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European Super League latest: Jamie Carragher says plans 'can be stopped' and fans must work together

Marcus Parekh
·72-min read

Former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher says supporters and people within football must "get together" to stop the Super League proposals getting off the ground.

Speaking on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, Carragher said: "My message to everyone is that these clubs think this is a done deal, I don't think it is.

"Supporters up and down this country can stop it and I really do believe it. At the forefront of that will be Liverpool because I have seen it before.

"We have tribalism in this country, we have rivalry and that is what makes the game the way it is and that is what we love. Football fans get together - all of us in TV, pundits, players, managers get together and stop this.

"It can be stopped and I am convinced of it. Going forward that is what we need, marches on stadiums, supporters getting together, it should not be allowed to happen."

Carragher's comments come after Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said the government "will do whatever it takes to stop" the European Super League amid threats to withhold work permits and remove policing from grounds

The cabinet minister announced that there will be a "fan-led review" into football in the UK, that will examine every element of the sport, "root and branch”.

While exact details on what it would entail were not forthcoming in the statement, Dowden stated it "will consider how fans can have an even greater say in oversight of the game."

"Football clubs aren't just businesses, they define communities across the country," he said in the House of Commons chamber. "I was appalled by the announcement last night of the breakaway European league.

"It was a tone deaf proposal, but the owners won't have been able to ignore the universal roar of outrage from all parts of the football community. It goes against the very spirit of the game

"We will not stand by and watch football be cravenly stripped of the things that make us love it. We will not hesitate to protect one of our greatest national institutions - football.”

He added: “My message to the authorities is clear - they have our full backing… We will put everything on the table to prevent this form happening.

"We need a proper examination of the long-term future of football. Year after year, football fans demonstrate unwavering loyalty and passion, but this is being abused by a small number of individuals who wield power and influence. These owners should remember they are only temporary custodians of these clubs and they ignore fans at their peril.”

We'll bring you latest reaction and news here below throughout the day.

07:02 PM

With that the match is about to start...

...a game that Liverpool need to win to have a chance of making the top four and the Champions League next season. A match that if the six owners have their way, Carragher makes the point, would be meaningless this time next year.

07:01 PM

One last call for action from Gary Neville

On what needs to be done…

“You have to act here - it’s a big attack [on football]. I say cancel the match on Sunday (the League club final between two rebel clubs Manchester City vs Spurs). Who cares about it, [the two clubs] don’t care about it. Things like that have to be on the table. They have to know they cannot bully and get their own way.”

On Klopp coming out against the Super League…

“Klopp has come out in a very calm fashion, he has to in his position. He has come out against his owners on national television.”

06:55 PM

Disapproval from the air

06:54 PM

Demonstrations ahead of the match - yes, there is a match taking place tonight

Fans are making their feelings known outside Elland Road ahead of Leeds United's match against rebel club Liverpool.

Fans protest outside Elland Road against Liverpool's decision to be included amongst the clubs attempting to form a new European Super League - PA
Fans protest outside Elland Road against Liverpool's decision to be included amongst the clubs attempting to form a new European Super League - PA

06:44 PM

Gary Neville says the plan 'has got to be stopped'

The former Manchester United defender didn't mince his words...

When I went to bed last night I was half hoping that they would re-think it. When I woke up and saw the statement and saw Joel Glazer had signed it, I thought ‘oh, no this is a problem’. He doesn’t sign anything, this is serious. He is going to try and force this through. When I saw his name I was really worried. I am enthused by they reaction of government, royalty and fans. We have to mobilise and organise. Write to MPs, football clubs, pundits...the BBC, Sky, BT Sport, ITV have to come together to stop this. It’s an attack on everything this country holds dear and they’re trying to take that away from us. Everybody’s got to come behind this. Forget allegiances. They’re trying to take football away from us.

06:37 PM

Steve Parish being interviewed on Monday Night Football

The Crystal Palace chairman says the 'outpouring we've had against [the Super League proposals] does give us the strength to oppose them'.

06:35 PM

Jaime Carragher calls for fans, players, managers and pundits to mobilise against the plans

"My message to everyone is that these clubs think this is a done deal, I don't think it is," he said. "Supporters up and down this country can stop it and I really do believe it. At the forefront of that will be Liverpool because I have seen it before. "We have tribalism in this country, we have rivalry and that is what makes the game the way it is and that is what we love. "Football fans get together - all of us in TV, pundits, players, managers get together and stop this. "It can be stopped and I am convinced of it. Going forward that is what we need, marches on stadiums, supporters getting together, it should not be allowed to happen."

06:28 PM

Jurgen Klopp reaffirms his disagreement with closed shop Super League proposals

The Liverpool boss has just given an interview with Sky Sports and has effectively said he disagrees with the Super League proposals. He says he didn't know about the plans until yesterday afternoon and said his views on a European Super League haven't changed from when he was asked about it two years ago and said: "I hope there is never a European Super League".

Here's what he said about the the Super League and what he knows about it…

“My opinion hasn’t changed. Obviously I heard first time yesterday, trying to prepare for a tough game against Leeds. We got some information, not a lot. It’s a tough one, people are not happy and I can understand that. I cannot say more as I am not part of this and we don’t know much and we’ll have to wait to see how it develops. I have no issues with the Champions League I like the competitive nature of football. I like the fact that West Ham can play in the Champions League next year.

“What I don’t like. Liverpool football club is much more than a load of decisions. It’s about the supporters and the team and have to make sure nothing gets in-between that. I hear that banners have been taken down from Anfield…we have to stick together. I don’t like fans using You’ll Never Walk Alone against us - no one has to walk alone at the moment, there are things to sort out obviously but that’s nothing to do with the football or relationship between the fans and the players.

“I understand the fans’ frustration, I get it. I don’t know why the 12 clubs did it…some things have to change in football I understand that…It’s all about money now with Uefa and Fifa as well…I understand why people don’t like the competitiveness [not in the proposed Super League].

“We want to be in the Champions League and have to earn it like anyone else.”

06:03 PM

Leeds fans makes their views known

Boos and chants against Liverpool by Leeds fans.

06:01 PM

Liverpool fans protesting

Liverpool fans board team bus to tune of 'Money Money Money' as protestor plays ABBA song on a trombone.

05:58 PM

Leeds United fans speak up against the Super League

Graham Hyde, the Leeds United Supporters Trust Vice Chairman, has just been interviewed on Sky Sport News and he had some very interesting things to say about the proposed Super League ahead of tonight’s match against one of the rebel clubs, Liverpool.

Here’s some of what he said.

