESL players they will be BANNED from representing their national teams.
And while that may rule out many of Gareth Southgate's top players including Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire, plenty of others would be ready to jump at the chance to represent the Three Lions in Qatar next winter.
Here SunSport names an 11 who WOULD be eligible to play.
NEVILLE HITS BACK
In response to Klopp, he said:"I don't know what spiked him. Yesterday was a passionate rant from me to defend football.
"I've equally distributed enough criticism to both Manchester United and Liverpool over the last 24 hours. So I don't know what his problem is.
"He talks about hotseat, I had a 25-year career at Manchester United, an 11-year career at Sky and I've earned that.
"I didn't go where the most money is. I didn't have choices. Sir Alex Ferguson didn't say 'do you want to stay here every single day?'.
"I have no idea what he's talking about. I employ 600 people in my city. I've tried to keep them employed during a pandemic.
"Is that not a hot enough seat for him?"
JUR JOKING
Jurgen Klopp fired a shot at Garry Neville after the Manchester United legend referenced Liverpool's 'You'll Never Walk Alone' anthem when spouting his rage at the proposed European Super League.
But Klopp responded: “Gary Neville talks about ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, that should be forbidden to be honest.
"We have a lot of rights to sing that anthem and it’s our anthem, not his anthem. He doesn’t understand it anyway so I really don’t want these things because it’s not fair.
“All the talk is around and I don’t like it as well, but I don’t talk about other clubs like this. We can be emotional but I wish Gary Neville would be in a hot seat somewhere, not where the most money is.
“Whether it’s at Man United where the most money is, Sky where the most money is. Don’t forget that we have nothing to do with it.
“We are in the same situation as you all, we got information and we still had to play football and you deal with us already like this. That’s really not OK.”
LEED THE WAY
Leeds trolled Liverpool after their 1-1 draw by refusing to refer to their club name.
The English champions are one of the six Premier League clubs pushing ahead in the proposed European Super League.
In response, Leeds referred to them simply as – Merseyside Red – very similar to the name given to them on the video game Pro Evolution Soccer.
- Jack Figg
EU CANT PASS
Fans attempted to stop Liverpool team buses from entering Elland Road ahead of tonight's match against Leeds.
The actions of the fans, who could be from either club, were a protest against Liverpool's decision to join the European Super League.
Liverpool are the first member of the newly-found ESL to play a Premier League game since news of the competition broke yesterday.
The reigning champions have agreed to join the ESL along with Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham.
The Premier League's so-called 'Big Six' have joined Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan in creating the league.
Presuming they go ahead, the plans will see a £4.6BILLION pot backed by JP Morgan split between the 'dirty dozen' – as many have described the clubs – and relegation scrapped.
Those protesting outside Elland Road may well have been by Leeds fans – or even just football fans in general – considering the overwhelmingly negative response to the breakaway league.
Marcelo Bielsa's team have already shown their disgust at the plans – wearing T-shirts with the words 'EARN IT' emblazoned across the front as they warmed up for tonight's game.
- Jack Figg
JAMES MILNER SPEAKS OUT
The ex-England international was asked about the proposed European Super League after Liverpool's draw at Leeds.
Asked when he heard about the news of the ESL, Milner says: "Same as everyone else I think when it broke yesterday. That was the first we had heard of it."
Milner asked on his opinion of the ESL: "I don't know I think it's the same as everyone, there's a lot of questions. My personal opinion, I don't like it and hopefully it doesn't happen."
The stand-in Liverpool skipper was asked what he doesn't like about the ESL, he responds: "Probably the same reasons as everybody else who has been talking out over the last day.
"Obviously it's been difficult for us, we've tried to prepare for the game but I can only imagine what's been said about it and probably agree with most of it."
Asked if he felt the negative response to Liverpool players was underserved, he says: "I think the players obviously have no say, so the welcome we got to the ground tonight was a bit unjust because obviously we're here to play football and in no control of it.
"But for us we just need to get on the field and try and finish strong."
- Jack Figg
MORE FROM BAMFORD
Asked about wearing the T-shirts in protest of the ESL, he said: "For me personally, from what I've seen on Twitter and the news, I haven't seen one football fan that's happy about the decision.
"I think football ultimately is for the fans. Without the fans every single club would be pretty much nothing.
"So I think it's important we stand our ground and show that football is for the fans and keep it that way."
- Jack Figg
PAT ON THE BACK
Patrick Bamford asked about the proposed European Super League.
He replied: "We've just seen pretty much what everyone else has seen on Twitter and stuff.
"It's amazing just the things that they're talking about. I can't quite comprehend, it's amazing the amount of uproar that comes into the game when somebody's pockets are being hurt.
"It's a shame it's not like that with other things that go wrong at the minute, with racism and stuff like that, but it's just how it is at the minute."
- Jack Figg
BORIS JOHNSON ADDRESSES THE NATION
In a world exclusive, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has wrote a column in The Sun to address the proposed European Super League.
