We are into the afternoon here in the UK, so I’m going to grab some lunch and hand over to Gregg Bakowski for a while. See you in a bit.
There are rumours that the players of Cádiz, who face Real Madrid tonight in La Liga, are planning some sort of t-shirt protest similar to the one we saw on Monday night with Leeds United players, prior to their match with Liverpool.
Sid Lowe (@sidlowe)
La Liga’s video to accompany this round of games... pic.twitter.com/SmksiH1VU8
April 21, 2021
Lots of protest banners flying about, but this (from last night) is among the best.
Jonathan Walters (@JonWalters19)
It does not require many words to speak the truth.
April 20, 2021
The @ChelseaFC fans know...
🌪🌧❄️ @stokecity 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/yAilSyETZ6
The Football Supporters’ Association, which met with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday to discuss how legislation could be used to thwart the breakaway, released a statement on Wednesday morning.
Appeasement of football’s richest clubs doesn’t work. The vultures circle, they’re always after more and they only get stronger when you feed their greed. This time the cabal of billionaire owners overplayed their hand and their rapacious appetite for more united an unprecedented array of opponents.
“Fans across the entire game, players, managers, pundits, clubs, leagues, football associations across the continent, politicians, Prime Ministers and governments. Even the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared their concerns.
English club involvement in the Super League has collapsed and the concept itself teeters on the edge. At a continental level the FSA will continue to campaign with our friends at Football Supporters Europe to kill the competition for good. Agnelli’s ‘blood pact’ has no place in football.
The past 72 hours of white hot action and anger has killed domestic involvement in the Super League but that doesn’t mean fans can take their foot off the accelerator - a return to the status quo is unacceptable and will only allow these unscrupulous owners to regroup.”
After meeting with the FSA, Boris Johnson was slightly less articulate, but echoed the sentiment.
Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson)
I welcome last night’s announcement. This is the right result for football fans, clubs, and communities across the country. We must continue to protect our cherished national game.
April 21, 2021
It is certainly one way to convince Messi to sign a new contract …
Sid Lowe (@sidlowe)
We really might get to the point here where Real Madrid and Barcelona are the only ones left.
April 21, 2021
This is interesting: a recent survey has found women’s football should get a 296.7% increase in the UK if on TV, while in the EU the increase could be as high as 358.7% and 304.6% in the US. The survey comes on the back of the £8m-per-season deal for the broadcast rights to the Women’s Super League, which will involve women’s top-flight matches being aired on BBC One and BBC Two and across the main Sky Sports channels.
Here are the remaining clubs still officially in the ESL. We are down to four:
Real Madrid
Barcelona
Milan
Juventus
We’re down to the semi-finals!
Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli said other clubs were ready to join the new European league before the English sides left. This from Reuters:
“I’m not going to say how many clubs contacted me in just 24 hours asking if they could join,” he said, declining to name them. “Maybe they lied, but I was contacted by a number of teams asking what they could do to join.”
Agnelli said he felt the British government’s intervention, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson threatening legislation to stop the breakaway, had pushed the English clubs to withdraw.
“I have had speculation to that extent that if six teams would have broken away and would have threatened the EPL (Premier League), politics would have seen that as an attack to Brexit and their political scheme,” he said.
Asked if he regretted the way the breakaway was conducted - which was heavily criticised by his former ally Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin. Agnelli referred to the nature of the football business.
“If you tell me other methods for putting together such projects ... if you were to ask the authorisation of others, I don’t think you would have carried out a project like this. The relations are there, I have seen relations changing in time, some people I am quite sure that people will be open and talk to each other,” he said. “I don’t think our industry is a particularly sincere, trustworthy or reliable one in general.”
Meanwhile, in Turin, as the world burns … please enjoy these highlights from 2011!
JuventusFC (@juventusfcen)
The 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 #JuveParma! 🏟🤍🖤#FinoAllaFine #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/xlY8cDRUYC
April 21, 2021
(What a goal by Marchisio at the end there, by the way)
Again, no apology from Inter. What disdain they must hold for their fans. It’s so weird to spend years cultivating a sense of loyalty, and then … this.
I imagine the rest all have their statements prepared. Who will be the last to cave? Surely Real Madrid?
