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      Fuming Man Utd fans protest against the Glazers and let off smoke bombs outside of Old Trafford after Super League plot

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      MANCHESTER UNITED fans have headed to Old Trafford in their droves to protest against the club owners. Supporters are furious following the foiled plans for the European Super League.
      A giant banner reading ‘Glazers Out’ dominated the protestCredit: PA
      Manchester United fans arrived at Old Trafford to protest against the club ownersCredit: Reuters
      The protest was organised on Twitter following the collapse of the ESLCredit: Reuters
      Other supporters held up snakes against the GlazersCredit: AFP
      More and more fans continued to turn up throughout the afternoonCredit: Peter Powell Ltd
      Red Devil fans arranged the protest on Twitter for 3pm on Saturday – exactly 123 years after the club was founded.
      Manchester United even shut the Old Trafford megastore earlier in the afternoon ahead of the expected protests.
      The loyal fanbase were vocal in their anger towards American owners The Glazers which was further fuelled following the fallout of the ESL.
      They set off smoke bombs, chanted against the Glazers and held banners such as ‘Glazer Out Now’ and ‘Enough is Enough.’
      Others held yellow and green snakes – a symbolic colour against the Glazers that harks back to when the club was founded in 1878.
      Avram Glazer refused to apologise from his £16million mansion in Florida when quizzed by a reporter.
      And when asked if he would sell United following the debacle, he snapped back: “No comment.”
      The tense exchange came days after his brother and fellow co-chairman Joel issued a grovelling apology in an open letter to supporters.
      Supporters from the Premier League’s ‘big six’ who were all part of the ESL have been making their discontent known.
      Supporters from the big six clubs have all been vocal against their ownersCredit: Reuters
      Supporters are furious and demand the Glazers leave the clubCredit: AFP
      The Glazers have caused fury after backing the ESL plansCredit: Reuters
      Fans draped green and yellow scarfs around the Holy Trinity statueCredit: Reuters

      Liverpool fans displayed banners such as ‘FSG rats’ before their game with Newcastle with their American owner John W Henry is refusing to sell the club.
      Arsenal supporters also headed to the Emirates on Friday calling for owner Stan Kroenke to leave, just a day after Chelsea fans headed to Stamford Bridge.
      A group of Manchester United fans have already held Glazer Out protests after blocking the players and manager from entering the Carrington Training Complex.
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      Ian Wright slams Arsenal owners KSE as ‘not fit to own club’ and backs fan protests after European Super League shambles

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      IAN WRIGHT has claimed the Kroenke family ‘are not fit to run’ Arsenal as he backed supporters’ protests.Police were forced to intervene as thousands of Arsenal fans gathered at the Emirates to call for Stan Kroenke’s departure ahead of the defeat to Everton on Friday.
      Ian Wright has backed protests against Arsenal’s ownersCredit: Getty
      Gooners want Stan Kroenke to quit amid the ESL fiascoCredit: AFP
      An effigy of Stan Kroenke was strung up outside the Emirates on FridayCredit: Getty
      A huge group expressed their outrage at the failed European Super League breakaway attempt and general running of the club in North London on Friday.
      Fans HUNG an effigy of Stan Kroenke outside the ground prior to Bernd Leno’s own goal gifting the Toffees the points.
      Now the legendary Gunners striker, who has tweeted ‘Kroenke Out’ this week, has further offered his backing for the American chief to sell up.
      Wright told Dazn: “I stand with them. I made it clear what I think about the owner. I think they’re right to be outside there.
      “The statement from the manager as well, fans have every right to be out there saying what they’re saying.
      “KSE are not fit, for me, not fit to run the club, not fit to own the club. We’ve heard Josh Kroenke saying they’re not selling the club – and I wouldn’t expect them to, it’s a massive cash cow for them.
      “But if they are going to stay and run the club then it’s going to have to be done under different terms. 
      “The only thing I can seek solace from is that the Government are going to be doing a review on club ownership. Everything to do with what owners like that do and what they don’t do.”
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      Wright added: “We’re talking about a silent owner, since he’s been at our club he’s not invested properly in the way they buy at the club, the way they service the debt with the club.
      “The fact they wanted to go into this competition… it’s like they’ve given up on us. If you’re the owner of a club, it’s going to cost you money.
      “If it’s going well, it’s going to cost you money. If it’s not going well, it’s going to cost you money.
      “What Stan Kroenke has done since he’s been at our club is be middle road. Anything that’s going to cost him, he’s nowhere to be seen. 
      “That’s what we can’t have anymore. I don’t think he’s fit for purpose at the club anymore.
      “The sooner we can get him out – which is going to be tough, that’s why if we can’t get someone like him out we’re going to have to go towards the government and keep them pushing to get legislation to get these people to do the job properly.”
      Thousands of fans descended on the Emirates to call for Kroenke to leaveCredit: Alamy
      Arsenal director Josh (left) and owner Stan Kroenke (right) have been slated by GoonersCredit: Getty
      American billionaire Kroenke, 73, joined the board of the Premier League outfit in 2008 and became majority shareholder three years later.
      Supporters remain determined to see Kroenke and son Josh, a club director, leave the Gunners.
      Josh Kroenke admitted the ESL was a major error but insisted his family will not sell up.

