Super League throwing into chaos as one English club ‘considers u-turn’

The future of English domestic football was thrown into serious uncertainty on Sunday evening, with the announcement of the ‘European Super League’ that will see 12 of Europe’s elite clubs breakaway from UEFA competition. 

The announcement was met with almost total outrage from supporters, pundits and former players alike and has united rival fans in utter contempt at the prospect.

The ‘top six’, who are the only English clubs set to join the breakaway league, have been faced with the prospect of being banned from the Premier League and FA Cup, whilst players of those clubs also face being snubbed by their respective national sides.

All six clubs have withdrawn their membership of the European Club Association (ECA), meaning that Chelsea and Manchester City could join Real Madrid in being thrown out of this season’s Champions League, with Paris Saint-Germain the only semi finalists not to have joined the league.

Arsenal and Manchester United could face the same fate in the Europa League, with a meeting between UEFA representatives organised for Friday.

However, less than 48 hours after the news broke, it appears that one English club is already considering making a shock u-turn on the decision, potentially leaving the concept in tatters.

Alex Wickham, Editor at Politico, earlier Tweeted that “one of the big six English clubs is now seriously considering pulling out of the Super League…accusing Liverpool and Manchester United of lying to them”.

Fans were quick to suggest that the unnamed club could be either Manchester City or Chelsea, both of whom were widely reported to have been the least keen on the idea, with several reports suggesting that both clubs only agreed in order to avoid ‘being left behind’.

Monday evening’s game between Leeds United and Liverpool witnessed protests outside Elland Road prior to the game from both sets of supporters, and a banner was flown above the ground shortly before kick-off.

Similar protests are also being planned by supporters’ groups outside Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening, and in other locations in the coming days.

Protests and banners were seen outside the grounds of all six Premier League clubs involved

The prospect of the breakaway league could also face legal obstacles, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledging new laws to block the move.

Johnson has reportedly told the Premier League and FA that ‘no action is off the table’, and has pledged to explore every possibility, including legislative options.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who has recently been elected as the president of the ESL, has responded to threats of players being banned from World Cups by suggesting that they will simply create their own tournament.

With very little heard from any of the owners involved in the breakaway, much is still up in the air in regard to the ESL. With the prospect of one club pulling out, however, it may be sooner rather than later that we finally hear from someone involved in the plans.