These withdrawals only make the ESL statement (from a few hours ago!) look even stranger. What happened to “reshaping the project”?
Their statement reads:
FC Internazionale Milano confirm that the Club is no longer part of the Super League project.
We are always committed to giving fans the best football experience; innovation and inclusion are part of our DNA since our foundation. Our engagement with all stakeholders to improve the football industry will never change.
Inter believes that football, like every sector of activity, must have an interest in constantly improving its competitions, to keep on exciting fans of all ages around the world, within a framework of financial sustainability.
With this vision we look forward to carry on working together with institutions and all stakeholders for the future of the sport we all love.
Inter (@Inter_en)
📢 | STATEMENT
Official Club Statement ⤵️#FCIM
April 21, 2021
Atlético are the first team from outside England to withdraw. It is surely a matter of time before the others follow.
There is no apology. And the brass neck of including the line that “sporting merits must prevail over any other criteria” after the last few days! Eeeeesh!
A statement reads:
Atlético de Madrid’s Board of Directors, which met on Wednesday morning, has decided to formally communicate to the Super League and the rest of the founding clubs its decision not to finally formalise its adhesion to the project.
Atlético de Madrid took the decision on Monday to join the project due to circumstances that no longer exist today.
For the club, harmony between all the groups that make up the Red & White family, especially our fans, is essential.
The first team squad and the coach have expressed their satisfaction with the club’s decision, as they understand that sporting merits must prevail over any other criteria.
Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish)
Official statement.
April 21, 2021
That Scott Parker picture atop The Knowledge has a big Jake Gyllenhaal energy, no?
Aaaaaand breathe. Go and put the kettle on. Unclench that jaw. Read The Knowledge.
Agnelli said he remained convinced that European football needed change and he had no regrets about the way the breakaway attempt was made.
“I remain convinced of the beauty of that project,” Agnelli said, stating it would have created the best competition in the world. “But admittedly ... I mean, I don’t think that that project is now still up and running,” he said.
No regrets!
Later this month, you can join Football Weekly host Max Rushden, and a panel including Guardian sports writers Barney Ronay, Suzanne Wrack and Jonathan Liew for a discussion on the European Super League and what is means for football. Tickets are available here, and the event is open to everyone globally. Ooooof.
While Bob McCann’s email referring to the ESL as “the lads” is quite funny, the point he is making is definitely not.
“Can you give over comparing the club statements like they some how matter? We need to stop apportioning blame and credit like any of them are different from each other. The game is rotten and I include the other 14 in that too, Everton and West Ham and all the others would have done the same. The reality is this week rammed the greed down our throats, most weeks we allow ourselves be fooled and park the obscene figures but this was just too much. Sky, Uefa, Man City and Chelsea are the saviours of football? Pass me the sick bag.
“The soulless empty stadia and VAR have given so many people the opportunity to disengage from the sport in ways previously impossible, this is the final nail. Unless it all collapses and goes back to the days when fans actually matter ( I mean gate receipts cover player wages) then I’m done, I’ve wanted an out for years and thankfully the lads have provided it.”
Meanwhile, back in London.
Jacob Steinberg (@JacobSteinberg)
Chelsea Supporters’ Trust calling for Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck and CEO Guy Laurence to leave the club #cfc https://t.co/RF0dpvRF9A
April 21, 2021
That doesn’t exactly scream ‘Uefa sanctions’.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has welcomed the news that more clubs have withdrawn from the planned breakaway league and appeared to rule out any sanctions...
“I said yesterday that it is admirable to admit a mistake and these clubs made a big mistake. But they are back in the fold now and I know they have a lot to offer not just to our competitions but to the whole of the European game.
“The important thing now is that we move on, rebuild the unity that the game enjoyed before this and move forward together.”
Breakaway European Super League founder and Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli said on Wednesday that the league can longer go ahead after six English clubs withdrew.
Asked whether the project could still happen after the exits, Agnelli told Reuters: “To be frank and honest no, evidently that is not the case.”
That’s from Reuters. More to follow.
Two contrasting opinions from two loyal Liverpool fans.
