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    Is European Super League cancelled? Will Big Prem 6 be punished for involvement in controversial new competition?

    THE European Super League was dealt an almighty blow on Tuesday night after all six Premier League clubs withdrew their interest.More clubs are now set to follow – but is this the end of the controversial breakaway competition?
    Has the European Super League been cancelled and will the PL Big Six now be punished?Credit: PA
    HAS THE EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE BEEN CANCELLED?
    Essentially, yes.
    On Wednesday morning, European Super League chiefs released a statement saying they would ‘reshape’ the competition and move on.
    Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli – one of two key ringleaders along with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez – also claimed they were ‘moving forward’.
    But just hours later, Agnelli performed an astonishing U-turn, admitting the tournament could not go ahead with clubs dropping like flies.
    Asked if the ESL could go ahead, Agnelli admitted defeat, saying: “To be frank and honest, no. Evidently that is not the case.”
    Ringleader Andrea Agnelli has all-but admitted defeat after PL clubs withdrew from the ESLCredit: AFP
    Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham have already officially pulled out.
    Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid followed suit on Wednesday morning.
    Reports in Europe claim AC Milan and Barcelona are set to join them.
    That would leave just TWO of the original 12 clubs – Juventus and Real Madrid as ‘founding members’.
    For the European Super League to go on, they would need to find 13 other clubs to join the inner circle – and another five who would take part in the inaugural season.
    Following an incredible fan backlash, it’s unlikely any clubs would be willing to sell their souls by signing up now.
    As Agnelli admitted… it’s over.
    We’re now just awaiting official confirmation.
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    WILL PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS BE PUNISHED?
    It seems likely, yes.
    Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd and Tottenham were major players in the formation of the European Super League.
    In fact, Premier League clubs accounted for HALF of the ‘dirty dozen’ European clubs.
    They had ample chance to say no – after all, Borussia Dortmund rejected the invitation.
    The six Premier League teams will now surely face a punishment – but it won’t be half as extreme as many disgruntled football fans would like.
    The clubs all face a hefty fine.
    However, they are incredibly unlikely to be hit with a points deduction and are even less likely to be kicked out of the Premier League.
    Ironically, having moved to form their own breakaway league in a bid to make more money, the six teams now look set to be be hit in the pocket and head back to reality with their tails between their legs.

    WHO’S LEFT IN THE COMPETITION?
    Officially at least, the Premier League clubs, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid have all pulled out.
    That leaves Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Juventus.
    However, numerous reports in Europe have suggested Barca and Milan are set to walk away.
    That would leave just Real Madrid and Juventus.
    And with Juve chairman Agnelli admitting defeat… it seems the European Super League nightmare is over.

    Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher slam Man Utd and Liverpool owners over European Super League fallout More

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    Even Florentino Perez’s Real Madrid stars hit out at European Super League as they ‘like’ David Beckham’s damning post

    THE WALLS continued to close in on Florentino Perez’s European Super League dream as his own stars began to show their discontent.Real Madrid’s Luka Modric, Lucas Vazquez, Marcelo and Alvaro Odriozola all ‘liked’ David Beckham’s critique of the plot, as spotted by Marca.
    Florentino Perez’s European Super League is in tattersCredit: AFP
    A post by David Beckham has been ‘liked’ by a number of Real Madrid stars
    The England legend decried the game being ‘in danger’ as the ESL proposals emerged – before spectacularly collapsing under the weight of fan criticism.
    Los Blancos club president Perez, recently re-elected to 2025, spearheaded the operation financed by US bank JP Morgan.
    The 74-year-old cited the supposedly declining interest of young people in football as one key reason behind the ESL.
    But there was a sense of irony as the man who shot to fame through his Galactico transfers was called out by two of his most iconic signings.
    Beckham wrote on Instagram: “I’m someone who loves football. It has been my life for as long as I can remember.
    “I loved it from when I was a young child as a fan, and I’m still a fan now.
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    “As a player and now as an owner I know that our sport is nothing without the fans. We need football to be for everyone.
    “We need football to be fair and we need competitions based on merit. Unless we protect these values the game we love is in danger…”
    The statement came after Luis Figo, who controversially traded Barcelona for Madrid upon Perez’s first election win in 2000, slammed the ESL.
    He stated: “This so called ‘Super League’ is anything but ‘Super’.
    “This greedy and callous move would spell disaster for our grassroots, for women’s football, and the wider football community only to serve self-interested owners, who stopped caring about their fans long ago, and complete disregard for sporting merit. Tragic.”
    Inter Miami owner Beckham, 45, also played for ESL pair AC Milan and Manchester United, with the Red Devils already jumping ship.

