European Super League

EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE rebels could all earn FOUR TIMES more money per season than last year’s Champions League winners, according to reports.On Sunday, it was announced 12 European giants were forming a breakaway midweek competition to rival the Champions League.
Bayern Munich earned £71m in prize money for winning last season’s Champions League final – less than a quarter what each side will pocket for entering the European Super LeagueCredit: AP
The move was hit by an epic backlash from players, pundits and fans alike.
But the founding members – 15 when all is said and done – will be laughing all the way to the bank.
Last season, Bayern Munich pocketed around £71million in prize money for lifting the Champions League.
However, all 20 teams set to take part in the inaugural European Super League are set to earn a minimum of £285m each, according to the New York Times.
That’s over four times MORE than the 2020 Champions League winners simply for signing up.
Clubs joining the proposed tournament could earn up to £310m as an initial ‘golden hello.
They will then rake in a minimum of £130m each season from their share of a £3.1billion total pot. 
Last term, Bayern are believed to have taken home a further £40m in TV money.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

It’s not yet known who will televise the proposed European Super League or how lucrative it will be for clubs involved.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich look set to SNUB the new competition after Borussia Dortmund rejected the opportunity to join the elite 15.
Paris Saint-Germain are almost certain to join along with another French top-flight club, with the 15th yet to be accounted for.

⚽ ⚽ EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE LATEST ⚽ ⚽

⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
European Super League explained: Which clubs involved, how many matches would be played and what about Champions League? More

SUPER LEAGUE rebels have threatened to sue Fifa AND Uefa if they try to ban the clubs from setting up their breakaway competition.Uefa’s response to news of the proposed new self-elected elite was to raise the prospect of the 12 clubs – including all of the Prem Big Six – and their players being unable to play in any national or international competitions.
The European Super League rebel clubs are threatening to sue Fifa and Uefa if they try to ban the competitionCredit: Getty
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters and the FA were co-signatories to that letter.
In the letter both insisted permission would not be granted by English football chiefs for Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs and the two Manchester giants to take part.
But the clubs responded with a joint letter of their own – sent to Fifa President Gianni Infantino and Uefa counterpart Aleksander Ceferin.
In it they revealed they had already engaged lawyers to fight their corner.
The letter read: “We are concerned that Fifa and Uefa may respond to this invitation letter by seeking to take punitive measures to exclude any participating club or player from their respective competitions.
“Your formal statement does, however, compel us to take protective steps to secure ourselves against such an adverse reaction.
“[This] would not only jeopardise the funding commitment under the Grant but, significantly, would be unlawful. 
“For this reason, SLCo (Super League Company) has filed a motion before the relevant courts in order to ensure the seamless establishment and operation of the Competition in accordance with applicable laws.”
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

The 12 clubs, whose decision to join the new £4.6billion competition was only confirmed in a statement issued by all 12 and also carried on a newly-launched website shortly after 11pm on Sunday, did not state which court they were discussing.
While the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport is recognised as the ultimate tribunal for sporting disputes, it cannot take up a case until parties have a ruling from within their sport to file an objection and dissent.
That suggests Super League has taken a page out of the Sepp Blatter Fifa manual and filed a case in a local court in mainland Europe, which could then be progressed to the full European Court.
It is suggested the clubs will argue that any bans would be both a restraint of trade and also fall foul of the precedent set by the legal victories by swimmers in their battle to join the breakaway International Swimming League against the objections of the international federation Fina.
The clubs added: “It is our duty, as SLCo’s board members, to ensure that all reasonable actions available to protect the interests of the Competition and our stakeholders are duly taken, given the irreparable damage that would be suffered if, for any reason, we were deprived of the opportunity to form promptly the Competition and distribute the proceeds of the Grant.”

⚽ ⚽ EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE LATEST ⚽ ⚽

That refers to the £3bn initial payment set to be split between the 15 ‘founding clubs’ and also the promised £346m to be paid annually in ‘solidarity’ funds to the clubs left outside the new elite.
The clubs added: “The Competition is to be played alongside existing domestic league and cup competitions, which are a key part of European football’s competitive fabric.
“We do not seek to replace the Uefa’s Champions League or the Europa League but to compete with and exist alongside those tournaments.”
The news comes as all 12 rebels have now quit the European Club Association, which had been headed by Juventus president Andrea Agnelli until yesterday.

