League of Ireland

FANS from across Europe have united to slam plans for a European Super League.
Supporters from 15 countries and those representing more than 30 clubs including all of the Prem’s Big Six condemned the proposals.

Spanish top-flight supremo Javier Tebas claimed Man Utd, Liverpool, Real Madrid and AC Milan plotted with Fifa President Gianni Infantino over a new leagueCredit: Reuters

SunSport revealed Spain LaLiga chief Javier Tebas accused Manchester United and Liverpool executives of plotting with Fifa President Gianni Infantino, Real Madrid boss Florentino Perez and AC Milan to “destroy” football with the closed-shop elite project.
And now the voice of the fans has been heard in a damning denunciation of the concept.
In a joint statement, the fans’ groups described the Super League project as “an unpopular, illegitimate and dangerous scheme”.
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They added: “It would destroy the European model of sport, which is based on sporting merit, promotion and relegation, qualifying via domestic success and financial solidarity.
“It would also undermine the economic foundations of European football, concentrating even more wealth and power in the hands of a dozen or so elite clubs”.
The fans’ groups conceded they “recognised” football is “in desperate need of broad reform”.
However, they added: “Proposals to this end must seek to revive the competitive balance in European competitions, protect domestic leagues, promote the interests of fans and encourage fairer revenue distribution.

“A European Super League would achieve none of these object – quite the opposite.”
Sunsport reported on the plans that would see the Big Six taking shares of up to £310m each from a £3.5m “founder members” fund.
The plans envisage 15 clubs with permanent membership and five teams qualifying each year.
But the founder members would be guaranteed a minimum of £130m per year, with the possibility of boosting that to £213m.

The supporters’ groups warned: “A closed breakaway league allows big clubs to succeed off the pitch even if they fail on it.
“It is anti-competitive by design and snatches the dream of seeing your team play in Europe. It goes against the very spirit of the game.”
They also rail against the concept for its negative impact on domestic leagues, “exacerbating” the divide between clubs because “it would allow big clubs to monopolise profits”.

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STUNNING model Ines Tomaz has laid bare her love for Manchester City star Bernardo Silva by calling him the best thing that happened to her in 2020.
The couple’s love blossomed during coronavirus lockdown which they spent with friends in a large house near Lisbon.

Bernardo Silva’s girlfriend Ines Tomaz said the Man City ace is the best thing to happen in 2020Credit: Instagram

The couple hooked up in lockdownCredit: Instagram

Pretty Ines, whose sister Mariana represented Portugal at Miss Global 2017, summed up her year with a summer photo of her chilling out with the midfielder which she captioned: “The best of 2020.”
And Bernardo immediately showed he agreed by posting a heart emoticon under her gushing comment.
Ines posted the snap days after the 26-year-old footballer wished fans ‘Merry Christmas’ with a snap showing him and his gorgeous girlfriend enjoying an intimate dinner in tracksuit bottoms and socks.
Ines looked happy and relaxed as she sipped red wine with a ‘Merry Christmas’ jumper on, appearing to confirm she has moved to Manchester virtually full-time and only makes brief returns to her native Portugal for work reasons.

Bernardo topped off his casual Christmas look by donning a Portugal shirt.
The Man City star confirmed he had found love again in May and was dating for the first time following his split with stunning French model Alicia Verrando.
He had fuelled speculation of a new romance after he revealed in April Ines was one of the group of three women and three other male pals he had been in lockdown with.
Ines went public with their relationship by posting footage on her Instagram of the footballer with his arms round her on a beach.

Ines regularly posts glamorous snaps of herself and Silva in InstagramCredit: Instagram

The couple spent Christmas togetherCredit: Instagram

The playmaker responded with his own photo, showing them oozing happiness and looking tanned and relaxed at a dinner table.
Neither Bernardo or Ines gave away any details of when they began dating, although they are thought to have been seeing each for several months in secret.
They holidayed together in September in the paradise island of Formentera near Ibiza.
Reports around the time Silva is understood to have split with ex Alicia said he reluctantly ended their two-year relationship with her because it had ‘gone cold’ following her move to the UK.
Monte Carlo-born Alicia, who met Bernardo when she landed a job as an intern marketing assistant at his former club Monaco, flew to Russia to support Portugal at the last World Cup.
Soon after arriving she shared a video of fans wearing Portuguese shirts with her partner’s name on ahead of his team’s match against Uruguay.
But the last ‘happy couple’ photo they shared on social media was in May 2018 from the upmarket resort of Sesimbra near Lisbon.
Bernardo, who signed a five-year contact with Man City in May 2017 for £43m, posted pics online of him with his sister Maria at her wedding but none with Alicia.

Silva split with ex Alicia after the relationship went ‘cold’Credit: Twitter

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