“This is a group of elite owners who are trying to steal the game from the fans.

“Club owners need to understand fans won’t tolerate this…That’s the mark we hope to make tonight.”

“We’ve spent 12 months not in stadiums and it’s time they recognise how vital fans are. Fans are the lifeblood of football.”

“[The Super League] everything against football is about - the fans, the competition, the ups and downs of football.”

“It’s not about meritocracy and winning and losing - it goes against everything the game stands for.”

“Football has gone from being an inclusive community-based sport that everyone can feel part of to something bland and commercial that we feel distant from.”

“It’s only the owners who want this not the fans.”

05:47 PM

A bit more on the business behind the Super League

JP Morgan is bankrolling the breakaway, rebel league. But the Telegraph's Ben Marlow argues that it is a bit of an own goal for the US banking giant.

"JP Morgan’s Jamie Dimon loves the sound of his own voice. If he’s not spouting off about Brexit Britain, he’s laughably comparing the Wall Street banking goliath to “a local bakery” because of its purported efforts to be “a responsible citizen”, in a 66-page annual communiqué to shareholders. One wonders, then, what he makes of the bank’s decision to bankroll a breakaway European football super league to the tune of $5bn. Presumably at those levels Dimon gave his blessing but it doesn’t take much to imagine a native of Queens, New York, home of baseball giants New York Mets, failing to understand the impact that the competition would have on domestic football. He almost certainly won’t have anticipated the ferocity of the backlash. When was the last time you saw the Prime Minister publicly criticising what is effectively a corporate debt deal? Even Boris, a man hardly renowned for his sporting prowess, gets it."

READ: Bankrolling European Super League is an own goal for JP Morgan

05:40 PM

Prince William has his say

The future King is also the current FA President and he has come out the proposals saying:

"I share the concerns of fans about the proposed Super League and the damage it risks causing to the game we love."

05:35 PM

Government gearing up into action

05:33 PM

Wonder what they'll discuss on Monday Night Football...

No prizes for guessing they'll be focusing heavily on this story. Both Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have been stringent and vocal in their opposition to the Super League.

We'll be blogging what they have to say, expect fireworks...

05:25 PM

PSG playing it straight and saying no

Some would have expected Paris Saint-Germain to have been involved in any European Super League. But they declined the offer and my colleague Jason Burt says it was a fairly unequivocal no.

05:22 PM

Rebel clubs could be expelled from the semi-finals of the Champions League and Europa League, writes Jason Burt

Uefa will discuss expelling Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea from the semi-finals of the Champions League and Europa League at a meeting on Friday, writes Jason Burt

The threat was made public by Jesper Moller, the chairman of the Danish FA and also a Uefa Executive Committee member, who said: "The clubs must go, and I expect that to happen on Friday. Then we have to find out how to finish (this season's) Champions League tournament.”

The same would apply to the Europa League and it is understood that although Friday’s meeting is scheduled to cover the plans for the forthcoming European Championships – with the involvement of Dublin, Bilbao and Munich in doubt – the next step to combat the proposed European Super League will be discussed.

Uefa sources have indicated that this will, remarkably, include expelling the clubs who have signed up to take part in the breakaway. As things stand it would leave Paris Saint-Germain as the only eligible Champions League semi-finalist and Roma and Villarreal left in the Europa League. The first legs of the semi-finals are due to take place next week.

Real Madrid are due to host Chelsea on Tuesday and PSG were at home to City on the Wednesday but both matches are now in danger. Likewise United’s tie against Roma on Thursday, the same day that Arsenal travel to Villarreal.

It remains to be seen whether the threat is followed through – and that will depend on how the rest of the week unfolds – but Uefa president Aleksandr Ceferin said at a press conference earlier on Monday: "We're still assessing with our legal team but we will take all the sanctions that we can ...my opinion is that as soon as possible they have to be banned from all our competitions and the players from all our competitions.”

Uefa’s Exco was due to make a decision on Monday as to whether some of the scheduled 12 venues across Europe for Euro 2020 would lose matches – with Dublin most under threat – but put that off in light of the developing ESL crisis.

05:13 PM

More on the Oliver Dowden statement

The Government has announced a “root and branch” review of football governance and promised to use every power at its disposal to stop England’s six richest clubs from joining a European Super League, writes Jeremy Wilson.

In a statement to the House of Commons, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden condemned the “appalling..tone deaf” proposals that would see Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur become ‘founding members’ of a new €10 billion breakaway competition.

Accusing “a small handful of owners” of wanting to create a closed league “based on wealth and brand recognition rather than merit”, Dowden said that there was now no choice but to launch an immediate review of the national game.

“We will put everything on the table to prevent this from happening,” he said. “We are examining every option, from governance reform, to competition law, and the mechanisms that allow football to take place. Put simply, we will be reviewing everything the Government does to support these clubs to play.” Work permits for players and the policing that is provided to stage matches are among the practical areas on which clubs are dependent on regulatory help.

Dowden has also appointed Tracey Crouch MP, a former sports minister, to oversee a fan-led review of football governance. “It’s clearer than ever that we need a proper examination of the long-term future of football,” he said. “Season after season, year after year, football fans demonstrate unwavering loyalty and passion by sticking by their clubs.

“Their loyalty is being abused by a small number of individuals who wield an incredible amount of power and influence. These clubs have made it clear that I have no choice. They have decided to put money before fans. I have been left with no choice but to formally trigger the launch of our fan-led review of football.

“It will cover the financial sustainability of the men’s and women’s game, financial flows through the pyramid, governance regulation and the merits of an independent regulator. Crucially, in light of this weekend’s proposal, it will also consider how fans can have an even greater say in the oversight of the game, and the models which might best achieve that.”

04:59 PM

Silence from the six English rebel clubs

Since the news broke yesterday afternoon, bar the clubs announcing they had signed to join the new Super League, there has been deafening silence from the English Dirty Half Dozen…A quick glance at their Twitter feeds shines no light on the project that promises to upend modern football as we know it…

Chelsea want their fans to have a quiz ahead of their match against Brighton (FUN!) “How many goalscorers can you remember against the seagulls?” Based on their Twitter feed the number of goals scored for the west Londoners against the south coast club, is a more pressing issue.

Tottenham want us to know that their stadium “will host a pop-up Covid-19 vaccination clinic” which is all rather admirable but in no way will placate fans worried the Super League will decimate football and the idea of competition as we know it.

As for tonight’s match Liverpool have revealed they have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip to Leeds. Which is all well and good but pales into insignificance when compared with they many, many concerns of their fans that the club’s owners have dealt a hammer blow to their beloved side and notions of fair play.

