The European Super League project drifted after the six English Premier League clubs involved resigned on Tuesday, 48 hours after agreeing to join Italian and Spanish teams in the new elite football competition.
Manchester City was the first to get off the initiative and then Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur announced the same thing. Chelsea are expected to complete the “Big Six” exit when they submit retirement roles to the Super League.
The Superliga did not respond to a request for comment and its president, real madrid helmsman Florentino Pérez, canceled a planned radio interview.
The new league, which was announced on Sunday with 12 founding members, now stays with three Italian clubs, AC Milan, Juventus and Inter Milan, plus Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid for Spain.
The Super League argued that it will increase the income of the best clubs and allow them to distribute more money to the rest of the football.
However, the sport’s governing bodies, other teams and amateur organisations said that the tournament would increase the power and wealth of elite clubs and that the partially closed structure of the league goes against the long-standing model of European football.
Unlike the current European Champions League, where teams must qualify through their national leagues, the founding teams of the Super League would have secured a place in the new competition each year.
After the storm of protests by fans, players, coaches and governments, along with threats of sanctions by europe’s football governing body (UEFA) and FIFA, English clubs gave in to pressure and threw in the towel.
Arsenal apologies
Manchester United Executive Vice President Ed Woodward announced his resignation shortly before his club refused to participate in a project in which he had been very influential.
Most of the English club’s communiqués were brief, but Arsenal apologized to their fan for being involved.
“It was never our intention to cause so much distress, however, when the invitation to join the Super League arrived, knowing that there were no guarantees, we did not want to be left behind to make sure we protect Arsenal and its future,” according to a statement from the London club.
“As a result of listening to you and the football community in general over the past few days, we withdrew from the Super League. We made a mistake and apologized for it,” the club added.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin quickly praised the City’s decision.
“I am delighted to welcome the City back to the Family of European Football,” he said. “They have shown great intelligence in listening to the many voices, especially their fans, who have explained the vital benefits that the current system has for all European football.”
