Plans for a European Super League fell apart on Tuesday, just two days after the proposed football competition was announced.
How it went down: Manchester City, one of six English Premier League clubs to join the 12-team breakaway league, were the first to confirm it was unavailable.
- Within hours, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool announced that they were also leaving.
- Inter Milan and Atlético Madrid followed suit and the remaining clubs – Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and AC Milan – left with little choice but to abandon the proposal.
- Just after midnight in Europe, the Super League released an official statement confirming that the project has been suspended.
What they say:
- Arsenal: “We made a mistake and we apologize for that.”
- Tottenham: “We deplore the anxiety and dismay caused by the ESL proposal.”
- Manchester United: “We have been listening intently to the reaction of our supporters, the British Government and other key stakeholders.”
- Liverpool: “I want to apologize to all the fans and supporters of Liverpool Football Club for the disruption I have caused in the last 48 hours,” owner John Henry said in a video address.
The state of affairs: The Super League, which would improve football’s structures and economy, is furious. Players pronounced against it, supporters launched protests and politicians threatened legal action.
- FIFA and UEFA, which oversee football in Europe, have threatened to ban Super League players from world events such as the World Cup. “Whether you are inside or you are outside,” said Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA.
- The Super League has shown no favor with its shockingly poor launch strategy. Apart from Real Madrid’s Florentino Pérez, owners have never faced the press, and the lack of planning is noteworthy.
- Note to myself: when you make a proposal to reform the most popular sport in the world, you need to have more than one press release.
What’s next: A scheme year in the making spectacularly collapsed within two days. Now what?
- There is a feeling that the Premier League could be irreparably damaged. “How can we ever work with these people again?” a source told The Athletic (subscription).
- And if the clubs have signed truly binding 23-year agreements, as reported, can they simply withdraw it or is it more complicated? Will UEFA welcome them back? Will their local leagues punish them?