A significant skirmish in an intensifying war: How player power helped bring the European Super League to its knees April 23, 2021 James Milner seemed to speak for many Premier League players and managers when he said on Monday: “I don’t like it and hopefully it doesn’t happen.” The Liverpool midfielder was referring to the European Super League, the audacious and ultimately short-lived breakaway launched by 12 of Europe’s richest football clubs just hours earlier – including [...]
European Super League criticised for ‘unilaterally deciding future of women’s football’ without consultation April 22, 2021 Campaign group Women in Football has criticised the lack of consultation with the women’s game over the short-lived European Super League breakaway. Plans for the European Super League, the biggest shake-up in club football in living memory, stated that a corresponding women’s competition would follow but did not go into further details. The project unravelled [...]
Arsenal and Liverpool say sorry for plotting European Super League but clubs’ defence of motivations shows wildly unpopular project is far from dead April 21, 2021 The English clubs among the “dirty dozen” behind plans for a European Super League have begun attempts to repair the damage caused by the failed breakaway. But while Arsenal and Liverpool apologised to supporters, they and the other English clubs to pull out – Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur – stopped short [...]
Swift disintegration of European Super League leaves it looking like nothing more than an elaborate power play that backfired spectacularly April 20, 2021 We were told by the clubs – the so-called “dirty dozen” – that the European Super League was a done deal. That it was definitely happening. That it was more than just another power play. The fact that it took less than 48 hours from that announcement for Chelsea to back out, and other dominoes [...]
Why the European Super League can prove to be a winner for all stakeholders and future-proof the game April 20, 2021 The proposed European Super League (ESL) represents the biggest shake-up of football since the creation of the Premier League and Champions League. As with any significant change, the plan has received its share of critics, many of whom suggest that it represents a money grab by the most powerful clubs. However, far from weakening football, [...]
Furious UEFA warns clubs: Join European Super League and we will ban you and your players April 20, 2021 UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has warned the football body is working to ban breakaway European Super League clubs and their players from its competitions “as soon as possible” and urged domestic leagues to follow suit. Twelve clubs, including the Premier League’s so-called ‘big six’, are part of plans which would fundamentally alter the shape of [...]
European Super League: How much do clubs stand to earn? Where is the money coming from? And will the rest of football be worse off? April 19, 2021 The driving force behind plans for a new European Super League is money – specifically, the chance to make more of it. But exactly how much money do the six English clubs involved – Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur – and the other six known founder teams – Real Madrid, [...]
The legal issues around a European Super League: Can clubs really be banned from domestic leagues and players barred from World Cups? April 19, 2021 The battle lines over a European Super League may have been drawn but a legal fight that could last for years is only just beginning. Football authorities including the Premier League and Uefa have warned the rebel clubs they will be kicked out of existing domestic and European competitions if they push ahead. Players, too, [...]
Manchester United and Juventus shares rise on European Super League announcement April 19, 2021 Shares in Manchester United (MANU) and Juventus (JUVE) rose on Monday following the announcement of plans for a European Super League. Both clubs were confirmed on Sunday night as one of 12 founder members of the breakaway competition, which could replace the Champions League as soon as next year. Shares in United were up more [...]
European Super League: Who is in it? How will it work? Why is it happening? And can it be stopped? April 19, 2021 Twelve clubs, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and six English teams, have confirmed they are planning to launch a breakaway European Super League. If it goes ahead, the move would represent the most significant change to club football in living memory. But what will the new competition look like? Which teams will be involved? And [...]