      He stated: “We were put in a very difficult position by forces outside of the club and we got it wrong.
      “All of our trust was shredded this week, I understand that, but I still believe that we are fit to carry on in our positions as custodians of Arsenal.
      “I might be met with scepticism but over time I hope to establish some sort of relationship with our supporter groups and show them that we are capable of taking the club forward.
      “When are we going to sell? I am not willing to answer that question because we have no intention of selling.”
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      Lineker hits out at ‘tone deaf’ Klopp as Liverpool boss accuses pundits of ‘winding up’ fans with Super League coverage

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      GARY LINEKER has hit out at Jurgen Klopp for being ‘spectacularly tone deaf’ over the European Super League fallout. The Liverpool boss was further asked his thoughts following the fierce backlash and collapse of the money-making farce.
      “You all have to calm down. It’s winding people up.””Nobody wanted it. Definitely. But now let’s deal with it.”A passionate Jurgen Klopp on dealing with, and moving forward from the European Super League fallout.🎙 @TheDesKelly pic.twitter.com/2xMFzfIPUt— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 24, 2021

      Liverpool fans protested against their owners before the Newcastle contest
      A hundred or so angry Liverpool fans protested against their American owners before kick-off against Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.
      Arsenal and Chelsea supporters protested outside their stadiums while a group of Manchester United fans also blocked the player’s access to the Carrington training ground – all in protest against the ESL plans.
      Klopp was eager to remind supporters that the blame lies only at the feet of the owners while asking the public to ‘calm down’ with their opinions.
      He told BT Sport: “It hurts a lot because the thing is, our owners made a mistake.
      “What I didn’t like is… and the Leeds supporters were a good example, they went in on us.
      “We had nothing to do with it, we are just the faces of the club. We had no idea, we didn’t even know about it and that is really important, don’t forget that.
      “It was representatives of Liverpool Football Club you have to make the difference.
      “When I see the pictures now, Chelsea fans and Arsenal fans yesterday, I really think you all have to calm down.

      Gary Lineker labelled Jurgen Klopp ‘tone deaf’ after his ESL commentsCredit: C1 PHOTOGRAPHY
      Arsenal supporters were out in force on Friday evening
      “People are talking about it all day, it’s winding people up.
      “We are in a pandemic, people are out there without face masks and shouting their opinions out.
      “All the pundits have to calm down because yes, nobody wanted it definitely, but now let’s deal with it and not constantly show we’re against it.
      “That’s clear now, they learned a lesson and just relax now a little bit, We have to carry on.”
      Lineker was far from impressed with Klopp’s reasoning and believes the fans have every right to continue making their voices heard.
      He fired back on Twitter: “A handful of owners try to tear our game apart and may well try to do so again, and we’re just told to ‘calm down and move on’.
      “Huge admirer of Klopp but he’s spectacularly tone deaf here.
      “Without the fans of our beautiful game it would be much uglier today.”