    Reuters have quoted ESL vice-chairman and Juventus chief Andrea Agnelli as admitting the proposals cannot continue after the six Premier League clubs withdrew.
    Real president Perez failed to make a planned appearance on Spanish TV show El Larguero on Tuesday night as the plot crumbled.
    And he is facing a continued backlash across LaLiga with Villarreal president Fernando Roig declaring on Wednesday: “He is selfish, selfish and also… selfish. He only thinks of Real Madrid.”
    ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

    MORE ON SUPER LEAGUE OUTRAGE

    WATCH: Liverpool owner John W Henry apologises to fans after Super league fiasco More

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    Man Utd icon Gary Neville hopes Big Six are fined £100m EACH by Real Madrid and ‘eat themselves’ as fans want punishment

    GARY NEVILLE hopes the six rebel Premier League clubs are fined £100million each by Real Madrid and they end up ‘eating themselves’ in the messy fallout from the European Super League.And fans are also calling on the so-called ‘Big Six’ to be hit with a punishment within the English game.

    Gary Neville launched another scathing attack on the ‘Big Six’ and wants to see them sufferCredit: Sky Sports
    Neville was one of the strongest voices condemning Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and the two Manchester clubs for signing up to the 20-team breakaway franchise league.
    Fans, players, managers and pundits together made their fury known and all six made a sheepish U-turn on Tuesday night to withdraw from the ESL – less than 48 hours after their public statements signalling their intentions.
    But Neville still wants to see the Premier League sides made to pay for their initial plans which would likely have decimated the rest of English football.
    The former United and England right-back told Sky Sports: “Florentino Perez might have them on a £100m fine and I hope he does.
    “I hope Perez has got them on a massive fine to withdraw the lot of them and they basically end up eating each other.”
    Speaking after only City had officially confirmed their exit intentions, he added: “Quite incredible.
    “Large concern yesterday morning was waking up thinking that, for me particularly as a United fan, that Joel Glazer had put his name on a statement which you think what he went through in the takeover of Manchester United, they withstood a barrage of abuse and they went through it and you thought, ‘It’s going to be difficult for them to back down.’
    “They haven’t backed down yet but the fact that City have enacted the withdrawal procedure and it looks like Chelsea are on the way, it’s done. It’s finished.
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    “I hope that Perez has got them on a massive fine, the lot of them.”@GNev2 joins us at full-time following the news that some clubs are set to withdraw from the Super League.Watch live on Sky Sports Premier League now! pic.twitter.com/oG3KgdmU3X— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 20, 2021

    “They will have their PR teams scrambling around to make this as lovely as possible in the next 24 hours, working out what the right time is to sort of, withdraw from it.”
    Arsenal, Tottenham, United and Liverpool confirmed at 10.55pm last night they were backing out while Chelsea followed at 12.51am leaving the franchised closed shop in tatters.
    Earlier in the bombshell evening, Ed Woodward resigned as executive vice-chairman at Old Trafford and will leave his post at the end of 2021.
    Neville continued: “We obviously don’t know why the timing is now.
    “The leeches could’ve thrown him under the bus or it could’ve been the sensible thing has happened.
    “Ed Woodward knew it would get hot in the kitchen and he had to get out of there.
    “Every single executive who sits at the Premier League table, on these Uefa and Fifa committees, they need throwing out of that club. There is no way they can be trusted.
    “Ed Woodward knew his time in football was finished. Ed Woodward is the trunk of the tree, we now need to go for the roots.”

    MORE ON SUPER LEAGUE OUTRAGE

    Should the players be punished? Should the managers be punished? They shouldn’t be. It’s the owners.Jamie Carragher
    SunSport readers are now calling on the football authorities to throw the book at the six rebels and make them suffer.
    Our poll saw 59 per cent of 6,000 voters call for clubs to be punished, a third believing they should be exempted from any sanctions and eight per cent unsure.
    While the managers and players were not involved in the European Super League plans, many are calling for points deductions or even expulsion from the top flight.
    Others, meanwhile, want to see long-term changes implemented to prevent anything like this being attempted again, such as fan-majority ownership like in Germany or the owners somehow forced out.
    Jamie Carragher said: “The most important thing for me is getting everybody together. These are huge institutions in our game.