04:47 PM

A bit more on this uniting fans of all clubs

As my colleague Luke Edwards has tweeted: "It’s the huge positive I’ve taken from it Jim. These clubs want us to think this is a done deal and can’t be stopped, but they have united fans in a way I’ve not seen before I don’t think. Now government wading in. Suspect there will be a few tense zoom calls in boardrooms."

04:38 PM

Is there anyone who thinks the Super League is a grand idea?

Bar the owners, that is...

The House of Commons is united on the matter (a rarity), all fans groups have voiced their discontent, former and current players aren't happy - anyone out there who's happy about the proposals?

04:31 PM

Bayern Munich have broken their silence

It seems very strange that any European Super League won't have continental heavyweights and current European champions Bayern Munich in it. But the German giants turned their noses at the new competition and have just released this statement on their website.

Commenting on the plans to introduce a European Super League, FC Bayern München CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: "FC Bayern has not been involved in the plans for creating a Super League. We are convinced that the current structure in football guarantees a reliable foundation. FC Bayern welcomes the reforms of the Champions League because we believe they are the right step to take for the development of European football. The modified group stage will contribute to an increase in excitement and the emotional experience in the competition. I do not believe the Super League will solve the financial problems of European clubs that have arisen as result of the coronavirus pandemic. Rather, all clubs in Europe should work in solidarity to ensure that the cost structure, especially players' salaries and agents' fees, are brought in line with revenues, to make all of European football more rational."

04:07 PM

Oliver Dowden announces fan-led review into football

Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has announced a "fan-led review" into football in the UK, that will examine every element of the sport, "root and branch".

While exact details on what it would entail were not forthcoming in the statement, Dowden stated it "will consider how fans can have an even greater say in oversight of the game."

"Football clubs aren't just businesses, they define communities across the country," he said. "I was appalled by the announcement last night of the breakaway European league."

"It was a tone deaf proposal, but the owners won't have been able to ignore the universal roar of outrage from all parts of the football community. It goes against the very spirit of the game

"We will not stand by and watch football be cravenly stripped of the things that make us love it. We will not hesitate to protect one of our greatest national institutions - football."

"My message to the authorities is clear - they have our full backing. But be in no doubt, if they can't act, we will. We will put everything on the table to prevent this form happening. We are examining everything from governance reform to competition law."

"We need a proper examination of the long-term future of football. Year after year, football fans demonstrate unwavering loyalty and passion, but this is being abused by a small number of individuals who wield power and influence. These owners should remember they are only temporary custodians of these clubs and they ignore fans at their peril."

03:49 PM

Jason Burt analyses the Super League proposals

03:40 PM

Oliver Dowden to speak shortly

Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, will make a statement to the House of Commons on the plans for a European Super League shortly. His remarks had been scheduled to begin at 4.30pm.

03:28 PM

Italian government backs Uefa

Italy's government supports national and European football authorities in their defence of national competitions and sports values, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said, after 12 leading clubs announced the formation of a breakaway European Super League.

"The government is closely following the debate around the Super League project and strongly supports the positions of the Italian and European football authorities to preserve national competitions, the meritocratic values and social function of sports," Draghi said in a statement.

03:18 PM

A brief history of the European Super League idea

03:05 PM

Super League an attack on 'open and fair competition' - EFL

The EFL has condemned the Super League as an attack on "open and fair competition" and insists a strong pyramid is fundamental to football's success.

In a statement, the league said: "The EFL stands with the Premier League, The FA, PFA, LMA, the FSA and colleagues across European professional football in condemnation of proposals which attack the foundation of open and fair competition upon which our game is built."

"A strong pyramid based on promotion, relegation and ultimately European qualification, is fundamental to our game's continued success."

"The EFL opposes any reform that doesn't support competition integrity or offer clubs the prospect of one day competing at the highest end of the game."

"Collective reform efforts should be focused on creating conditions that foster long-term sustainability at all levels of the domestic football and remove the current, almost impossible financial pressures created as a result in the huge difference of revenues allocated to the Premier League in comparison to the Championship and Leagues One and Two."

02:55 PM

Manchester United, Juventus share price continue to rise

Despite a seemingly universal out-pouring of rage from the public, Juventus and Manchester United are enjoying banner days as business entities.

Juventus’s stock rose as much as 19 per cent during the day's trading in Milan, the most in more than a year, while United gained 9.8 per cent in early trading in New York, the most in more than five months.

In a surprising development, BT Group Plc, the broadcaster which currently holds Uefa club competition rights and some Premier League rights in the UK, saw their share price rise 0.2 per cent, despite concerns that the Super League could become a death knell for both the Champions League and Europa League.

02:43 PM

'Brains behind Super League that no-one wants cannot even run their clubs properly'

Fans are united in their stand against controversial Super League, but suits will push on regardless in pursuit of their goal of more money, says our Chief Football Writer Sam Wallace.

Just to recap, the European Super League has announced its front three as follows: the man who changed the Real Madrid statutes to be president in perpetuity; the Agnelli son who has presided over the death of Serie A as a viable competition and one of the Glazers – although given they all inherited it from their dad it scarcely matters which. Florentino Pérez, Andrea Agnelli and Joel Glazer now installed as the controlling powers of the worst idea in the history of European football. The chairman and the two vice-chairs of the nascent European Super League (ESL) leading the last charge of football’s zombie apocalypse in search of fresh flesh – because even the last two decades of vast broadcast income increases were never going to be enough for them. In that time they have wasted hundreds of millions on transfer fees, wages and compensation to failed managers; they have laid waste to domestic competitions or leveraged borrowing to control their clubs. Yet still they come, glassy-eyed, in search of more.

You can read Sam's scathing column in full here.

02:32 PM

'Ban the 'big six' from the Premier League — they will soon come crawling back'

The Premier League will still have plenty to keep us interested - it may even benefit by becoming less predictable and more competitive, says Luke Edwards.

If they want to go, let them. They have made their threat, their greed has been exposed, they have revealed their ugliness to the world. We know what they want, we see who they are and what they care about. Now let them go through with it. If the big six clubs want to join a closed shop European not-so-super league, bid them farewell and tell them good riddance. Because if they want that, the price they must pay will be this - no more Premier League, no more FA Cup and no more reserve teams in the League Cup either.

You can read Luke's full view here.

02:19 PM

Super League clubs may be kicked out of this year's Uefa competitions as president says 'snakes' will face consequences

Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid could be thrown out of this season’s Champions League and Europa League after signing up to a European Super League, reports Ben Rumsby.