He writes: "Anyone who has watched me play football or played with me in the same match will know that I am far from an expert on the beautiful game.
"But you don’t need to be an expert to horrified at the prospect of the so-called “Super League” being cooked up by a small number of clubs.
"You only need a pulse to know that football is not a brand or a product. In fact it’s so much more than even a sport.
"Football clubs in every town and city and at every tier of the pyramid have a unique place at the heart of their communities, and are an unrivalled source of passionate local pride.
"And the joy of the game’s current structure, one that has kept people coming back year after year, generation after generation, is that even the most seemingly endless period of frustration is made bearable by the possibility, however remote, that one day you could see them rise up.
"After all if Leicester City can win the Premier League, if Nottingham Forest can be champions of Europe not once but twice then maybe, just maybe, your team can do the same.
"But that can only happen if the playing field is even vaguely level and the ability to progress is universal."
READ THE PM'S FULL COMMENT SECTION HERE
Credit: PA - Jack Figg
ROO WHAT?
Man Utd legend Wayne Rooney had his say on the proposed ESL.
He said: “The people in charge of these clubs are not stupid.
“The only hope is the English Premier League is protected and rewarded in some way.
“I am sure the Premier League will always be a priority for clubs.
“The protection of the Premier League and football pyramid is the most important thing.
“I am sure whatever discussions these clubs are having, that will be taken into consideration.
“If this is something on top of what we have already got and the competitions they are playing in , then it is a decision for those clubs to take.
“If it is something that is going to help Non League and Championship, League one and League Two, rather than jump the gun I think we should wait and see what information comes out.
“It might be some good comes from it.
“I think football is working fine at the minute, let's see if they are looking to improve that or whether it is a backward step.”
- Jack Figg
NO WRIGHT WAY TO SAY IT
Ian Wright has had his say on Arsenal approving plans for a proposed European Super League.
He said in a Twitter video: "Is this how far we have fallen? We are now are getting into competitions [this way] because we're not good enough to get into them, For the detriment of the English game, we are getting a seat at a table we have no right to be at.
"It's shameful. As a player, I'm worrying that 'if I play in this competition that I can't play in the Euros, the World Cup…'
"Where is the competition in this? Why haven't we seen exactly how this will work – not that I want to, because I totally disagree with it.
"Where's the jeopardy? Who goes down? Who wins? What do they win? Are we supposed to play these great teams on a weekly basis?
"I played against AC Milan twice in my career and I will never forget it. We are not supposed to play these teams on so frequently? It's not meant to be like that.
"You dream of playing the Champions League and the World Cup. You dream of playing in the Euros for you country.
"Now they are saying you're not allowed to play in these competitions. If I'm a player, I would be absolutely sh—ing myself.
"If you look at the time and the way it was announced. It was announced around 11pm – are they catering for us? They don't care about what's going on in England.
"The clubs which are involved are English by name only. It's a shame, a real shame that this has happened."
- Jack Figg
AR TOGETHER NOW
Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger has called on football to stay united as he criticised the controversial ESL plans.
He told talkSPORT: “I would say that’s a bad idea.
“Football has to stay united, it’s the most important thing.
“It’s based on sporting merit and overall to respect the history that has been built from European football.
“I believe, personally, that this idea will not go far.
“I don’t know what exactly is behind (it). There is a more dangerous idea behind it and it’s a big threat for the Premier League.
“When I was still in charge it was a lot going on from other countries to diminish the dominance of the Premier League and a project like that would certainly accelerate that.”
Credit: Getty - Jack Figg
SHEAR DISSAPOINTMENT
Alan Shearer slammed plans for a European Super League as Arsene Wenger called on football to unite.
It was revealed on Sunday that the Premier League’s so-called ‘Big Six’ would join six other teams across the continent in forming a new midweek competition.
Shearer told Coral: "I'm shocked, surprised, disgusted really, by this announcement from the so-called elite of European football.
"Tottenham and Arsenal, two of the six English clubs involved, currently sit in seventh and ninth in the Premier League, hardly the positions you'd expect from elite clubs.
Sadly, I don't believe this is anything more than these clubs attempting to line their pockets even more.
"It's disrespectful to the sport, to the history of the game, and more importantly it's disrespectful to the fans.
"My one hope during the last year of the pandemic was that fans would be treated with greater respect by clubs, by the footballing authorities, when this was all over, as we've all seen that the game is not the same without those fans, it's not the spectacle it should be when it's played in empty stadia, but this announcement goes in the opposite direction to that hope.
"We've heard clubs say how important fans are to them, well now is their chance to prove that, as the fans have spoken, they do not want this."
- Jack Figg
WILL WADES IN
Prince William has blasted the European Super League for the damage it would cause to the entire football community.
The Duke of Cambridge, who is also President of the Football Association, said that he shared the same concerns of fans about the new league.
This is the first time that the Prince has spoken out since his grandfather, Prince Philip's, funeral on Saturday.