Dave Ricketts: “As a season ticket holder of 47 years, he can frankly stick his apology where the sun don’t shine. As a fan base we don’t forget or forgive easily. This is meant to be a club set inside a community built on solidarity. He has tried his best to smash that to pieces. Ticket pricing, furloughing staff, trying to copyright the word Liverpool, and now this. He hung Jurgen Klopp and the players completely out to dry on Monday, as well as the fans. They need to go and quick, They will never be trusted again. However, Kudos to Jordan Henderson and the players. Jordan is a true leader and a Liverpool legend.”
Gerry Rawcliffe: “I am a Liverpool fan of nearly 60 years standing. While disgusted with Liverpool’s decision to sign up to the ESL, I think John Henry’s admission of serious error and apology to the fan base (and the playing, coaching and management staff) should be given more credit, as indeed should his rebuilding of the club from the dark days of Hicks and Gillette.”
Barney Ronay on a job not yet done.
An email from Catherine, who lives in Turin.
“Here in Italy people are thankful for the harsh condemnation of UK fans, government and opposition. We couldn’t have defeated this without your outrage. I would say here the mood was equally devastated, but more resigned. In the online supporters forums, Juve supporters were more for the ESL than against, but even some of the ultras protested with stadium signs protesting the merchandising of their passion. Inter fans were more against than for, but few are taking their upset to the streets. Now that Inter has left, the mood for punishment is yet to be determined, some fans certainly want them punished harshly and many fans of other clubs are baying for it. Few believe punishment will actually happen though.
“My husband is a 40 year Inter supporter, me, Toro. Monday he was appalled and ended his lifetime allegiance, today now they have left, he says he is back in the fold. All seems forgiven. He says he’s under no illusion about the big money behind his team and the game as a whole. A salary cap is what people are calling for - we have to put up with Ronaldo’s expensive cars making themselves ostentatiously known in Piazza San Carlo and Agnelli’s mansions on the hill, so the greed that fuels the game side by side with the economic pain of ordinary Italians is somewhat in our face.”
Here’s our report on John W Henry’s apology.
Let’s recap on where we are with the ESL themselves. The project is not yet dead, with three clubs from Italy and three clubs from Spain still technically in the competition. Here’s what they had to say on Tuesday morning.
Despite the announced departure of the English clubs, forced to take such decisions due the pressure out on them, we are convinced our proposal is fully aligned with European law and regulations as was demonstrated by a court decision to protect the Super League from third party actions.
“Given 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.”
Of course, this could all change if more clubs continue to withdraw. There has been talk that Inter and Atlético could be the next to go.
An email from Phil Macdonald: “The silence from Old Trafford continues to highlight the spectacular disregard the Glazers and Woodward have for the clubs supporters. No apology, no mention on their social media sites other than a terse statement that they are withdrawing for the ESL. The billionaire sharks have circling our beloved game getting ever closer. Fortunately, they have received a punch on their greedy noses from the football loving community. Shame and them and shame on us for allowing these money driven owners to nearly ruin our heritage and history.”
It is quite obvious that the Glazers have no regard for the fans or the club, it is just a vehicle to funnel and extract money. What they do care about is money, and it was interesting to see the club’s share price plummet through Monday and Tuesday. However, it has only fallen to the level it was at before Sunday night’s ESL announcement, which is still a little depressing.
David Conn has written about the role of (UK) government in all this. Well worth a read.
This is more like it.
Oliver Dowden, the UK’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, has been speaking this morning.
“It’s very important that we don’t see this as the end of the process. What this is highlighting, more than ever, is the need to look at the wider governance of football … I met with the president of Uefa on Monday and I’ll be … speaking to him again later today. We’ve been absolutely resolute in saying that we will not have our national game taken away from us for profit.”
Florentino Pérez this morning.
Adam Hurrey (@FootballCliches)
My first two weeks of fatherhood: pic.twitter.com/Q17FboW3GY
September 16, 2018
It’s clear that the owners are now fighting a war on two fronts:
1) any possible sanctions handed out by Fifa/Uefa/Premier League (which could be anything from a fine to points deductions to transfer ban to exclusion from domestic or European competition)
2) Continued revolt from the fans. The PR war has started, in the attempt to win over fans again, but their position should be untenable. Some fans will be swayed but I suspect the vast majority of fans will want the owners gone. Abramovich, Sheikh Mansour and Levy (particularly) do have credit in the bank from the recent past, but I can’t see how the protests will stop.