    “This is not Liverpool, Manchester United, Man City, Chelsea, Spurs or Arsenal. This is the owners. It’s not the clubs.
    “Should the players be punished? Should the managers be punished? They shouldn’t be. It’s the owners.
    “Ed Woodward has moved on and I think there will be more. I think we will look back at this and realise the magnitude of what we have all done.
    “We have all proved in this country, the media, the supporters and the players have been more on the front foot and that is something everybody should be proud of in taking this European Super League down.”
    ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

    All SIX Premier league ‘giants’ pull out of European Super League as Liverpool, Man Utd and Spurs finally quit More

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    European Super League OVER as ringleader Agnelli admits hated breakaway competition cannot go on after Big Six withdraw

    THE European Super League is OVER, according to ringleader Andrea Agnelli.The proposed breakaway tournament was left in tatters on Tuesday night after ALL six Premier League clubs withdrew following fan backlash.
    Juventus chairman Agnelli admits the European Super League can’t go ahead with clubs dropping outCredit: AFP
    A statement released by the European Super League claimed the tournament will ‘reshape’ and go ahead
    Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid followed suit on Wednesday morning, with AC Milan doing so in the early afternoon.
    Barcelona are set to join them it’s claimed, leaving just TWO of the original 12 clubs – Juventus and Real Madrid.
    And on Wednesday morning, Juventus chairman Agnelli – who, along with Real Madrid chief Florentino Perez, was seen as a ringleader for the project – admitted there was no way the tournament could still go ahead.
    Asked if the ESL would happen, Agnelli admitted defeat, saying: “To be frank and honest, no. Evidently that is not the case.”
    His words came just 12 hours after he claimed the European Super League was ‘moving forward’ despite Premier League clubs withdrawing.
    Shortly before an emergency meeting on Tuesday night, Agnelli told La Repubblica: “There is a blood pact binding our clubs together.
    “The Super League project has a 100 per cent likelihood of success.
    “We are moving forward.” 
    Eaerlier on Wednesday morning, European Super League chiefs claimed the competition would still go ahead despite the setback in a statement.
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    It read: “The European Super League is convinced the current status quo of European football needs to change.
    “We are proposing a new European competition because the existing system does not work.
    “Our proposal is aimed at allowing the sport to evolve while generating resources and stability for the full football pyramid.
    “[This includes] helping to overcome the financial difficulties experienced by the entire football community as a result of the pandemic.
    “It would also provide materially enhanced solidarity payments to all football stakeholders.”
    Released after the Premier League clubs’ withdrawal, the statement continued by slamming fan pressure and admitting the European Super League would now need to be ‘reshaped’.
    It read: “Despite the announced departure of the English clubs, forced to take such decisions due to pressure put on them, we are convinced our proposal is fully aligned with European law and regulations.
    “[That] was demonstrated by a court decision to protect the Super League from third-party actions.
    “Given the 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.”

    Following the news of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham’s withdrawal, more clubs began to drop out.
    Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan both called time on the project within minutes of each other on Wednesday morning before AC Milan following around lunch-time.
    Barcelona are set to follow, according to numerous reports in Europe.
    That would leave just Real Madrid and Juventus as ‘founding members’.
    However, even Juventus admitted there were ‘reduced possibilities’ for the tournament now.
    And given Agnelli’s pessimistic stance on the European Super League’s future, it appears the breakaway league has been scrapped.
    As yet, there has been no official announcement from tournament bosses.

    But the English Football League ‘welcomed’ the decision in a statement.
    A statement read: “The EFL is heartened by the response.
    “We remain proud to be part of a unified footballing system that promotes open competition, gives everybody a chance to dream and continues to inspire generations of young people in the communities from where our Clubs take their name.
    “The message is clear that the pyramid must be protected above all.
    “The European Super League failed in part due to a model of distorted and unfair financial distributions, a criticism that can also be levelled at the current financial model in our own domestic game.”

    ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
    Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher slam Man Utd and Liverpool owners over European Super League fallout More

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    Liverpool owner John W Henry REFUSES to sell up amid Euro Super League scandal after Carragher calls for him to go

    LIVERPOOL owner John W Henry is refusing to sell the club amid the European Super League fiasco despite widespread calls for him to get out.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.”
    Liverpool’s owner John W Henry says his work at Liverpool is not done despite widespread calls for him to sell up
    Jamie Carragher is one of thousands of Reds fans demanding the billionaire sell upCredit: Sky Sports
    Henry was one of the main protagonists in the group whose plans would have destroyed football.
    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.”

