Super League news LIVE: Barcelona and Real Madrid only clubs left standing after ‘big six’ lead exodus
Follow all the latest developments as the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ confirm their departure from the breakaway competition
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The breakaway European Super League is no longer, that’s according to Andrea Agnelli, chairman of Juventus and the ESL, who admitted that without the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’, the breakaway competition cannot go ahead as planned.
Less than 48 hours after the 12 founding members confirmed their plans to move away from Uefa’s Champions League and redefine the structure of European football, all six English clubs (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham) were forced into an embarrassing climbdown.
Following the English clubs’ announcements, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan as well as AC Milan and Juventus have confirmed their exits which leaves Real Madrid and Barcelona as the only clubs yet to confirm their departure.
“Despite the announced departure of the English clubs, forced to take such decisions due to the pressure on them, we are convinced our proposal is fully aligned with European law and regulations,” the league said in a statement.
“Given the current circumstances, we shall reconsider the most appropriate steps to reshape the project, always having in mind our goals of offering fans the best experience possible while enhancing solidarity payments for the entire football community”.
Follow all the latest below as we will bring breaking news, reaction and analysis through the day on this seismic story for European football.
- Founder confirms European Super League cannot continue without Premier League clubs
- ‘A toxic endeavour’: How Super League went from breakaway to breakdown
- ‘I don’t see how we come back from this’: What now for Liverpool and FSG?
- Which teams have left the Super League?
- ‘Enjoying the new knockout format’: Football reacts as ESL comes crashing down
Valencia president predicts another push for a Super League in the future
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they come back again. Clubs need to be prepared, leagues need to be prepared,” Valencia president Anil Murthy told Sky Sports.
“The damage has been done. They’ve shown their cards and intentions.
“Clubs need to be prepared. This could be the eventuality, whatever form it takes. The announcement was reckless, careless and no regard to the rest of European football.
Bank that funded European Super League downgraded
A sustainability rating agency has downgraded JP Morgan Chase with the US bank reported to have been funding the now doomed European Super League.
Standard Ethics, which bases its sustainability ratings on corporations off credit-ratings agencies, criticised the bank’s involvement in the breakaway competition.
A statement read: “Standard Ethics judges both the orientations shown by the football clubs involved in the project and those of the US bank to be contrary to sustainability best practices, which are defined by the agency according to UN, OECD and European Union guidelines, and take into account the interests of the stakeholders.”
JP Morgan is now “non-compliant”, report the Guardian, regressing from its previous rating of “adequate”.
Chief Executive Paul Barber admits Brighton ‘felt let down’
He said: "I don't want to breach the confidence of the meeting, but feelings were high and strong, let down, disappointed and angry. These are colleagues, we work with week in week out, and we felt let down due to conversations taking place behind our back. That isn't a great position for any of us to be in.
“It's a significant issue. It's hard enough to stay in the Premier League, let alone if a small group of clubs want to create a bigger void between the clubs."
Atalanta boss Gasperini: ‘I admire Chelsea fans’
“At the beginning, I was shocked by the news. I admire Klopp, Guardiola, Chelsea fans and [Sassuolo boss Roberto] De Zerbi for what they did,” Gian Piero Gasperini said, referring to how De Zerbi spoke out against facing Milan this week due to their allegiance to the Super League.
“There have been so many strong reactions, but that being said, we play tomorrow and we must be focused on the game.”
Evra: 'Why do we not have the same energy, passion and commitment to fight against racism in football?’
“I admire and love the passion from all of us,” Evra says.
“The pundits talk like it’s the end of the world.
“Why do we not have the same energy, passion and commitment to fight against racism in football? Because there’s nothing to gain, no money.”
Gerard Pique on Super League
Do we want this for football? Is that what we want? The disappearance of clubs such as Everton, Valencia, Sevilla or Leicester, and Napoli? If the tournament is adopted, these clubs will be worthless.
“Hollow words” and “fundamental change”: Spirit of Shankly unmoved
John W Henry’s apology has fallen on largely deaf ears, it seems. Supporters group Spirit of Shankly say they want much more change to come from this week’s events and have targeted Sky, Uefa and the Premier League itself.
Former Chelsea winger praises fans’ efforts
Florent Malouda says it’s not just about this victory for supporters, but about ensuring the future doesn’t have a repeat.
Educate others about why the pyramid system is so important, he insists.
Carragher: Liverpool owners face a tough road back to acceptance
Liverpool issued an apology through John W Henry this morning, but it remains to be seen whether supporters are immediately forgiving of another breach of trust.
Jamie Carragher doesn’t think it will be smooth sailing for them after their Super League plans crumbled in the face of complete rejection from the fanbase.
“I don’t see where they go from here, the owners,” he said on BBC Radio Merseyside.
“They apologised – that may make a difference but I even think long term it will be really difficult for them. Time is a great healer, we all know that, and they (FSG) have done good things at the club, I don’t forget that – the ownership which brought in Jurgen Klopp, you think of the new Main Stand, the training ground.
“They have made mistakes along the way, but this being the biggest one. It’s just whether supporters can ever forgive them for it.
“I think it will take a very long time for this to heal.”
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