Aleksander Ceferin, president of Uefa, also said a legal assessment was being made about banning players from all 12 Super League clubs from this summer’s European Championship.

Ceferin said such sanctions would be imposed “as soon as possible”.

The threat came barely a week before the Champions League semi-finals, in which Real face Chelsea and City play Paris St-Germain.

"In my opinion, this idea is a spit in the face of all football lovers, and our society as well. So we will not allow them to take it away from us," Ceferin insisted.

The Slovenian also branded United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and Andrea Agnelli, the chairman of Juventus, “snakes” over their role in the launch of a new rebel competition.

He said: “We might be naïve in not knowing we have snakes close to us. Now we do. There will be legal action soon. We have the full support of the European Commission but it is only 14 hours since the announcement.”

You can read Ben's full report from Ceferin's astonishing press conference here.

02:07 PM

What an England XI would look like if 'Big Six' players were banned

News of the breakaway European Super League has provoked a fierce backlash from Uefa and various national leagues and associations.

World governing body Fifa has also expressed its "disapproval to a 'closed European breakaway league' outside of the international football structures".

Uefa, along with the Football Associations of England, Spain and Italy, plus the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A, said they would use all available means to stop the "cynical project" that involves Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham, plus six other European clubs.

There has even been talk of banning players who play for these teams from representing their countries at international level. And so, with that in mind, we examine what an England team without players from the Premier League's so-called 'Big Six' would look like.

You can read the team here.

02:00 PM

Premier League call meeting for tomorrow

A Premier League clubs meeting had been called for tomorrow with 14 clubs to discuss their response to the Super League, reports Ben Rumsby. The Big Six have not been invited.

01:55 PM

Super League plans 'disturbing', says Graham Potter

Brighton boss Graham Potter called the development of a proposed Super League "disturbing" but felt club chairman Tony Bloom and chief executive Paul Barber were better placed to address the issue.

"To be honest, I haven't read into it too much. Of course the headlines are there, they are disturbing and they are things for us to consider," he said.

"I have just been preparing for the game against Chelsea (on Tuesday evening). I am pretty sure the chairman and Paul Barber will speak in terms of the club's position and that's pretty much where I'm at the moment."

01:48 PM

Thomas Tuchel 'trusts' club to make the right decision

Thomas Tuchel insisted he trusts Chelsea to make the right decisions on the Super League, revealing he only found out about the club's entry on Sunday. The German believes it is too soon to make hard and fast judgements but conceded he wants to coach in the world's top competitions.

"I've known since yesterday," said Tuchel. "I'm here to be in the hardest competitions, that's why I came here, that's what I love, to play the toughest competitions in Europe."

"That's why I'm at Chelsea. I don't get involved too much in sports politics. I trust my club to make the right decisions. I think it's too early to judge everything and it's not my part."

"On my badge from Chelsea it says everybody has to play their role, and my role is to be a coach and we have to be focused on an important game against Brighton tomorrow."

"There are many emotional reactions out there which I can understand but I honestly don’t know enough to judge it. I don’t know the details and I was clearly, obviously not involved, my players were not involved in the decision-making. Maybe it’s a good thing to step back, don’t give our opinions and don’t lose our head about this because this is clearly a thing between the clubs and we have to make sure we fight for the goals that we still have this season.”

01:30 PM

'Big Six' executive talks of 'nuclear war' in football

An anonymous board member for one the English Super League clubs has spoken to Sky Sports to describe the proposals not as "civil war [but] it's a nuclear war."

In an extremely inflammatory statement, the anonymous exec said: “Our job is to maximise our revenues. The wider good of the game is a secondary concern. The clubs don’t care about the backlash and opinions of the fans."

01:18 PM

'Dreams can't be bought', says Bruno Fernandes

Manchester United's star midfielder has taken to Instagram to denounce the proposed formation of the European Super League.

Posting on his stories, the Portuguese international simply said "Dreams can't be bought," and linked to a post from his international colleague Daniel Podence, which mentioned some of the most iconic moments in Champions League history, including Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's last minute winner in the '99 final.

Fernandes is the highest profile player at one of the rebel 12 clubs to publicly speak out against the proposals brought forward by his employer.

01:04 PM

'Agreement needed to change leagues', says Spanish Sports Minister

Spanish sports minister Jose Manuel Rodriguez Uribes said that changes to football leagues should be made by agreement.

Any changes must benefit the Spanish league, the Spanish national squad and Spanish clubs including the small ones, Rodriguez Uribes told reporters.

"We don't want it (the new project) to affect (Spanish soccer), and if it does, we want it to affect (it) in a good way," the minister said.

Rodriguez Uribes said that before he took a position on the new project he would talk to those who proposed it and to European soccer association UEFA, which opposes the breakaway league.

The tone of his comments contrasted with the heavy criticism of the plan voiced by authorities, fan organisations and politicians across Europe.

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson have condemned the plan and supported Uefa.

12:49 PM

Ralph Hasenhuttl doubles down on Super League criticism

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has reiterated his stance against the move by the rebel 12.

He said: "There cannot be any other opinion about it. It's a big threat, what I see coming up, war, if you want, from the big clubs."

"We will see what the future brings but it's a big threat and we have to fight against it. I hope we have the fans with us and without the fans football won't work. They have a lot of power, these big clubs."

12:40 PM

'A women's European Super League feels suspiciously like an after-thought by the male club owners'

A lack of consultation with women's teams and possible exclusion of powerhouses such as Lyon and Wolfsburg provides little cause for optimism, says our Women's Football Reporter Tom Garry.

Of the many alarming aspects of the greed-driven European Super League club's proposals, the token reference to a potential women’s version of the competition was among the most concerning. Casually dropped into the middle of the 12 clubs’ statement, without any specific details, were the words: “After the start of the men’s competition, a corresponding women’s league will also be launched, helping to advance and develop the women’s game."

You can read Tom's thoughts in full here.

12:31 PM

BT Sport announces opposition

BT Sport, who hold broadcasting rights to the Premier League and all Uefa club competitions in the UK, have released a statement saying the Super League will have a "damaging effect" on the sport.

“BT recognises the concerns raised by many of football’s leading voices and fans, and believes the formation of a European Super League could have a damaging effect to the long term health of football in this country," the broadcaster said.

“As a sport broadcaster showing Premier League, Uefa club football and National League football as well as being lead partner for all the Home Nations football teams, we strongly believe that football makes a significant positive contribution to people’s lives at every level, and this needs to be protected.”

12:19 PM

Man Utd failed to share European Super League plans at fan forum just days before announcement

Manchester United held a fans’ forum on Friday - and neglected to tell any supporters present about the club's plans to join a breakaway Super League, reports our Northern Football Correspondent James Ducker.

