UEFA, for whom this may turn into an existential crisis, cautioned the clubs that connect the breakaway league would be prohibited from domestic and worldwide competitions in case they go ahead with their plans. They discharged a joint explanation alongside Spanish, English, and Italian leagues, saying they would consider ‘all measures’, counting lawful alternatives, to contradict the Super League.
“The clubs concerned will be prohibited from playing in any other competition at domestic, European or world level, and their players might be denied the opportunity to speak to their national teams,” UEFA said.
FIFA, as well, has said they will not recognize the modern Super League.
Twelve of Europe's top football clubs launched a breakaway Super League, starting what is certain to be a bitter battle for control of the game and its lucrative revenue https://t.co/ctK4uB4uu7 pic.twitter.com/j7VAGRyw9Y
— Reuters (@Reuters) April 19, 2021
Matches will be played on a home-and-away basis, with the top three teams automatically qualifying for the quarterfinals while the teams ranked fourth and fifth competing in a two-legged playoff for the remaining two spots.
‘Super League’ has triggered a crisis in European football.
Former Barcelona and Real Madrid player Luis Figo tweeted: “This so-called ‘Super League’ is anything but ‘Super’.
“This greedy and callous move would spell disaster for our grassroots, for women’s football, and the wider football community only to serve self-interested owners, who stopped caring about their fans long ago, and complete disregard for sporting merit. Tragic.”
Purslow said the ESL “goes against everything that the sport stands for”, and he expects Manchester United and Liverpool fans to revolt against it.
He said: “Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest have won the European Cup three times – Spurs and Arsenal and Manchester City have not won it at all.
“These proposals do away with sporting merit. It would enable a small number of clubs to be in this competition come what may, and for millions of people in football that goes against everything that the sport stands for.
“The idea is that the uncertainty that comes with a sport that makes it so compelling and makes it the sport that we love is actually damaging to the business models of these huge clubs.
“And so this format is designed to take away that uncertainty, to give predictability to their businesses so that if they have a poor year, if they’re badly managed, they’re still in the Premier tournament. Does that sound like sport or football to you? It sounds to me like a grotesque concept.
“There is a pyramid, it’s based on merit. And the pinnacle of that pyramid is the elite European competition. Most importantly, the fans view that competition with great prestige, as the elite, a competition with history.
“Do you think the fans of those clubs would want to win a made-up new tournament that has no legacy? I don’t for one minute think the fans of Liverpool and Manchester United would.”
Kids grow up dreaming to win the World Cup and the Champions League – not any Super League.
Kids grow up dreaming to win the World Cup and the Champions League – not any Super League. The enjoyment of big games is that they only happen once or twice a year, not every week. Really hard to understand for all football fans out there…⚽💔
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) April 19, 2021
Paris Saint-Germain Ander Herrera has voiced his objection over plans for a European Super League.
— Ander Herrera (@AnderHerrera) April 19, 2021
“La Liga strongly condemns the recently published proposal for a breakaway, elitist European competition that attacks the principles of open competition and sporting merit which are at the heart of the domestic and European football pyramid.
“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 statement added: “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 the entire footballing ecosystem.
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“We use all measures at our disposal and work with all stakeholders to defend the integrity and future of Spanish football in the best interests of the game.”