      And BT Sport host Jake Humphrey remained in agreement with Lineker, demanding fans continue to fight for the game.
      He responded: “I like Jurgen. But couldn’t disagree with this more.
      “Silence now is the one thing that guarantees no change.
      “Keep talking…it’s our game and we are all entitled to fight for it.”
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      Avram Glazer refuses to apologise to Man Utd fans over Super League plot and ‘snaps’ when asked if he will sell club

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      AVRAM GLAZER refused to apologise to Manchester United fans over the European Super League plot.And when asked whether he will sell the club, the Red Devils co-chairman ‘snapped’ in response.
      Avram Glazer was approached by a Mirror reporter but refused to apologise to fansCredit: REUTERS
      The Mirror tracked down the American near his £16million six-bedroom mansion in Palm Beach, Florida.
      He was approached by a reporter as he visited a chemist’s in a black T-shirt, grey jeans and red trainers while driving his white Jeep Wrangler.
      Glazer, 60, had not been seen since his club confirmed their intention to join the controversial breakaway competition last Sunday and subsequent withdrawal within 48 hours.
      The reporter repeatedly asked him if he wanted to say sorry to fans – but he declined.
      He was then asked if he would sell United following the debacle but the report adds he snapped back: “No comment.”
      Glazer got into his car alongside wife Jill and sped off and returned home.
      The tense exchange came days after his brother and fellow co-chairman Joel issued a grovelling apology in an open letter to supporters.
      He was central to the Old Trafford club’s attempt to join the other five Premier League rebels and six other teams from Spain and Italy in the closed-shop money-grabbing franchise.

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      Joel was named a vice-chairman of the European Super League but admitted his glaring error.
      In a lengthy statement on United’s website, he said: “We fully accept that the Super League was not the right way to go about it.
      “In seeking to create a more stable foundation for the game, we failed to show enough respect for its deep-rooted traditions –promotion, relegation, the pyramid – and for that we are sorry.
      “This is the world’s greatest football club and we apologise unreservedly for the unrest caused during these past few days.
      “It is important for us to put that right.”
      United supporters – and former players such as Gary Neville – are desperate to see the back of the Glazer family, who bought the club in 2005.
      Former right-back Neville insisted the greedy owners ‘attacked every single football fan in this country with what they did’.

      He added: “The Glazers have no place in Manchester anymore.”
      Supporters, meanwhile, made their voices heard with a protest inside the Carrington training ground on Thursday.
      A group of around 20 breached security and made their way on to the first-team pitch, refusing to leave until manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spoke with them.
      When he did, the Red Devils boss – previously against the Glazer takeover – told them ‘Joel Glazer loves the club’.
      The fans were unimpressed by the comment and are planning further demonstrations at Old Trafford this afternoon and next Sunday before the home game against Liverpool.
      And two of the key figures in the Red Knights campaign also wrote to Joel Glazer to reduce the family’s stake in the club from 74.9 per cent to a maximum of 49.9 per cent.
      In a letter seen by Sky News, Lord O’Neill – the architect of the Red Knights campaign attempting a £1.25billion takeover bid in 2010 – and the hedge fund manager Sir Paul Marshall encouraged the radical reforms ‘as a gesture of your desire to do things right’.
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      Liverpool fans protest against owners FSG’s Super League plot outside Anfield ahead of Newcastle game but cheer team bus