    MORE ON SUPER LEAGUE OUTRAGE

    Chelsea were the first to break ranks after fans gathered outside Stamford Bridge to voice their anger, with Manchester City following soon after.
    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.
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    Anti-FSG banners still hung outside Anfield on Wednesday morning
    Liverpool fans made their feelings abundantly clear to the owners
    Reds supporters joined millions of fans in England in hitting out at the greedy plans

    As the situation unfolded and the Super League began to collapse before it even got off the ground, both Carragher and Graeme Souness said the relationship between the board and Anfield faithful will be ‘damaged forever’.
    The fallout has even seen Manchester United bigwig Ed Woodward quit his role at Old Trafford.
    Henry brought Liverpool in 2010 but was warned that fans would never forget this episode.
    And former Reds defender Carragher said he doesn’t think the American can even attend another game at Anfield ever again.

    Before the Reds bailed out, Carragher said on Sky Sports: “I’m almost as angry with Liverpool now as I was yesterday the fact they’re still hanging in there.
    “Jurgen Klopp has thrown them under a bus, their own captain has thrown them under a bus.
    “There’s nothing left for Liverpool’s owners in what they’re holding on for – I don’t see how they can continue.
    “I don’t see a future for the ownership of FSG at Liverpool any more on the back of this, and I think they’re just making it worse for themselves the longer they hang in.
    “I do not see how John Henry can sit in that wonderful main stand he was part of building and watch a game.
    “I don’t see how him and Tom Werner can come back to the club again on the back of this because this will never be forgotten.
    “It will be very difficult for them to have any sort of relationship with the fans going forward.”
    ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

    All SIX Premier league ‘giants’ pull out of European Super League as Liverpool, Man Utd and Spurs finally quit More

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    Watch moment shocked Thomas Tuchel finds out Chelsea have withdrawn from European Super League live on Sky Sports

    THOMAS TUCHEL was left shocked after being told Chelsea had pulled out of the European Super League live on Sky Sports.The proposed tournament was devastated on Tuesday night after ALL six Premier League clubs withdrew following an epic fan backlash.
    🗣”I am not aware of any of the politics, I trust the club that they take decisions into consideration that we embrace competitive sport.” Thomas Tuchel reacts to Chelsea pulling out of the ‘European Super League’ pic.twitter.com/NTM9MAjrgY— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 20, 2021

    Thomas Tuchel was left shocked after learning of Chelsea’s ESL withdrawal before the 0-0 draw with Brighton
    Chelsea were the first club to officially pull out of the European Super LeagueCredit: AP
    Chelsea were the first English club to announce the decision, with Manchester City following suit before the remaining four later joined them.
    But as the drama unfolded, Chelsea’s squad were left in the dark as they were stranded on the team bus ahead of their game at Brighton.
    Shortly before kick-off in the 0-0 draw, Blues chief Tuchel was asked for his thoughts on the club pulling out.
    Clearly surprised by the news, Tuchel – live on Sky Sports – said: “Nothing… I spent the last 45 minutes on the bus.
    “No, I don’t know anything about that.”
    Tuchel went on to give a passionate backing to the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
    The German boss continued: “What I know, and this is my personal opinion, is that I am at a super-competitive club.
    “That’s why I’m here and that’s why I was so excited to join this club.

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    “I trust the club to know it’s all about competition.
    “This is what I feel – and the dressing room. This is what I feel at Cobham.
    “This is what everybody feels when they watch the team play.”
    Tuchel explained: “We were fighting so so hard to go to the Champions League semi-final.
    “We were giving everything in the FA Cup – the oldest, most traditional cup.
    “We were giving everything – we left our heart and soul on the pitch to make it to the final.
    “So we are competitive.
    “I’m not aware of any of the politics – I was not aware, I’m still not aware.
    “I don’t know enough. I trust the club to take decisions [knowing] that we embrace competitive sport.”

    Meanwhile, the European Super League have released a statement claiming the tournament will still go ahead despite clubs dropping like flies.
    As well as Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham, reports claim AC Milan and Inter Milan have also withdrawn their interest.
    Other reports have suggested Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are considering their stance.
    That would leave just Juventus and Real Madrid as the only two founder members after TEN quit.

    ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
    All SIX Premier league ‘giants’ pull out of European Super League as Liverpool, Man Utd and Spurs finally quit More

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    European Super League: Dramatic rise and fall of breakaway plot in three days of chaos as Man Utd, Liverpool and Co quit

    IT STARTED with the madness of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, claiming the Super League was the only solution to “save football”.Then it was Fifa president Gianni Infantino, firing his warning shot to the rebel 12.

