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 [...]
Jose Mourinho: Would sacked Tottenham boss be entitled to unfair dismissal? April 22, 2021 As Gary Lineker pointed out this week, it has been a good time to hide bad news in football, with the announcement of the European Super League and the fallout which followed. And so, Jose Mourinho’s departure as head coach of Tottenham Hotspur has largely fallen under the radar. Mourinho would fail to meet the [...]
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 [...]
All six English clubs abandon JP Morgan Super League plan April 21, 2021 All six English clubs have pulled out of the European Super League (ESL) after plans for the JP Morgan-backed venture were met with a fierce backlash. Manchester City were the first Premier League side to officially withdraw from the competition following reports Chelsea were preparing to do so. Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham have [...]
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 [...]
European Super League: Boris Johnson says ‘no action off the table’ April 20, 2021 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told football officials that “no action is off the table” as the government looks to block the formation of the new European Super League. During a meeting with the Football Association, the Premier League and football fan groups this morning Johnson pledged his “unwavering support”. He also expressed solidarity with [...]
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, [...]