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      LIVERPOOL fans are the latest to launch a furious protest against their club’s owners amid the failed European Super League breakaway.Supporters descended on Anfield on Saturday morning ahead of the lunchtime kick off against Newcastle.
      Liverpool fans are the latest to protest against their owners amid the ESL fiascoCredit: AFP
      A number of fans descended to the streets around Anfield to display their disgustCredit: Reuters
      Fans are calling for Liverpool owner John W Henry to leave the clubCredit: AFP
      Liverpool’s team coach was met by the banners ahead of the game with NewcastleCredit: PA
      Banners displaying messages such as ‘Spirit of Shanks, Not Greedy Yanks’ and ‘FSG rats’ were placed for the Reds’ team coach to see on route to the ground.
      Liverpool’s American owner John W Henry is refusing to sell the club amid the European Super League fiasco despite widespread calls for him to get out.
      But despite their anger towards the chief, fans cheered loudly for the team as the coach pulled up for the clash after skipper Jordan Henderson spoke out against the ESL breakaway.
      Former Liverpool and Real Madrid star Steve McManaman was covering the game for BT Sport.
      He said: “It’s been a city full of anger and resentment
      “They want to support the team. They understand that the resentment is directed at a group of people, not anyone associated with this football club here. It’s shameful.”
      Reds legend Jamie Carragher is one of thousands of Liverpool fans calling for the American to leave but the billionaire has dug his heels in and said: “My work is not done.”
      Henry was one of the main protagonists in the group whose plans would have destroyed football.
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      However the Reds joined their greedy counterparts in backing out of the close shop franchise league on Tuesday night.
      Liverpool eventually released a video from the Fenway Sports Group chief on Wednesday morning in which Henry finally apologised for dragging the Reds’ name through the mud.
      But within the statement was a clear message about his future as owner.
      He said: “More than a decade ago when we signed up with the challenges associated with football, we dreamed of what you dreamed of. And we’ve worked hard to improve your club. Our work isn’t done.”
      Chelsea were the first to break ranks after fans gathered outside Stamford Bridge to voice their anger, with Manchester City following soon after.
      Two of the protesters pose for the cameras outside Anfield on SaturdayCredit: PA

      A cardboard cut-out of Jurgen Klopp was also placed amongst the protestersCredit: Reuters
      Then Tottenham, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal all announced they were quitting the doomed project hours later.
      Angry Reds fans hung angry banners at Anfield – which were still there on Wednesday morning – and also protested outside Elland Road ahead of Monday’s game against Leeds.
      Only Arsenal could bring themselves to actually say sorry for the ridiculous plans straight away with the other six renegade clubs releasing pathetic dismissive statements.
      But that did not stop thousands of Gooners heading to the Emirates last night for another angry protest with resulted in police being called to intervene.
      Arsenal fans hung an effigy of owner Stan Kroenke outside the Emirates last nightCredit: EPA
      Thousands of Gooners protested to demand their owner leavesCredit: EPA

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      Florentino Perez warns Big Six ‘can’t leave’ European Super League and says hated competition ‘still exists’

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      FLORENTINO PEREZ has warned the Premier League so-called ‘Big Six’ they cannot leave the European Super League.And the Real Madrid chief continues to insist the widely-hated new breakaway franchise division ‘still exists’.
      Florentino Perez insists the European Super League clubs cannot leave because they are legally boundCredit: Reuters

      Perez, 74, is the chairman and primary driving force behind the controversial ESL which publicised its plans last Sunday night.
      Within 48 hours, though, after a furious backlash from players, managers, pundits and fans, all six of the English rebels had made dramatic U-turns and signalled they were pulling out.
      However, the self-proclaimed ‘saviour of football’ Perez reiterated to AS that Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and the two Manchester clubs are legally tied into the plans and the ESL will go ahead in some format.
      He said: “I’m not going to explain now what a binding contract is… But come on, the clubs can’t leave. 
      “Some of them, because of pressure, have had to say that they’re leaving.
      “But this project or one like it will go forward, and I hope it’s soon.
      “The Super League still exists, and the members are still in it.
      “Now we have given ourselves some weeks to think, while we face the violence that some people, who don’t want to lose their privileges, have used to manipulate our project.”
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      Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan also withdrew – as did American investors JP Morgan who were planning to stump up an initial £3.5billion for the closed-shop competition.
      The bankrollers admitted they ‘misjudged’ the situation on Friday.
      A statement from a JP Morgan spokesperson read: “We clearly misjudged how this deal would be viewed by the wider football community and how it might impact them in the future. We will learn from this.”
      But Perez incredibly denied they had pulled out as well.
      He added: “That’s not true, they haven’t [withdrawn] either. 
      “They’ve taken some time for reflection, like the 12 clubs, and if we have to change something, we’ll change it.”

