New twist in the explosive dossier of the European Football Super League. Forty-eight hours after the announcement of this project, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester United and Manchester City have already decided, Tuesday, April 20, to leave this rival private competition of the Champions League, facing threats from football authorities and outcry from the government and supporters.
In Spain, other press reports mentioned the withdrawal from the study of Atlético de Madrid and a videoconference meeting of the rebel clubs.
The creators of the Super League announced in the wake that they would “Reconsider the most appropriate steps to reshape the project” in the face of numerous withdrawals.
Six English teams, two Spanish and three Italian, among the richest in Europe, were considering the creation of a semi-closed league where 15 of the 20 places would be reserved for the founding teams every year. These clubs thus thought to convince the world of football by offering more high-stake matches and aimed for colossal revenues by securing a permanent ticket in an event almost inaccessible to other teams …
The project immediately drew the unanimous wrath of the political and sporting worlds, the British government and the football authorities threatening the applicants with legal proceedings or suspension. Manchester City and Chelsea are also semi-finalists of the current edition of the Champions League and risked being excluded.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said Tuesday night ” delighted “ to see Manchester City give up participating in the Super League. ” As I have said (…), it takes courage to admit a mistake ”, argued the Slovenian, who had swapped threats against a call for surrender on Tuesday morning, addressing in particular the six English clubs.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who stepped up to the plate at the announcement of the creation of this Super League, welcomed on Tuesday, on Twitter, the decision of Manchester City and Chelsea – still awaiting formalization. “I hope the other clubs involved (…) will follow this initiative ”, he added.
The decision by Chelsea and Manchester City is – if confirmed – absolutely the right one and I commend them for it.… Https://t.co/fhSAK2h6TU
Reviews of Guardiola
On Tuesday evening, Chelsea supporters, supported by fans of other teams concerned or not by this project, gathered by the hundreds in front of Stamford Bridge, before a league game against Brighton, to let their anger burst with scathing slogans.
“RIP [repose en paix], Football 1863-2021 », “Created by the poor, stolen by the rich” or ” Novel [Abramovich, le propriétaire russe de Chelsea], make the right decision “, the slogans on the many signs testified to the violence of the rejection of this semi-closed competition
They blocked the entrance to the team’s bus, forcing Petr Cech, the club’s former goalkeeper and currently technical director, to come and chat with them.
@PetrCech telling us people will sort it out! and let the bus in #NoToEuropeanSuperLeague @ChelseaFC https://t.co/VEkDxmFVNy
A little earlier in the day, Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola did not hesitate to be critical, during a press conference, on the format chosen to maximize the number of matches and profits, to the detriment of sporting merit.
“It’s not sport when there is no relationship between effort and reward. It is not sport if success is guaranteed or if losing does not matter. “
Jürgen Klopp, coach of Liverpool – another rebellious club – was also booked on Monday. Several Reds players posted messages of support to fans on Twitter on Tuesday, taking a stand against this project: “We don’t like it and we don’t want it to happen. This is our collective position. Our commitment to this football club and its supporters is absolute and unconditional. You will never walk alone [référence à la chanson de Gerry & The Pacemakers, l’hymne du club – ndlr]. “
https://t.co/X2ZFqJ9T4L
The withdrawal of two of the twelve founders, barely 48 hours after the bomb thrown in the face of European football, could well cause the project to collapse like a house of cards.