"Now, more than ever, we must protect the entire football community – from the top level to the grassroots – and the values of competition and fairness at its core," the Duke of Cambridge wrote to Twitter today.
"I share the concerns of fans about the proposed Super League and the damage it risks causing to the game we love."
- Jack Figg
WEAR IT WITH PRIDE
Leeds players wearing tops to protest about the European Super League.
Players made it clear they do not want the Champions League to be replaced with a tournament that does not include relegation.
Credit: Getty - Jack Figg
KLOPP HAS HIS SAY
He says: "We got some information, not a lot to be honest, most of the things more or less you can read in newspapers or wherever.
"Yeah, it’s a tough one. People are not happy with that, I can understand that but there's not a lot more I can say on it, to be honest.
"We were not involved in these processes, not the players, not me, we didn't know about it, now I think that's the case, the facts are out there.
"We will have to wait how it develops."
He continues: "Obviously, I have no issues with the Champions League.
"I like the competitive factor of football as well. I like the fact fact West Ham may play Champions League next year.
"I don't want them to, to be honest because we want to do that but I like that they have that chance and all these kinds of things.
"What can I say? It's really not easy. What I want to say is, I heard a few things but what I really don't like is Liverpool Football is a lot more than some decisions.
"The most important part of a football is the supporters and the team and we have to make sure really, nothing can get between that.
"Because I heard we put banners down at Anfield and stuff like this, I really don't understand that because the players didn't do anything wrong.
"We didn't win all the games but we go with everything and we want to qualify for the Champions League next year.
"We have to stick together and when other people from other clubs use our anthem against us, I don't like that as well.
"We can show that nobody has to walk alone in this moment, there are things we have to sort, obviously, but it's nothing to do with the football or the relationship with the team, for me that's really important.
"In tough times you have to show you can stick together. It doesn't mean you need to agree to everything.
"But again, the boys didn't do anything wrong apart from not winning more football games so I really want people to know that."
- Jack Figg
NEVILLE CALLS ON THE GLAZERS TO GO
"I've stayed pretty quiet in terms of the Glazer family over the years.
"Stayed pretty quiet because I thought when the club was taken over as a PLC, that you knew it could be bought and it was out the control of the players, the fans everybody.
"I believe in the free market, generally in life and I've always thought 'what's the answer to the Glazer's?'
"Who takes them out? Russia, China, state money, for the two or three billion quid it would need?
"I've stayed quiet on the basis it's still Man United, I can still go watch the lads play, I can be happy and I can be sad, I'm still watching football in this country.
"If they take dividends out, alright it's dividends I can live with it slightly. But what I can't live with is attacking every football fan in this country.
"They have stepped over the mark. They are scavengers and they need booting out of this football club and they need booting out of this country."
- Jack Figg
MORE ON NEVILLE
He says: "I'm enthused by the reaction of Government. By royalty, by the whole of football, by fans.
"But if they get this through, if they push this through, and these owners have pushed difficult things through in the past for these clubs, Levy is steellike the Glazer's are steellike, Abramovich hard as nails in term of, he won't care about criticism.
"It will change football in this country forever, forever. And we have to now mobilise, organise, it's difficult not to get emotional and feel sick.
"But honestly, you have to write to your MPs, your local football clubs, everyones got to get behind this, pundits for BBC, ITV, BT Sport, forget allegiances, forget who you support, we've got to come together to stop this proposal."
- Jack Figg
GARY NEVILLE HAS HIS SAY
He says: "I said yesterday I thought it was a criminal act.
"I was half hoping – I went to bed about quarter past 10 last night so I didn't see the statement out as it came – I was half hoping off the backlash after the end of that game, the sort of media reaction, the fan reaction was awful towards it.
"I was hoping they were going to re-think it. When I woke up and saw the statement, and it had Joel Glazer's name on it, I thought, 'This is a problem, a big problem'.
"He doesn't put his name on anything that man. He's intelligent, he knows what he wants and he's parked his weasels and he's come out and I thought, 'Oh, this is serious, he's not backing down, he's going to try and push this through.
"Once he puts his name on it, he's going to try and force this through. They've been through hell and Manchester United, they withstood it, they stared it out, they don't care. They don't care.
"When I saw his name on it I really worried."
- Jack Figg
ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
The Liverpool legend has called on everyone from fans, players, managers and pundits to stand against the ESL and prevent the proposed plans from going ahead.
He says: "My message to everyone is I think these clubs think it's a done deal, it's done.
"I don't think it is. I think supporters up and down this country can stop this, I really do believe it.
"I think at the forefront of that will be Liverpool, because I've seen it before.
"We have tribalism in this country, we have rivalry, and that's what makes it the game it is and that's what we love.
"Football fans get together, all of us in TV, pundits, players, managers, get together and stop this.
"Because it can be stopped, I'm convinced of it and going forward, I think that's what we need.
"Marches on stadiums, supporters getting together. This cannot be allowed to happen."
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