      However, leaked documents to Der Spiegel revealed the clubs could leave – but would face a £130million bill.
      The 15 proposed clubs were split into three groups with Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid handed the lowest figure.
      Some £116m was promised to each of the quartet for their slice of the grant, 88.5 per cent of which was to be spread across the founders.
      All six English clubs as well as Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich were set to take home £236m each.
      While Barcelona and Real Madrid were both obliged to be awarded an extra £52m, according to the leak.
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      Manchester United co-chairman Joel Glazer was a key part of the ESL plansCredit: Getty – Contributor

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      Ilkay Gundogan calls Uefa reforms ‘lesser of two evils’ as he insists fight isn’t over despite ESL plot being crushed

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      MANCHESTER CITY star Ilkay Gundogan has blasted Uefa and called the revamped Champions League the ‘lesser of two evils’ amid the collapse of the European Super League.His club announced on Tuesday night they were pulling out of the controversial breakaway after backlash from fans and criticism from players.
      Ilkay Gundogan has blasted Uefa’s new Champions League formatCredit: Getty
      The UCL format right now works great and that is why it’s the most popular club competition in the world – for us players and for the fans.— Ilkay Gündogan (@IlkayGuendogan) April 22, 2021

      And City boss Pep Guardiola even refused to call it sport when quizzed about it.
      Two squad members of the Premier League leaders, Kevin De Bruyne and Aymeric Laporte, both used their social media platforms to publicly condemn the proposal earlier in the week.
      Now Gundogan has become the latest City star to express his views as he also slammed Uefa’s new format for the Champions League.
      He wrote: “With all the Super League stuff going on… can we please also speak about the new Champions League format?
      “More and more and more games, is no one thinking about us players.
      “The new UCL format is just the lesser of the two evils in comparison to the Super League.
      “The UCL format right now works great and that is why it’s the most popular club competition in the world – for us players and for the fans.”
      The Champions League will be revamped and expanded from 32 clubs to 36 per season, with the initial group stage scrapped and replaced by a single league.
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      How the revamped tournament will lookCredit: The Sun

      Each team will play 10 matches, five home and five away, against opponents seeded for strength, under the so-called ‘Swiss model’.
      After the 10 matches, scheduled to be extended into the last week of January, we will then be left with the final table.
      The top eight will go straight through to the knock-out stage, with the teams finishing ninth to 24th playing off in two-legged ties to join them in the last 16 and the bottom eight out of the competition.
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      Arsenal fear missing out on Martin Odegaard transfer after fallout from European Super League shambles

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      ARSENAL are worried that they could lose Martin Odegaard as a result of withdrawing from the European Super League.The Norwegian star has had a major impact at the Emirates since arriving on loan from Real Madrid in January.
      Arsenal are worried that they could lose Martin OdegaardCredit: Getty
      And now Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is keen to strike a permanent deal for the playmaker, 22, at the end of the season.
      But Real president Florentino Perez is furious with the six English clubs who withdrew from the ESL this week — and is in no mood to grant any favours to any teams he feels have betrayed him.
      Perez, the chief architect of the breakaway Super League, has stubbornly refused to give up on his grand scheme and blamed “old people who got scared” for the U-turn by the Premier League clubs.
      And that anger is likely to rebound on Arsenal when they try to open negotiations for Odegaard in the coming weeks.
      Arteta will not know how much money he will have for new signings until the issue of European qualification is settled.
      Arsenal paid out a £1.8million loan fee for Odegaard in January and were hoping to agree a permanent transfer in the region of £25m.
      But now they fear the asking price is set to soar beyond their price range for a player who only cost Real £3m when he signed from Stromsgodset in 2015.
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      Odegaard recently said: “I am really happy at Arsenal. I’ve felt at home since the first day and I get on really well with everyone at the club.”
      He is reluctant to return to the Bernabeu after managing just 11 appearances in six years.
      Arsenal also have Dani Ceballos on loan from Real but are not expected to push for a permanent deal for the Spaniard.
      Thousands of Arsenal fans protest at owner Kroenke outside Emirates More