The football world was sent into shock late into the night of April 18 as 12 clubs revealed their plans to start a new ‘Super League’. Since then, the competition has received nothing but opposition from different fan groups, ex-players and managers, and even the European Commission.
Manchester United were named as one of the 12 founding members of the competition on April 18, after they all independently announced the tournament. The competition features the six biggest English clubs, along with Real, Barcelona, Juventus and is expected to start in August and plans to add three more permanent members to its line-up. Five additional teams are expected to be sent invitations to participate in the competition each year, although the criteria for those invites were not announced.
“A team died in 1958 to play in Europe, and this is our history being thrown away for money, by owners who know nothing about Manchester.”
a scathing statement by the Manchester United Supporters Trust said regarding the conception of the European Super League.
Nevertheless, the tournament has received strong opposition from several of the Supporters Trust, including those of the clubs slated to take part in the same. The Arsenal Supporters Trust tweeted to claim the death of their football club once the Gunners put out an official statement on their social media handles, confirming that they too were a part of this new tournament.
The competition is facing widespread opposition not only from fan groups but from several of the footballing institutions too. Borussia Dortmund have revealed that they turned down the opportunity to join the Super League along with Bayern Munich, while Paris Saint Germain have also refrained from entering the competition.
The Vice-President of the European Commission, Margiritis Schinas, also tweeted out his disdain at the situation involving the new league, claiming that the sport must be protected.
“We must defend a values-driven European model of sport based on diversity and inclusion. There is no scope for reserving it for the few rich and powerful clubs who want to sever links with everything associations stand for,”
he said.
The story around the Super League continues to develop at the moment, especially with UEFA set to announce the revamped version of the Champions League soon.