None of you seem particularly impressed with Henry’s effort. His words are particularly jarring when you think about the last few days. He calls it “disruption”. It was a betrayal.
Natalie Lawrence (@IamNLawrence)
@michaelbutler18 Morning! My thought on ESL and punishment of English clubs is that sanctions against the clubs is unnecessary and unimaginative. A transfer ban didn't hurt Chelsea in the long-term. The owners don't care.
April 21, 2021
“That man is an embarrassment to our football club,” emails Thomas Boesmans. “His words mean nothing. He clearly does not want to sell. Yet. #FSGOUT”
From Jack Cantwell: “I’m an Arsenal fan, and I’m more than happy to take a points deduction and a ban from European football for say 1-2 years. It’s what it will take to drive an entitled, selfish and vacuous man like Kroenke from the club that I love. He needs to realise that sport is competitive, and cheating is unacceptable - which is what this would have been (giving yourself an unfair and dubious advantage). Yes it’ll hurt, yes it’ll put our progress plan back a few years but for the good of the game that’s a necessary sacrifice - and I’m sure the majority of true Arsenal fans would agree to take the hit to preserve what’s left of the game for everyone who’s a fan.”
Thanks to Jonathan for starting the blog, I’ll be manning for the blog for the next few hours at least. Do send an email to michael.butler@theguardian.com or tweet me @michaelbutler18. Let’s start with a message from Liverpool’s owner, John W Henry, as he attempts to grovel his way back from this mess.
While some might think that Henry deserves some credit for apology, it is worth remembering that there was no apology last night when Liverpool officially withdrew. Of the six English clubs to pull out, only Arsenal formally apologised in their statement. This was Liverpool’s, by the way. Pretty pathetic. I imagine the backlash to this was what caused Henry to release the video.
LFC can confirm that our involvement in proposed plans to form a ESL has been discontinued. In recent days, the club has received representations from various key stakeholders, both internally and externally, and we would like to thank them for their valuable contributions.”
Quite the mea culpa from the Liverpool owner.
Liverpool FC (@LFC)
John W Henry's message to Liverpool supporters. pic.twitter.com/pHW3RbOcKu
April 21, 2021
One theme coming through loud and clear in my inbox and comments on this page, is that fans of clubs involved in the breakaway are comfortable accepting whatever punishment comes their way. It feels unprecedented. There isn’t (yet) the usual partisan squabbling or whataboutery.
Maybe that will change when the reality of a points deduction, transfer ban, or suspension from European competition materialises? But for now, it seems as though even those likely to be hit hardest in the aftermath of this fiasco recognise it is an opportunity for the game as a whole to move forward. Long may that attitude continue.
The BBC have had a crack at getting something out of John Henry.
Dan Roan (@danroan)
NEW | Liverpool FC owner John Henry with little to say on the collapse of his shambolic super league plan when the BBC’s @BizFleury caught up with him in Boston last night at the Fenway Park Stadium https://t.co/YSwvGQyty2 pic.twitter.com/JE1g5iEjj3
April 21, 2021
Some feedback from a Spanish reader (thanks Gerry!) about the reaction from fans in that part of the world.
To answer the question about protests in Spain: the Frente Atletico is organising a mass demonstration at the Metropolitano. The International Union of ATM Supporters Clubs has issued a statement condemning the ESL. There are a lot of posts on Twitter calling for the heads of the club leaders. As for Real Madrid and Barcelona....Can you attach a tumbleweed picture to this?
And this from Thomas:
I live in Spain and the impression I get from the people around is they’re more disappointed than furious. Generally people seem apathetic. I am a teacher and so I asked my more football inclined students their opinions and a rough 40/60 against the formation of the league came from asking.
What was it Gary Lineker said? Football is a simple game - 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.
Raphael Honigstein💙 (@honigstein)
Earlier, I've put it to a German club official that the Super League 12 must have some really clever ideas to get around all the obstacles, relative to the huge reputational risk they're facing.
Answer: "Never underestimate the incompetence of people."
April 20, 2021
So, what next? Should the clubs involved still be punished (plenty of correspondence in my inbox suggests that’s what many of you want)? If so, how? How does “the game” protect itself from future unrest? Is this, finally, a necessary reckoning, or simply a milestone on the road to a grim, inevitable future?