Ed Woodward, the United executive vice chairman, had promised at an earlier fans’ forum in November to keep supporters abreast of any developments regarding European competitions.

But fans were kept completely in the dark during the latest forum meeting with the club on Friday, which was attended by United’s group managing director, Richard Arnold, and chief operations officer, Collette Roche.

Woodward - who has now resigned from his role on Uefa's Professional Football Strategy Council - did not attend Friday’s fans’ forum.

You can read James's full report here.

12:12 PM

Breakaway clubs taking 'massive risk', says sports law expert

Dr Katarina Pijetlovic, a reader in sports law from Manchester Metropolitan University, warned that breakaway clubs “are taking an absolutely massive risk” and that the project could be stopped through legal means.

The breakaway clubs are believed to have launched legal challenges in several countries to prevent UEFA and national associations from implementing threats to ban them from participating in domestic leagues. But if even one of these challenges faltered, it could jeopardise the entire project, by potentially leaving teams from one country barred from taking part in their own domestic leagues.

“It’s a massive mess legally,” Pijetlovic said. “Will UEFA and the national associations now ban them from participating in domestic leagues? This is obviously what the clubs expected when they filed a lawsuit. And will those courts be sympathetic to the Super League, and say yeah okay, we will prevent national associations from implementing these threats? You can stay and play in the domestic leagues, but they have to win in every single jurisdiction, you see. It's going to be tough.”

Under Article 49 of the UEFA Statutes, it says ‘UEFA shall have the sole jurisdiction to organise or abolish international competitions in Europe in which Member Associations and/or their clubs participate’ - effectively giving UEFA sole jurisdiction over running football in Europe.

“What is clear is that the clubs cannot just leave,” Pijetlovic said. “What they could have done and what they should have done is to contact UEFA with the details of the proposal, under Article 49 of UEFA statutes, and then wait for UEFA’s approval or disapproval. If they just refused outright there would be a case against UEFA.”

Pijetlovic said that legal disputes could take years, but interim orders to prevent UEFA, FIFA or national associations from implementing threats could happen quickly. While the Super League could start before any decision to approve or disapprove it, it would face the risk of sanctions and lawsuits - including clubs being banned from domestic competitions.

“You don't have really too many precedents in this area, and it's obviously a matter of European importance. So, the most appropriate regulator to step in would be the European Commission.

“Short of the EU Commission’s interference, the courts might not be sympathetic to it in some or all of jurisdictions, or the courts might simply send the question on interpretation of the law to the European Court of Justice, because they can do that. And then we have years to wait. But because the filed lawsuits might have requested interim orders against UEFA, FIFA and the national associations, national courts might come up with a decision soon.”

12:03 PM

Champions League reforms 'unanimously approved' by Uefa

Breaking news from Uefa, and Telegraph Sport has been told the Champions League reforms have been “unanimously” approved by Uefa’s executive committee.

That would include by Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the chairman of Paris St Germain, raising further doubts over their willingness to join the Super League.

Missing from the meeting was Andrea Agnelli, the chairman of Juventus, who earlier resigned from the committee.

Meanwhile, a decision on the venues for Euro 2020 has, understandably, been deferred until the end of the week.

11:57 AM

The scene at Anfield right now

No need for any explanation on how Liverpool fans feel...

11:49 AM

Use of players as assets and leverage unacceptable, says FIFPRO

FIFPRO, the worldwide representative organisation for 65,000 professional footballers, has released a statement saying it will "vigorously oppose" any attempts to block players from representing their national teams.

"This decision leaves players and their unions with many concerns and questions about its impact not only on the fabric and cultural identity of football but also more practically on their careers. Football is built on its unique social and cultural heritage, which not only gives it an unparalleled relationship to its fans but also has created the engine to spread the professional game like no other sport," the group said. "For this to be sustained, a healthy and solidarity-based cooperation between domestic and international competitions is critical. A new competition undermining this might cause irreparable damage."

"It is important to note that European football’s arrival at this point of potential disruption is a reflection of a governance in which some have enjoyed disproportionate powers and most others including those at the heart of the game – the players but also fans – are largely overlooked."

"Threats of a breakaway competition and subsequent concessions to reform European football competitions have shaped decision-making for years. This dynamic has replaced transparent and inclusive discussions on the opportunities of competition reforms for all players, fans, clubs, leagues and federations," the group added.

"Players continue to be used as assets and leverage in these negotiations. This is unacceptable for FIFPRO, our 64 national player associations and the 60,000 players we represent. We will vigorously oppose measures by either side that would impede the rights of players, such as exclusion from their national teams."

"In the best interests of players, and the whole industry, we are committed to working with all stakeholders towards decisions that support all levels of the game and repair its existing flaws."

11:41 AM

Mesut Ozil: Kids don't grow up dreaming of winning a Super League

Former Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has tweeted his disdain for the proposed Super League, saying kids grow up dreaming of winning World Cup's and Champions League's, not Super League's.

"The enjoyment of big games is that they only happen once or twice a year, not every week.," he tweeted. "Really hard to understand for all football fans out there."

11:28 AM

Steve Parish calls Super League proposal 'a betrayal'

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has said that the Super League proposals smack of "pulling the drawbridge up".

Speaking on Radio 5 Live, Parish said: “There’s an element of betrayal in all this. They’ve turned their back on Uefa and the Premier League. Bayern Munich and PSG weren’t prepared to do that, so the fractured nature gives me comfort that this won’t happen in its current form. But we have to listen to their concerns and take them on board."

“There’s a huge element of pulling the drawbridge up on the rest of the clubs...They’ve picked a piece of history of the last five years and ignored things like Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest winning the European Cup."

“The lack of understanding and empathy for the sport is off the richter scale."

When asked if he thought it was right to expel the breakaway clubs from their domestic leagues, Parish said: “I don’t think anyone wants them kicked out of the Premier League, least of all right now. This proposal is not good for the game, those clubs or European football. We have to try reason."

11:17 AM

'Shame on the Glazers, Abramovich, Kroenke and FSG: your plan shows you don't care about British fans'

Club owners knew the firestorm they would unleash with their breakaway - but for them it was a price worth paying to go it alone, writes our Chief Sports Writer Oliver Brown.

