Six English clubs are set to sign up for a new breakaway European Super League, which is mooted to get underway from 2022-23 season.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly named as the six English clubs who are set to join the breakaway European Super League.
Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus and AC Milan are amongst various clubs across Europe also set to sign up for the new closed entry competition, which is set to be played in midweek like UEFA Champions League.
It is thought that the format would be made up with 15 founder members who will automatically qualify for the competition each season, alongside five clubs who would qualify on an annual basis.
All teams would be split into two groups of ten with the top four from each group advancing to a traditional knockout stage, along the lines of how the Champions League quarter-finals, semi-finals and final work.
Current rules however would forbid clubs from also playing in domestic competitions like FA Cup, Copa Del Rey and Serie A for example if they were to join this new league.
These reports come just as UEFA meet on Monday (19 April) to clarify plans to expand the Champions League from 2024-25 season onwards, with an increase in clubs qualifying for the group stage from 32 to 36.
The first extra place would go to the fifth strongest country in UEFA coefficient rankings, whilst the second new qualifying spot would be awarded to the highest ranked domestic champions from one of the smaller leagues.
Each of the last two new qualification berths would be awarded to the two clubs with the highest UEFA historic coefficient rankings, which would mean that a club like Liverpool could finish outside of the normal qualification slots yet still qualify via their UEFA ranking.
The Group Stage would also be revamped to that of the Swiss System, with teams playing five matches at home and five away games against ten different opponents, with all teams seeded and playing opposition of various quality.
‘United in our efforts to stop this cynical project’
UEFA have come out in unity with Premier League, Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and La Liga plus Italian Football Federation (FIGC) to criticise these plans.
The European confederation has also reiterated that all aforementioned parties plus FIFA have vowed to ‘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 will therefore consider all sporting and legal options available to them in order to prevent this happening, which is a move that the English Football Association (FA) have echoed in their aim ‘to protect the broader interests of the game.’
Both UEFA and The FA also reinforced the fact that FIFA have announced that those clubs who opt to break away will be banned from playing in other competitions at both domestic, European or world level, as well as banning players from representing their national teams.
UEFA have also placed their thanks on record to clubs in other countries who have refused to sign up for this breakaway league, with particular praise for French and German clubs and call up all fans and politicians to fight this project.
UK’s Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has consequently come out in support of UEFA and tweeted that these plans ‘would strike at the heart’ of club football across the UK.
Plans for a European Super League would be very damaging for football and we support football authorities in taking action.
They would strike at the heart of the domestic game, and will concern fans across the country. (1/2)
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 18, 2021
The clubs involved must answer to their fans and the wider footballing community before taking any further steps. (2/2)
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 18, 2021
‘Deeply damaging’
The Premier League also published a statement in which they condemned these proposals, arguing that these moves will attack the values of open competition and sporting merit laid at the heart of domestic and European football’s pyramid.
England’s top flight pointed to the fact that fans of any club across Europe can currently dream that their team can rise to the very top and play the best on the continent, whilst iterating that an European Super League would destroy this dream.
It is therefore felt that the proposed new competition will diminish the current appeal of football as well as deliver ‘a deeply damaging impact’ on current and future prospects of the Premier League and member clubs as well as those lower in the pyramid who rely on their funding.
The Premier League and FA have therefore vowed to work in partnership with UEFA, FIFA, English Football League, Players Football Association and League Managers Association and various stakeholders both home and aboard to defend the ‘integrity and future prospects’ across English Football.
Ex Manchester United player, Gary Neville meanwhile was raging during analysis of the European Super League reports, going as far as to brand these plans as a “criminal act against football fans in this country.”
😡 | “I’m a #MUFC fan and I’m absolutely disgusted.”
💥 | “They are an absolute joke.”@GNev2 gives a brutally honest reaction to reports that England’s biggest clubs are expected to be part of plans for a breakaway European Super League.pic.twitter.com/qvAPKdLxwN— Sky Sports (@SkySports) April 18, 2021
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