Ten of the ‘dirty dozen’, including Agnelli and the six Prem sides, boycotted an emergency meeting of the ECA yesterday evening, with the two who were present merely monitoring proceedings.
PSG’s Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who has so far declined to join the breakaway, is understood to be replacing Agnelli at the helm of the organisation.
Meanwhile, despite the chaos, Uefa plans to press ahead with rubber-stamping its own plans for a revamp of the Champions League at a meeting of its executive committee this morning.
Ceferin is then due to attend a press conference early this afternoon, when he will make his first public comments about the developments that have rocked the game to its core.
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
European Super League explained: Which clubs involved, how many matches would be played and what about Champions League? More

ENGLAND’S starting XI at the World Cup in 2022 without ‘Big Six’ stars could see some fan-favourite players getting their chance.Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and the two Manchester clubs have signed up to a 20-team breakaway European Super League.
This is how England could line up at the 2022 World Cup if no European Super League players are allowed
Jude Bellingham remains on course to be available as Borussia Dortmund refused to join the ESLCredit: Getty
The Premier League’s so-called ‘Big Six’ are joined by Spanish trio Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Italian sides Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus.
But Uefa and Fifa have threatened ESL players they will be BANNED from representing their national teams.
And while that may rule out many of Gareth Southgate’s top players including Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire, plenty of others would be ready to jump at the chance to represent the Three Lions in Qatar next winter.
One position that is largely unaffected is in goal with Burnley’s Nick Pope and Everton stopper Jordan Henderson battling it out for the No1 spot between the sticks.
England have a plethora of right-back options in Kyle Walker, Reece James, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier and even Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
But with those defenders all at ESL ‘founder’ clubs, the impressive Tariq Lamptey of Brighton could get the nod after his breakout for the Seagulls.
However, Under-21s first-choice Max Aarons, who has helped fire Norwich back into the Premier League, could also be in with a chance.
On the other flank, Leicester ace James Justin could be selected if he can rediscover his form after recovering from his ACL injury.

⚽ ⚽ EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE LATEST ⚽ ⚽

Other non-Big Six English playersWITH the majority of the current squad playing for teams planning to join the European Super League, that could open the door for plenty on the fringes of the England squad to go to Qatar…
JORDAN PICKFORD Everton
SAM JOHNSTONE West Brom
MAX AARONS Norwich
MICHAEL KEANE Everton
JAMES WARD-PROWSE Southampton
JAMES MADDISON Leicester
HARVEY BARNES Leicester
DANNY INGS Southampton
CALLUM WILSON Newcastle
DOMINIC CALVERT-LEWIN Everton

Conor Coady of Wolves is already in the England set-up while Tyrone Mings could be one of THREE Aston Villa starters in the absence of Maguire, John Stones and Joe Gomez.
In midfield, there may not be too much change if Southgate picks a midfield three of West Ham’s Declan Rice, Leeds ace Kalvin Phillips and Jude Bellingham.
The 17-year-old’s Borussia Dortmund snubbed the European Super League, rejecting the chance to join the 12 rebel clubs in the franchise division with no relegation and huge financial incentives.
James Maddison (Leicester) and James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) could also be in with a chance, as too would Jesse Lingard is he completes a permanent switch to West Ham after his stunning loan spell.

In attack, Bellingham’s team-mate Jadon Sancho is a shoo-in on one side with Villa captain Jack Grealish operating on the opposite flank.
And leading the line, Ollie Watkins could be the third Aston Villa starter – although Dominic Calvert-Lewin would have something to say about that.
Fellow strikers Danny Ings and Callum Wilson would also back themselves to make the squad, while Harvey Barnes should be involved.

FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope is vying for the No1 spot with Everton’s Jordan PickfordCredit: Getty
Jack Grealish and Jadon Sancho could both get their chance to start in attackCredit: AFP
Leicester pair Harvey Barnes and James Maddison could force their way to QatarCredit: AFP
This is arguably the best XI of players who as it stands would play in the European Super League
Christopher Pincher says the government don’t want to have a ‘kneejerk reaction’ to the news of a potential breakaway European football Super League More

