European Super League: 14 Premier League clubs ‘unanimously and vigorously’ reject pl…

The 14 Premier League clubs not involved in the new European Super League have “unanimously and vigorously” rejected plans for the breakaway competition.

The Premier League met without Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham to discuss the newly-announced competition at a virtual meeting on Tuesday.

The two-and-a-half-hour meeting, chaired by Premier League CEO Richard Masters, explored ways to collectively respond to the proposals.

A Premier League statement read: “The Premier League, alongside The FA, met with clubs today to discuss the immediate implications of the Super League proposal.

“The 14 clubs at the meeting unanimously and vigorously rejected the plans for the competition. The Premier League is considering all actions available to prevent it from progressing, as well as holding those Shareholders involved to account under its rules.

“The League will continue to work with key stakeholders including fan groups, Government, UEFA, The FA, EFL, PFA and LMA to protect the best interests of the game and call on those clubs involved in the proposed competition to cease their involvement immediately.

“The Premier League would like to thank supporters and all stakeholders for the support they have shown this week on this significant issue. The reaction proves just how much our open pyramid and football community means to people.”

In a memo sent out to all 20 clubs before Tuesday’s meeting, Masters wrote: “We do not and cannot support such a concept.

“This venture cannot be launched without English clubs and we call upon any club contemplating associating themselves or joining this venture to walk away immediately before irreparable damage is done.”

Inside the meeting: Anger directed at owners and execs, not the clubs

Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol has provided further details on how the Premier League meeting unfolded:

“The meeting began with an update on the government position on the breakaway, which is that it will do everything to prevent it.

“A senior executive at one of the six breakaway clubs had spoken to a senior executive at one of the other 14 Premier League clubs insisting the European Super League members do not want to leave the Premier League and “people haven’t been listening to us”. This was not well received by other attendees at the meeting.

“The 14 Premier League clubs want the six breakaway teams to remain in the Premier League but have made it clear that certain people from the six clubs would not be welcome back in the division.

“There is also concern that executives from the six clubs have been sitting on very important Premier League committees and they have been privy to commercially sensitive and confidential information which could be used by the European Super League.

“The 14 do not want to end up in a prolonged court case, but believe that whatever happens, the Premier League needs a total reset.”

Splits emerge among breakaway clubs but one ‘Big Six’ board member vows not to back down

A board member at one of the Premier League clubs that has signed up to the controversial European Super League has warned they will not “back down” – but Sky Sports News understands splits are emerging among the breakaway sides.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the board member said the clubs behind the ESL could not be expected to “walk away” from their plans, which they said came in response to UEFA “monopolising competitive football.”

However, another executive at one of the 12 sides that are seeking to establish the new competition has expressed their dismay at the way the announcement has been handled, adding: “This is not what we signed up for.”

Will a ‘big six’ club drop plans to join the Super League?

Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol:

“If you were that first club to step away, you would get a lot of good publicity. If you released a statement which said ‘this isn’t quite what we thought it was going to be’, we have had second thoughts and we are withdrawing, I think that would lead to other clubs leaving as well.

“My information is that there is a strong difference of opinion between the breakaway clubs.”

Madrid court makes ruling over Super League

A Madrid court has said UEFA and FIFA must not impose sanctions on clubs or players taking part in the European Super League until it fully considers the proposed new competition’s case.

Real Madrid are set to face Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals, with the first leg taking place at the Bernabeu on April 27.

The court also made a preliminary ruling prohibiting UEFA from stopping the launch of the Super League.

PSG committed to UEFA while Bayern reject Super League plans

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al Khelaifi, one of the clubs targeted as founder members of the Super League – said the proposals for a breakaway league are “driven by self-interest” as he offered his support for UEFA.

“We believe that any proposal without the support of UEFA – an organisation that has been working to progress the interests of European football for nearly 70 years – does not resolve the issues currently facing the football community, but is instead driven by self-interest,” he said in a statement.

“Paris Saint-Germain will continue to work with UEFA, the European Club Association (ECA) and all stakeholders of the football family – based on the principles of good faith, dignity and respect for all.”

It has been reported that Al Khelaifi and PSG were repeatedly pushed to be part of the initial announcement, but resisted.

Al Khelaifi was ratified as one of the ECA’s representatives on the UEFA executive committee on Tuesday for a new three-year term.

Joining him is Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the chairman of reigning European champions Bayern Munich who spoke out against the proposals on Monday.

His club issued a categorical rejection of the Super League on Tuesday, in which he said: “On behalf of the board, I would like to make it explicitly clear that FC Bayern will not be taking part in the Super League.”

Super League subject of parliamentary inquiry

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee has confirmed it will hold an evidence session to examine the impact of the European Super League proposals.

Committee chair Julian Knight said: “The DCMS Committee has given its strong support for a hearing on these momentous developments in the football world.

“We are in discussion with key players and will want to hear from major stakeholders as the impact of the new European Super League proposals unfold.

“We will reflect the widely-expressed concerns of supporters which will be at the centre of our investigation. We welcome the Government’s fan-led review announced yesterday, finally given the impetus to go ahead by these seismic events.

“No one will be off limits in our determination to establish what needs to be done to safeguard the preciously held enjoyment the sport gives to people and to protect its legacy for the future.”

Super League: What has happened so far?

On Sunday, a joint statement released by the European Super League indicated that the so-called ‘Big Six’ Premier League clubs will be joined in the competition by AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid.

Three more clubs could join for the inaugural season and five others will qualify to join them each year, with the tournament due to commence “as soon as practicable”.

The new format has been put forward as a rival to the UEFA Champions League, not as a replacement to domestic leagues, but there are fears it could have wider ramifications.

UEFA, in a joint statement with the FA, Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A, criticised the plans and did not rule out taking legal action over the proposals, insisting players involved would be banned from all other competitions at domestic, European or world level and could be prevented from representing their national teams.

Sky Sports’ Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have spoken out passionately against the plans, calling on football to “mobilise”.

There are reports the commitment of some clubs is beginning to waver in the face of widespread opposition to the plans.

Sky Sports News has invited Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd and Tottenham to explain their plans and the European Super League in more detail.

Everton slam Big Six ‘arrogance’ – what have other clubs said?

Earlier on Tuesday, Everton strongly condemned the six Premier League clubs who have agreed to join the new European Super League.

Everton say the clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham – are behaving with “preposterous arrogance”, are “tarnishing the reputation of our league and the game” and have called for the plans to be withdrawn.