For all the chorus of condemnation of the European Super League , the galling truth is that its architects planned for exactly this reaction all along. It is why they detonated a nuclear explosion across the game with a statement at 11.15pm on a Sunday night. It is why Manchester City and Chelsea chose to make the announcement on their websites, not to fan the flames on social media. These clubs knew they would incur a hellish wrath, but they calculated that such blowback could be controlled, that it was a price worth paying in their implacable resolve to go it alone. Here is the harsh if unpalatable reality: Joel Glazer, Stan Kroenke, John W Henry and Roman Abramovich are not about to be deterred by the fans’ hue and cry. In this quest, they are impervious to the nostalgia and romance of the game. They do not care about your stories of Nottingham Forest twice winning the European Cup, or Leicester once qualifying for the Champions League. All this pales into insignificance against their realisation that by forcing a Super League through even the most vehement public opposition, they can double their clubs’ value overnight.

You can read Oliver's full opinion here.

11:07 AM

Liverpool fan groups remove flags from Kop in protest

Spion Kop 1906, a prominent Liverpool fan group, have announced they and other fan groups will be removing their flags from the Kop in protest at Liverpool's decision to join as a founder club of the European Super League.

"We, along with other groups involved in flags, will be removing our flags from The Kop," they tweeted. "We feel we can no longer give our support to a club which puts financial greed above integrity of the game."

10:59 AM

Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham resign from ECA

Three Premier League clubs – Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur – have confirmed to The Daily Telegraph that they have resigned from the European Club Association.

The ECA is the body that represents all the clubs in Uefa and is the only one officially recognised by European football’s governing organisation. Quitting the ECA is an aggressive step and significant move towards the formation of the proposed European Super League.

The ECA held an emergency meeting on Sunday evening about the biggest threat football has faced but the clubs did not attend and have now all formally resigned.

Three other English clubs – Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea – have also left as of Sunday evening along with the six other self-styled ‘founding fathers’ of the ESL. They are Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus whose president Andrea Agnelli was the chairman of the ECA. He has also resigned from the Uefa Executive Committee.

10:50 AM

'The rich are stealing what the people created', says Ander Herrera

Paris Saint-Germain and former Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera has launched a scathing attack on the Super League, saying that fans "dreams will be over".

"I love football and I cannot remain silent on this," he tweeted. "The rich [are] stealing what the people created, which is nothing other than the most beautiful sport on the planet."

PSG have bene notable by their absence from the proposed Super League, so far refusing to sign up to the concept.

10:43 AM

We are looking at all options to stop this going ahead, says Boris Johnson

The Prime Minister has reiterated his opposition to the Super League this morning, saying he will do "everything" possible to stop the League going ahead "as proposed."

"We are going to look at everything that we can do with the football authorities to make sure that this doesn't go ahead in the way that it's currently being proposed," Boris Johnson said.

"I don't think that it's good news for fans, I don't think it's good news for football in this country."

The PM said the teams are more than just "great global brands", adding: "They're also clubs that have originated historically from their towns, from their cities, from their local communities. They should have a link with those fans, and with the fan base in their community.

"So it is very, very important that that continues to be the case. I don't like the look of these proposals, and we'll be consulting about what we can do."

10:37 AM

DCMS release statement

The Committee Chair for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport Julian Knight has issued a statement calling the Super League announcement a "dark day for football"

“This is a dark day for football – a deal done behind closed doors apparently with no regard for supporters. Though this idea was mooted several months ago, what’s shocking is the speed at which this breakaway league has been announced."

“What’s needed is a fan-led review of football with real teeth and here we have more evidence to strengthen the case for it. Football needs a reset, but this is not the way to do it. The interests of community clubs must be put at the heart of any future plans. We, the Committee, will be discussing this when we meet tomorrow in a private session.”

Meanwhile, Helen Grant MP, the Minister for Sport from 2013-2015, said: "The European Super League threatens football as we know it. It would concentrate power and wealth amongst a very few clubs, erode more than a hundred years of history, tradition and competition and dilute the crucial relationship between clubs and their fans."

"Loyal supporters up and down the country, who are the heartbeat of our national sport, would suffer as a result. The publication of these proposals only reinforces the need for an Independent Football Regulator in England. A regulator is urgently needed to stand up for the interests of the wider game of football in our country and to put football’s governance on a fairer and more sustainable footing."

10:31 AM

Diego Simeone reacts to Super League

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has said that he trusts the club to decide "what is best for ourselves" when questioned on his views of the Super League.

"I'm just a manager. I'm prepared to coach my players under any circumstances. I have no doubt that the club will decide what's best for ourselves," he said.

10:23 AM

Real Betis release 'updated' La Liga table

Real Betis have taken to their website to 'update' the La Liga table, removing Spanish breakaway clubs Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid from the standings.

10:12 AM

Inclusion of Arsenal and Tottenham in European Super League shows how flawed it is

Neither club are in on footballing merit — they are included due to their revenues and their off-field commercial success, writes Sam Dean.

In announcing that they are among the 12 founding teams of the European Super League, the official websites of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur both published statements on Sunday night which referred to themselves as “leading European football clubs”. To which the instinctive response is to ask: leading? By what measure?

If there was any doubt before that these plans for a Super League are motivated by money, then the inclusion of Arsenal and Tottenham is the ultimate proof. How else would they have received an invite to this select club, if it was not for their revenues and their off-field commercial success?

It certainly cannot be on footballing merit, which is fitting given that those behind the Super League clearly intend to strip the idea of footballing merit from the game. Arsenal last won the title in 2004. Tottenham have not done so since 1961. Neither team has ever won the European Cup, and neither team even played in the Champions League this season.

You can read Sam's full report here.

10:04 AM

Jose Mourinho sacked by Tottenham - follow live

On a relentless day of breaking news, Tottenham have sacked Jose Mourinho and his backroom staff. You can follow al the developments with my colleague Daniel Zeqiri right here on our live blog.

09:57 AM

La Liga 'strongly condemns' Super League

La Liga have released a statement, strongly condemning the proposed breakaway Super League, saying it "attacks the principle of sporting merit".

"La Liga strongly condemns the recently published proposal for a breakaway, elitist European competition," it said. "The newly proposed top European competition is nothing more than a selfish, egotistical proposal designed to further enrich the already super rich. It will undermine the appeal of the whole game."

09:47 AM

We are looking at all options to stop this going ahead, says Boris Johnson

The Prime Minister has reiterated his opposition to the Super League this morning, saying he will do "everything" possible to stop the League going ahead "as proposed."

"We are going to look at everything that we can do with the football authorities to make sure that this doesn't go ahead in the way that it's currently being proposed," Boris Johnson said.

"I don't think that it's good news for fans, I don't think it's good news for football in this country."

09:39 AM

Super League 'a bad idea', says Arsene Wenger

Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says the concept of the Super League goes against everything football is based upon and represents a huge threat to the Premier League.