    By mid-morning, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was personally promising to bring the plot crashing down.
    Then we heard Uefa chief Aleksander Ceferin urging the Premier League’s “dirty half dozen” to own up to their “mistake” and apologise to the fans who “bleed themselves dry” for their football clubs.
    And that was just the start of football’s longest day, a battle for the soul of the game that ended with the bodies of the victims strewn over the Prem’s boardroom tables.
    With Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy savaged by the left-behind gang, metaphorical blood weeping from the wounds inflicted by the Angry Brigade, who were not soothed by his messages of contrition.
    With Manchester City and Chelsea both insisting they were the first to realise the £4.6billion house of cards was doomed and jumping out of the first floor window.
    And finally with Ed Woodward, the public face of the Manchester United board, falling on his sword to end 16 tempestuous years as Old Trafford’s business brain.
    After the PM had promised the FA and Prem he would not let the rebels win, the 14 clubs heard from Brighton’s Paul Barber of his conversation with Levy.
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    Petr Cech pleaded with Chelsea fans in protests outside Stamford Bridge on MondayCredit: Rex
    Fans protested against the European Super LeagueCredit: Getty
    But the protests turned into celebration as the wheels came off the Super LeagueCredit: Rex
    Barber reported: “Daniel is shaken by what has happened. This is not what he wanted, or expected, at all.
    “Daniel says this all grew from a feeling that Uefa simply doesn’t listen to us as a league. The big clubs deserve more respect and more money.”
    Not that it did Levy much good. One club source revealed: “Paul was told to pass on a simple message back — that Daniel and the rest of them were destroying all of us.

    MORE ON SUPER LEAGUE OUTRAGE

    “We are all still seething at what has gone on. Every single one of us. There is no sympathy at all for Levy, or anyone else involved.
    “They are the ones who put us in this position because of their greed.”
    This is a victory for the good guys.
    For the fans who said enough was enough. The players, managers and pundits who voiced their utter disapproval.
    The clubs who backed away from the whole shooting match.
    Even the FA, Prem and Government who, for once, stood firm and resisted, rather than caving under the first breath of pressure.
    ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

    And let there be no doubt, this was a victory.
    One won inch by inch, thrust by thrust, before the Super League was finally revealed to be football’s version of the Wizard of Oz — all about illusions of power and might but with absolutely zero substance. Yet this was, truly, a momentous day for the game, too, one which proved that many of those who claim to be clad in ermine are actually morally naked.
    On Sunday, when the 12 mutineers, including the Prem’s ‘Big Six’, finally broke cover to confirm their elite, closed-shop cartel, it seemed to be the beginning of the end for the established order.
    Yet within 48 hours, it was over, leaving just the victims. Some have just lost their reputations.
    Others their pride. A few — with more to come — their jobs. But none of them have escaped uninjured.
    And while City and Chelsea did the right thing first, the fans who laid siege outside Stamford Bridge and condemned the Etihad hierarchy they have so often rightly praised, will long remember.
    Maybe we should have known it was going to be chaos when reports of Perez’s bizarre interview on Spanish TV emerged.
    Not only did he claim that the Super League was, effectively, football’s last hope but also suggested 90 minutes was too long for matches anyway.
    Super League plotters believed Infantino might secretly be an ally.
    Instead, he plunged in the knife, telling the Uefa Congress: “If some elect to go their own way, then they must live with the consequences of their choice.”
    Ceferin, the calm, rational Slovenian lawyer, opted for emotion, talking of his email from a heartbroken Tottenham fan, Trevor, devastated at his club’s betrayal of their ideals.
    Directly addressing the Prem ‘Big Six’, Ceferin said: “Some will say it is greed, others disdain, arrogance, flippancy or complete ignorance of England’s football culture.
    “It doesn’t matter. What matters is that there is still time to change your mind.

    “England, this incredible nation with such strong and unique links to football, deserves to have you correct your mistake. It deserves respect.
    “Come to your senses, out of respect for those who bleed themselves dry so that they can go to the stadium to support their team and want the dream to be kept alive.”
    It was just the start. With fans protesting outside the Bridge, Chelsea’s wobbles had already turned into a full-scale U-turn.
    Similarly at City, who were shocked at the global reaction. Both realised the game was up and moved to tender their resignation. Woodward too decided he’d had enough at United.
    Gone. Neither forgotten nor forgiven. Just like the whole Super League.
    Or, as Ceferin had said, “the so-called Super League, because it is not super”.
    Spot on.
    Chelsea fan arrested during European Super League protests outside Stamford Bridge More