The European Super League looks set to be cancelled after a raft of its founding members pulled out, one of the chief organisers has confirmed.
On Tuesday night, widespread fan protests forced all six Premier League clubs involved – Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool – to announce they were withdrawing from the competition that had only been mooted officially 48 hours earlier.
Asked before Inter and Atletico Madrid also confirmed their withdrawal on Wednesday morning whether the ESL could still go ahead, Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli told Reuters: “To be frank and honest no, evidently that is not the case, so I wouldn’t be talking so much about where that project has gone.”
He added: “I remain convinced of the beauty of that project.
“But admittedly… I mean, I don’t think that that project is now still up and running.”
The ESL has refused to confirm outright cancellation, putting out a defiant statement on Wednesday morning insisting that they would still be advocates for radical change.
“The European Super League is convinced that the current status quo of European football needs to change,” the statement said.
“We are proposing a new European competition because the existing system does not work.
“Our proposal is aimed at allowing the sport to evolve while generating resources and stability for the full football pyramid, including helping overcome the financial difficulties experienced by the entire football community as a result of the pandemic.
“It would also provide materially enhanced solidarity payments to all football stakeholders.”
‘Snakes and liars’
Agnelli had infuriated Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin with his role in the ESL’s formation, having told him as recently as Saturday that he fully supported the reforms to the existing Champions League competition.
The pair were close allies and friends – Ceferin is godfather to Agnelli’s daughter – but the Slovenian Uefa boss felt betrayed by the Italian.
“I have never seen a person lie so many times and as persistently as he did,” Ceferin said, branding those involved with the ESL “snakes” and “liars”.
“I spoke with him on Saturday afternoon and he said it is all lies. Greed allows all human values to evaporate.”
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/32zLsxK
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