Manchester City have pulled out of the European Premier League (ESL) and Chelsea are also preparing to do so. Attempts to leave come just two days after the pair were announced as two of six clubs in England to join the controversial new competition.
The ESL has been widely criticized since being published on Sunday.
About 1,000 supporters gathered outside Stamford Bridge Chelsea’s home ground ahead of their game against Brighton on Tuesday to protest their part.
Chelsea and City were part of English football’s ‘big six’ clubs – alongside Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham – to have agreed to join the new league.
In total, 12 European clubs announced their intentions to form the breakaway league, which they were hoping to establish as a new mid-week competition.
He was condemned by football authorities and government ministers in the UK and across Europe by Uefa associations and leagues.
Chelsea were the first club to indicate that they will not press ahead by preparing documentation to withdraw. City withdrew shortly thereafter.
Chelsea and City were not the drivers of this scheme, they were the last to sign and were afraid of being left behind.
It is unclear how easy it is or how binding the contracts are.
The decision to seek Chelsea’s approval was made by owner Roman Abramovich and the club board after witnessing a negative global reaction to the Super League.
He feared it could damage the club’s reputation and undermine some of its campaigning and community work.
Questions were raised internally about whether fans would respond to the club if it continued with a proposal that has fallen so badly.
The decision was made earlier on Tuesday before protests began outside Stamford Bridge.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Boris Johnson met with the Football Association, Premier League officials and supporters’ representatives, after which the government said it would take “whatever action is necessary” ”, Including legislative options, to ensure the proposals are suspended.
Johnson’s stance is supported by Labor and the Liberal Democrats.
A statement released after a meeting between the Premier League and the 14 unrelated clubs said they had “unanimously and vigorously” rejected plans for the competition.
He added that he was considering “all available actions” to stop the competition and asked the six teams to end their participation immediately.
Although England’s participation has been quickly reconsidered, the other six clubs from Spain and Italy – which include Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, Juventus and AC Milan – have received no sign of their involvement. be thinking of doing the same thing.
Real president Florentino Perez, who was named chairman of the ESL, said the competition was set up “to save football” because young people are “no longer interested” in the game because of “many games poor quality ”.
AC Milan chief executive Ivan Gazidis said the ESL would be “an exciting new chapter for the game” and “will provide value and support” across European football.
Meanwhile, Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo came out to support the ESL and club owner Andrea Agnelli, who stepped down as chair of the European Club Association (ECA) after signing the Turin club to the new competition .
“This project explained to us, gave us great confidence, but the most important thing he told us was that we must continue our work,” said Pirlo. (BBC Sport)