At times like this, it’s worth checking in with the oracle David Goldblatt.
We have already allowed this coterie of billionaires to own and deform the game for some time. This particular circus may yet fold, but the economic and political shifts that made it possible will still be with us. Now we need to do more than call their bluff and settle for the compromise of an expanded Champions League. We must rewrite the rules, remake the institutions and reassess our role as fans – for we all, collectively, allowed them to contemplate this gambit, and to believe they could get away with it.
Here’s your one-stop story for a remarkable 24 hours.
“I’ve seen a lot of coverage of the huge backlash against the ESL plans in England but I was wondering about whether their had been similar levels of protest against the plans at the European clubs that are remaining determined to press ahead, particularly the Madrid clubs and Barca.” Great email Jacob. Can any Spanish readers help us out?
Gerard Piqué (@3gerardpique)
Football belongs to the fans. Today more than ever.
April 20, 2021
Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG)
April 20, 2021
Today’s vibe.
Simon Ward (@simonjward)
This is a gift and we don’t deserve it. pic.twitter.com/DgzC2Q66sV
April 1, 2021
We’re still waiting for the announcements to start rolling in again, after the flurry of official statements late last night. It is expected that at some point today the two Milan giants will formally withdraw from the European Super League, leaving Juventus as the only Italian representatives remaining.
Andrea Agnelli, the Juve chairman, faces a day under the microscope. He was reportedly a key player in the Super League’s development, but now faces a backlash against his involvement.
So too does Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who has the misfortune of being the face of the doomed breakaway.
Aleksander Ceferin talked tough when the Super League plans were first mooted but the Uefa chief has struck a conciliatory tone following the unravelling of the breakaway competition.
Sean Ingle (@seaningle)
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin, who called some representatives of the 12 breakaway Super League clubs ‘snakes and liars’ on Monday, welcomes them back in the fold. Doesn’t appear Uefa will punish or seek to curb their power pic.twitter.com/Mtj9h3nxc4
April 21, 2021
As with Barney’s column, there’s a theme amongst the correspondence I’m receiving that this moment must be seized by the football community, not only to prevent a similar hijacking unfolding in the future, but also to harness the momentum this episode has provoked to make necessary reforms.
For example: “What a wonderful victory for the fans,” emails Mary Waltz. “But you can’t let up, the government must pass laws to make sure this never happens. The Glazers, Kroenke etc will never give up their dream of an NFL style franchise system. These people are not used to not getting their way. They will eventually try again unless the law stops them.”
Clearly there is political capital to be gained from introducing legislation, but as David Conn writes, whether a Boris Johnson-led government choses to pull that lever remains to be seen.
Unless this story takes an unexpected turn, its next phase will concern the fallout from an incredible couple of days. Barney Ronay has considered what it means, and how this fiasco has brought the need for major reform to a head.
If there is a lesson here, it is in the startling unity of feeling, the sheer anger at peering in through the stadium gate to see someone rolling up the pitch, and feeling not just enraged but empowered by the prospect. It is a feeling of shared force that must be preserved and kept safe for future deployment. This is far from over. The ESL may be postponed, may soldier on with different parties involved or be simply parked, a menacing satellite entity. But the concerns of those involved must also be heard. Your enemy’s enemy is not always your friend – and the clubs are also right in this: football’s governing bodies are self-serving and opaque. Reform is absolutely vital: better it comes from below than in this form again.
Chelsea played out a 0-0 draw with Brighton last night, providing fans an opportunity to voice their opposition to the Super League proposals.
Good morning legacy fans and welcome to the Wednesday edition of The Guardian’s liveblog documenting the latest developments in the European Super League.
It seems inevitable we are in for another momentous day as late last night a frenzy of activity concluded with a statement from the Super League that indicated the controversial project was now on hold. “Given the current circumstances, we shall reconsider the most appropriate steps to reshape the project,” read the announcement.
That statement arrived following the withdrawal of all six English members of the breakaway group. Those half-dozen sides drip-fed statements backing out of the scheme throughout Tuesday evening.
It has also been reported, but not yet confirmed, that Internazionale and AC Milan are both ready to remove their association with the Super League. That leaves only Juventus, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid of the core group of renegades.
Expect plenty of news from Spain and Italy as the day whirrs into life.
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