Wenger, now FIFA's chief of global football development, also believes the project will not get off the ground.

"I would say that it's a bad idea," he told talkSPORT. "Football has to stay united. That is the most important thing, and based on sporting merits and overall to respect the history of European football."

"I believe personally that this idea will not go far."

Responding to the news Woodward has stepped down from his Uefa role where he was on the Professional Football Strategy Council, Wenger added: "I don't know exactly what is behind that."

"I believe as well there's a more dangerous idea behind (it) that is a big threat for the Premier League. When I was still in charge there was a lot going on from other countries to try to diminish the dominance of the Premier League and a project like that would certainly accelerate that."

"I don't know what's going on (at Arsenal). That doesn't change what I think. For me the most important thing - I tried for my whole life to keep unity in the game, and that football is played the same all over the world, and that it's inside one organisation."

"I think it was the strength - football is the most popular sport in the world and this is one of the reasons . We have to fight to keep football simple, understandable and based on merits, and (so) everyone has the same chance and dream to be successful."

09:32 AM

Leeds owner attacks Super League

Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani has attacked the idea of a Super League, saying it will "kill dreams of club players and fans."

"Absolutely against the sporting spirit, the dream of millions of fans to conquer the championships on the field, with planning, vision, work," he tweeted. "The teams are fans and WE are the keepers of the club."

09:25 AM

Jose Mourinho sacked by Tottenham

Never a dull day, eh? Telegraph Sport can officially reveal that Jose Mourinho has been sacked by Tottenham.

09:24 AM

Super League will force fans to pick a side: do you like football or do you like content?

American-style league without relegation goes against what we hold dear, but you can bet it’s going to be tempting to watch, says our Senior Sports Writer, Thom Gibbs.

Of course we are all talking a good game at the moment. No one wants the Super League, it will be boycotted, rejected, fall flat on its face. You will not find many people today saying how brilliant this league will be. If these plans progress a powerful marketing machine will kick into gear. Watch as the demonic fury stirred by Sunday’s soft launch is eroded over time by clubs with names more famous than anything on the shelves at Sainsburys. Clubs who have been able to panic buy then stockpile the world’s biggest footballing talent.

You can read Thom's full view here.

09:21 AM

We reject the notion of a Super League, says Dortmund CEO

Hans-Joachim Watzke, the CEO of Borussia Dortmund, has released a statement on behalf of the club saying they "reject" the very idea of a Super League, and that they stand in solidarity with fellow German giant Bayern Munich on the issue.

"The members of the board of the European Club Association (ECA) got together for a virtual conference on Sunday evening and confirmed that the board decision of last Friday is still valid," said Watzke and added: "This decision means that the clubs want to implement the planned reform of the UEFA Champions League. It was the clear opinion of the members of the ECA board that the plans to found a Super League were rejected. "

Watzke also emphasised that "both German clubs that are represented on the ECA Board, FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, represented 100 percent congruent views in all discussions".

09:14 AM

Ed Woodward resigns from Uefa roles

Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has stepped down from his UEFA role where he was on the Professional Football Strategy Council, while the club have also quit the European Club Association.

Back in October 2020, Woodward appeared to plead ignorance when asked about the concept of a Super League.

“I saw the reports on that. I candidly don't know where that story came from. There isn't really anything for us to say. We are engaged on a very regular basis through my role on the ECA [European Clubs Association] and also at Uefa talking about potential changes to the Champions League from 2024 onwards. You might have read two or three days ago in the press that there was a story about whether the Champions League would go to 36 teams. They're the conversations we're actively involved in so I can't comment on your question.”

Manchester United Chief Executive Ed Woodward has previously pleaded ignorance when it comes to Super League plans - Richard Pelham /News Group Newspapers Ltd 
Manchester United Chief Executive Ed Woodward has previously pleaded ignorance when it comes to Super League plans - Richard Pelham /News Group Newspapers Ltd

09:07 AM

Charlie Austin calls for Carabao Cup final to be voided

Charlie Austin, who currently plays for QPR on loan from West Brom, has called for the Carabao Cup final on Sunday between Super League founding clubs Tottenham and Manchester City to be voided.

"Football as we know it in this country is going to be smashed to pieces," he tweeted.

"These 6 clubs are a shambles and just proves this game is all about money to them! Void the league cup final Sunday!! Dock them all points and relegate them! No longer the working man's game!"

09:02 AM

Football 'on the brink of complete collapse', says Dejan Lovren

Former Liverpool captain Dejan Lovren has condemned plans for a breakaway Super League, calling it an "unpleasant situation".

"Football will be in the near future on a brink of complete collapse," the current Zenit St. Petersburg captain tweeted. "Nobody is thinking about the bigger picture, only the financial side."

08:54 AM

Juventus, Manchester United share price jump on news

The share price of both Manchester United and Juventus has risen sharply on the announcement of the new European Super League.

The price of Juventus stock has risen by 10 per cent already this morning in early trading hours, while the price of Manchester United stock has risen 5 per cent in pre-market trading. As Manchester United are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading will not begin until later today.

The significant financial boost received by these two clubs will likely only reinforce their view that they have made the financially savvy move in joining up to the new Super League.

Meanwhile, shares in Lyon, who have not made the cut to be a permanent member of the Super League, are trading down 0.4 per cent this morning.

08:46 AM

How successful have the breakaway 12 been?

They may view themselves as the 12 biggest clubs in Europe, but four of the 12 clubs involved in the Super League plans have never even won a European Cup, in any format.

By contrast, the likes of Ajax, Aston Villa, Porto and Borussia Dortmund, all sides who have won European trophies in the past, have been left out in the cold.

08:41 AM

Breakaway 12 threaten Fifa, Uefa with legal action and begin lobbying UK government

The bombshell Super League group that includes England's so-called "big six" has warned Uefa and Fifa it is willing to go to court to force through its breakaway. Telegraph Sport understands the plotters are also willing to fight the Government through legal processes after Boris Johnson launched an attack on the scheme.

Hours after the league was formally announced, lobbying begins, with the architects of the scheme promising a package to save England's stricken football pyramid.

A solidarity package worth up to £10billlion over 23 years exceeds any equivalent packages from Uefa and the Premier League. Their vision to pass on some of the competition's enormous profits will play an integral part in trying to win over the football and political sectors, which have so far condemned the plan in the strongest terms.

Sources close to the league told Telegraph Sport on Monday that the organisers want to "work constructively with Fifa and Uefa" but the clubs involved feel they have no choice but "to proactively seek legal assurance on our rights".

