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.
Six English teams are part of a breakaway European Super League, but what do
we know so far?
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.
European Super League - latest key
developments
= The 14 Premier League clubs not involved in ESL met on Tuesday, and later
released a statement saying they 'vigorously rejected plans' and were
considering 'all actions available to prevent it'.
- Everton released their own statement on Tuesday morning, slamming
'preposterous arrogance' of Big Six.
- Pep Guardiola has called for more explanation from ESL chiefs: 'I would
love the president of this committee to explain to the whole world why they
took the decision.'
- Real Madrid president Florentino Perez says ESL is to 'save football'.
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino says football's global governing body
'strongly disapproves' of plans. UEFA president Alexander Ceferin calls on
ESL clubs to 'come to their senses'.
- Board member at Big Six PL club has warned that they will not 'back down'
- but Sky Sports News understands splits emerging among breakaway sides.
- Bayern Munich say they 'reject a Super League,' while PSG club president
Nasser Al-Khelaifi says move 'driven by self-interest'.
- Madrid court says UEFA, FIFA must not impose sanctions on clubs, players
taking part in ESL until it fully considers case.
- "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."
Analysis: A strong message from the
Premier League
Sky Sports News' Bryan Swanson:
"Tellingly, the Premier League have reminded the six clubs of the rules.
They have specifically mentioned the rules in their statement, saying that
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 clubs involved to account under its
rules. What we do know about the Premier League rules, is that there is one
in particular that says that should a club, during a season, wish to join
another competition, they have to seek the written permission of the Premier
League board to do so.
"Remember, this is still an unsanctioned competition. That is something the
Premier League will be really mindful of. Make no mistake, this is a strong
statement from the Premier League."
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.
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."
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.
PM Boris Johnson says 'no action is off
the table' in blocking plans for breakaway league
Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the government is "exploring every
possibility, including legislative options", to stop the proposed European
Super League.
Speaking after talks with officials from football's governing bodies,
Johnson said "no action is off the table", in seeking to block the formation
of the league.
Fans' representatives also joined the call with Culture Secretary Oliver
Dowden, which came as the backlash against the proposed European Super
League continues.
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.
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