New Delhi: A group of 12 European clubs on Monday confirmed their plans to launch a new European Super League. Among these 12, six belong to Premier League and they are — Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. This European Super League has been met with severe backlash ever since reports started doing rounds in the media.

Announcement

In a joint statement released by the 12 clubs, it was said: “Twelve of Europe’s leading football clubs have today come together to announce they have agreed to establish a new mid-week competition, the Super League, governed by its founding clubs. AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur have all joined as founding clubs. It is anticipated that a further three clubs will join ahead of the inaugural season, which is intended to commence as soon as practicable.”

The statement further reads, “Going forward, the founding clubs look forward to holding discussions with UEFA and FIFA to work together in partnership to deliver the best outcomes for the new League and for football as a whole. The formation of the Super League comes at a time when the global pandemic has accelerated the instability in the existing European football economic model. Further, 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.”

Real Madrid President, Florentino Perez has been chosen as the first Chairman of the European Super League, whereas Andrea Agnelli, Chairman of Juventus and former chairman of European Club Association has been appointed as the first vice-chairman of the Super League.

Resignation from European Club Association

Hours after plans for European Super League was announced, Manchester United and Arsenal have now resigned from the European Club Association (ECA).

As per a report in Goal.com, Ed Woodward, who is the chief of Manchester United has also stepped down from his role with UEFA. The announcement of the European Super League has meant that both Arsenal and Manchester United have resigned from the ECA. Arsenal CEO Vinai Venkatesham has also resigned from his position on the ECA board, as per the report.

Woodward was appointed to UEFA’s Professional Football Strategy Council as an ECA representative in September 2017. On the other hand, Venkatesham was elected to the ECA board two months ago.

UEFA’s Response

UEFA has said that any player and club who participates in the proposed Super League will be banned from UEFA and FIFA football tournaments.

The official statement said, “UEFA, the English Football Association and the Premier League, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and LaLiga, and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Lega Serie A have learned that a few English, Spanish and Italian clubs may be planning to announce their creation of a closed, so-called Super League.”

“If this were to happen, we wish to reiterate that we – UEFA, the English FA, RFEF, FIGC, the Premier League, LaLiga, Lega Serie A, but also FIFA and all our member associations – 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,” UEFA said in a statement on Sunday.

La Liga also issued a statement, “Today football fans across Europe can dream that their club, no matter the size, may excel, climb to the top and compete at the pinnacle of European football. LaLiga defends this European tradition of football for all. The concept proposed by 12 European clubs destroys that dream, shutting the door to the top of European football, allowing in just an elite few.”

“The newly proposed top European competition is nothing more than a selfish, egotistical proposal designed to further enrich the already super-rich. It will undermine the appeal of the whole game and have a deeply damaging impact on the immediate and future of LaLiga, its member clubs, and all the entire footballing ecosystem,” La Liga added.