Reactions to the confirmation of top-flight English Premier League Clubs and others from the Spanish and Italian leagues joining the new European Super League formed to rival the UEFA Champions League have been fast and furious.<\/p>\n
Six English Premier League clubs, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham, have confirmed their agreement to link up with six European clubs \u2013 three from Spain and three from Italy \u2013 to create the rival European Super League competition to the UEFA Champions League, it has been announced.<\/p>\n
It is anticipated three more clubs will join the breakaway group as founding members with the new competition, which will begin \u201cas soon as practicable\u201d to eventually feature 20 teams.<\/p>\n
A joint statement read:<\/p>\n
\u201cTwelve of Europe\u2019s leading football clubs have today come together to announce they have agreed to establish a new midweek competition, the Super League, governed by its founding clubs.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur have all joined as founding clubs.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIt is anticipated that a further three clubs will join ahead of the inaugural season, which is intended to commence as soon as practicable.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The timing of the announcement is incendiary coming ahead of an anticipated announcement from UEFA confirming changes to the Champions League format on Monday.<\/p>\n The European governing body is expected to approve an increase from 32 to 36 teams from 2024 with the existing structure of eight groups of four replaced by one league. The format, known as the \u2018Swiss model\u2019, would see all teams play 10 games in the first stage with opponents determined by a seeding system.<\/p>\n The statement from the 12 clubs makes clear they do not believe these proposed changes go far enough, adding that:<\/p>\n \u201cThe formation of the Super League comes at a time when the global pandemic has accelerated the instability in the existing European football economic model.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cFurther, for a number of years, the founding clubs have had the objective of improving the quality and intensity of existing European competitions throughout each season, and of creating a format for top clubs and players to compete on a regular basis.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThe pandemic has shown that a strategic vision and a sustainable commercial approach are required to enhance value and support for the benefit of the entire European football pyramid.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIn recent months extensive dialogue has taken place with football stakeholders regarding the future format of European competitions.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThe founding clubs believe the solutions proposed following these talks do not solve fundamental issues, including the need to provide higher-quality matches and additional financial resources for the overall football pyramid.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThese solidarity payments will be substantially higher than those generated by the current European competition and are expected to be in excess of \u20ac10billion\u201d <\/em><\/strong>European Super League statement<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The proposal has been made that the new competition will be played in midweek with the eventual 15 founding members being joined by five qualifiers. It will be played initially in two groups of 10 with an eight-team knockout stage.<\/p>\n The organisers claim it will generate more money than the Champions League and that will result in a greater distribution of revenue throughout the game.<\/p>\n The statement added:<\/p>\n \u201cThe new annual tournament will provide significantly greater economic growth and support for European football via a long-term commitment to uncapped solidarity payments which will grow in line with league revenues.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThese solidarity payments will be substantially higher than those generated by the current European competition and are expected to be in excess of \u20ac10billion during the course of the initial commitment period of the clubs.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n News of the breakaway competition leaked out before it was officially announced and had already provoked a fierce backlash from UEFA and various national leagues and associations.<\/p>\n They pointed out the competition was unsanctioned and clubs and players risked bans by being involved.<\/p>\n World governing body FIFA also issued a strong condemnation after the announcement was made and called for further discussions.<\/p>\n The statement read:<\/p>\n \u201cIn our view, and in accordance with our statutes, any football competition, whether national, regional or global, should always reflect the core principles of solidarity, inclusivity, integrity and equitable financial distribution.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMoreover, the governing bodies of football should employ all lawful, sporting and diplomatic means to ensure this remains the case.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAgainst this background, FIFA can only express its disapproval to a \u2018closed European breakaway league\u2019 outside of the international football structures and not respecting the aforementioned principles.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n It went on to call for unity and \u201call parties involved in heated discussions to engage in calm, constructive and balanced dialogue for the good of the game\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe will remain united in our efforts to stop this cynical project<\/em><\/strong>UEFA plus various national leagues and associations\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n UEFA, along with the Football Associations of England, Spain and Italy, plus the Premier League, LaLiga and Serie A, said they would use all available means to stop the \u201ccynical project\u201d.<\/p>\n A joint statement, issued before the later Super League announcement, read:<\/p>\n \u201cIf this were to happen, we wish to reiterate that we will remain united in our efforts to stop this cynical project, a project that is founded on the self-interest of a few clubs at a time when society needs solidarity more than ever.<\/em><\/p>\n