SUNDAY’s news that 12 of the world’s biggest clubs want to break away to form a ‘European Super League’ has been met by anger and derision by true fans of the game.Among the breakaway dozen are Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Football fans are in uproar at the controversial European Super LeagueCredit: Reuters
Manchester United supporters are among those fumingCredit: PA:Press Association
And fans of the elite trio are fuming at the decision, which threatens to kill football’s ‘magic’.
Here’s what our trio of fan experts have had to say.
MANCHESTER UNITED
United fans have felt disillusioned with the club since the Glazer family took over in 2005.
It has felt in many ways, that we would reach this point, but to do it in the current economic climate, only really highlights what we already knew about the owners!
They’ve no affinity, understanding, or love for the club they control. They’re intent on taking as much as they can out of our great club, with very little care or consideration to the values on which it was built and made it great in the first place.
We’ve seen over the last 12 months that football is nothing without fans. There’s a banner inside Old Trafford which says exactly that.
Joel Glazer is rarely heard, and is now in a position of even greater power, where he intends to dictate what he thinks is best for domestic and European football.

⚽ ⚽ EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE LATEST ⚽ ⚽

FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

Make no mistake, this is all about money and making the rich, richer. What can we do?
If there weren’t so many social distancing restrictions I wouldn’t be surprised to have seen protests outside Old Trafford and the grounds of other ‘big six’ members last night.
The players are the bridge between clubs and fans and it’s time for both to unite and stop this immediately.
Tom McDermott – Follow on Twitter @MrTomMcDermott
ARSENAL
Arsenal fans are dead against the new leagueCredit: Reuters
When asked for an instant reaction to Arsenal’s stated intention to be a founder and ‘permanent’ member of the proposed ESL, the first word that is printable is APPALLED! Sadly, the second thought, is NOT SURPRISED.
For most match going fans, which I proudly am, supporting Arsenal is about so much more than our owners comprehend.
It is about meeting friends, debating tactics, having a beer, local rivalries, the terrace humour, so instant and intuitive and of course, the history of it all. It may be called the Premier League now, but it is still just the top division of four, as it always has been.
Not surprisingly, for the owners of the so called ‘Big Six’, it is about nothing more than increased commercial revenue.
Ironic, that I have secretly admired KSE for wanting Arsenal to be self-sustaining and not throwing cash at the club, seeing it as being true to the class and traditional values.
I know it was naive, wishful thinking, but I clung to that hope, that ultimately this would still be my Arsenal, but I was wrong.
This concept, which offers no promotion or relegation for the founders is NOT sport.
Sport should always have competition and reward on merit at the core. So, the ESL is an entertainment proposal and not a sports proposal, and I can watch great films or shows that will be more entertaining.
I pray this proves to be simply an aggressive opening bargaining gambit, but even if it proves to be just that, I still feel betrayed.
Dave Seager – Follow on Twitter @goonerdave66
CHELSEA
Chelsea fans could rally against the breakaway competitionCredit: AP:Associated Press
The year was 1997, it was a very cold and windy day in Norway, and itstands in my head as one of the best ever memories I’ve had supportingChelsea so far.
Chelsea were playing Tromso in the Cup Winners’ Cup competition, and thesnow was hammering down.
As we went 2-0 down to the minnows, Channel 5 commentator JonathanPearce belted out ‘It’s snow joke for Chelsea’, and those words stick in mymind to this present day.
We lost 3-2 to Tromso, a team who would have struggled against League Two sides, and although we lost the game, the magic of the match, fightingback and scoring two vital late away goals on a snow covered pitch, andknowing that would be enough to go through, made it one of the happiestmemories I hold.
We of course went on to win that competition. But facing the minnows,playing against electricians and builders, that is what football is all about.
These famous household names rolling into a town like Tromso, it’sabsolutely magical.
Chelsea lost 3-2 in the Tromso snowCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Kiss goodbye to moments like that if this new proposed European SuperLeague is started.
Kiss goodbye to the unknown of who we might face in the group stages ofthe Champions League, which random countries we might be heading to foran away day, kiss goodbye to the magic of football.
Chelsea are one of the clubs confirmed to be joining this league, and if itdoes go ahead, it will feel like the end of football as I personally know it,what I have personally grown up loving.
This move will pull professional football so far away from grassrootsfootball and the magic will die. The roots of millions of football pitches allaround Europe will die off and the grass will turn yellow.
Simon Phillips – Follow on Twitter @siphillipssport
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
European Super League explained: Which clubs involved, how many matches would be played and what about Champions League? More