Uefa, Fifa, the Premier League and even the Prime Minister have attacked the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham for joining the scheme.

A subsequent letter sent out to the international governing bodies from the clubs states the league has secured more than £3billion in funding from American bank JPMorgan Chase and that it will take action against any "unlawful" bids to derail the scheme.

In response to Uefa threatening to ban clubs and players involved from all official competitions, the letter states that the clubs are concerned at potentially "punitive measures to exclude any participating club or player from their respective competitions."

"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," the letter adds.

Lobbying will also begin with ministers today after Mr Johnson attacked the biggest six English football clubs for planning a breakaway that would “strike at the heart of the domestic game”, amid widespread outrage. The Prime Minister joined the Premier League and Uefa in condemning the proposal, as he warned that the clubs involved “must answer to their fans” and the wider footballing community before taking further steps.

The deal would mark the greatest revolution in European football since the 1950s, and could be a death-knell for the lucrative Champions League, which was due to today announce plans to increase in size.

The clubs said the pandemic had underlined the need for "a strategic vision and a sustainable commercial approach are required to enhance value and support for the benefit of the entire European football pyramid".

The statement confirms the founding clubs will receive an amount of 3.5 billion euros (£3.1billion) "to support their infrastructure investment plans and to offset the impact of the Covid pandemic".

08:26 AM

JPMorgan confirmed as financial backers

A spokesperson for the American bank JPMorgan Chase has confirmed to Reuters that they are indeed the institution that are financially backing the breakaway Super League.

It is thought that the bank are stumping up more than €4 billion to back the project. In an interesting wrinkle, Ed Woodward, the Manchester United Chief Executive, was employed by the bank for 12 years before being recruited by the Glazers' following their takeover in 2005.

08:19 AM

'I don't think it will happen', says Greg Dyke

Former Football Association chairman Greg Dyke does not expect the project to get off the ground because of the widespread opposition to it.

He told BBC Radio Four: "I don't think it will happen. I think it's a game that's going on. But I don't think it's good for football in any way at all. Without the approval of UEFA, but particularly without the approval of FIFA, I think this is very difficult to make this happen.

"I think it's a big mistake. And I think the opposition to it - which has come from almost everywhere, I haven't heard anybody in favour yet - will probably stop it."

08:12 AM

'It is absolutely unacceptable' - Ralph Hasenhuttl

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has become the first Premier League manager to openly condemn the Super League plans, branding them "absolutely unacceptable" in his press conference last night, following a defeat for his side in the FA Cup semi-final against Leicester.

"For me it's absolutely unacceptable what is going on behind the scenes. Nobody wants it - not even the fans of the clubs who want to go there want it," the Saints boss said. "Hopefully we will find the right steps to not let it happen."

08:04 AM

Super League a 'grotesque concept', says Christian Purslow

Aston Villa chief executive Christian Purslow branded the Super League a "grotesque concept".

Speaking to BBC Radio Four, he said: "These proposals do away with sporting merit. It would enable a small number of clubs to be in this competition come what may and, for millions of people in football, that goes against everything the sport means and stands for.

"The idea is that the uncertainty that comes with sport, that makes it so compelling, that we all love, is actually damaging to the business model of these huge clubs.

"So the scheme is designed to take away that uncertainty, to give predictability to their businesses so that, if they're badly managed or have a poor year, they're still in the premier tournament. Does that sound like sport or football to you? To me it sounds a grotesque concept."

07:50 AM

European Super League a 'declaration of war'

Our Chief Football Correspondent has not minced his words this morning, describing the plans from the breakaway 12 as 'pure greed'

Self-interest. Cynicism. Opportunism. Arrogance. Greed. It is typical of what drives the biggest European clubs and, unfortunately with the largest cohort from the Premier League, that a declaration of war was made on the eve of when there was supposed to be peace.Instead of heralding a new Champions League and a unified front the Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin is in danger of looking like football’s equivalent of Neville Chamberlain waving his piece of paper and declaring “peace in our time”.

You can read Jason's thoughts in full here.

07:38 AM

Breakaway 12 begin legal proceedings against FIFA and UEFA

The 12 European clubs pursuing a Super League have told the leaders FIFA and UEFA that legal action is already being pursued to stop them from action intended to thwart the launch of the breakaway competition, according to a letter obtained Monday by The Associated Press.

The letter was sent by the group of English, Spanish and Italian clubs to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA counterpart Aleksander Ceferin saying the Super League has already been underwritten by funding of 4 billion euros ($5.5 billion) from a financial institution, believed to be the American bank JPMorgan Chase.

UEFA warned the Super League clubs, including Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United, after leaks of their plans on Sunday that legal action would be taken against rebel clubs and saying they would barred from existing domestic competitions like La Liga in Spain and the Premier League in England and international competitions.

"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," the Super League clubs wrote to Infantino and Ceferin

"Your formal statement does, however, compel us to take protective steps to secure ourselves against such an adverse reaction, which would not only jeopardize 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."

The courts were not named.

"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," the Super League letter continued.

"The Competition is to be played alongside existing domestic league and cup competitions, which are a key part of European football's competitive fabric," reads the Super League letter to Infanatino and Ceferin. "We do not seek to replace the UEFA's Champions League or the Europa League but to compete with and exist alongside those tournaments."

07:29 AM

We want to hear your thoughts

Do you have a question about the European Super League? Email yourstory@telegraph.co.uk or leave a comment below and your question could be answered in a Q&A with one of our reporters later today.

07:22 AM

Super League sends shockwaves through Whitehall

Political leaders in Britain have been swift to condemn the proposals, as half of the clubs announced as committed to the project hail from these shores. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called the concept "very damaging" and demanded that the clubs "answer to their fans".

Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called on the clubs to "rethink immediately", saying the proposals "ignore fans" and "diminish competition".

07:13 AM

How the world's press has reacted

As you might expect, the European Super League is the story dominating front pages across the continent, and indeed the world, this morning.

Telegraph Sport has led on the threat that the rebel clubs face 'expulsion' from their domestic leagues if they press ahead:

The Daily Mirror has called the plans 'A Criminal Act Against Fans'

L'Equipe in France branded the plans 'The War of the Rich':

You can see the reaction from around the world in our roundup here.

07:01 AM

FIFA condemn plans

FIFA have released a statement in solidarity with UEFA, condemning plans for the breakaway league, with the organisation stating it can "only express its disapproval to a 'closed European breakaway league'". Notable in its absence from the statement is a quote from FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

06:46 AM

'I'm ashamed': Former FA and Man City chairman

David Bernstein, the former Football Association and Manchester City chairman, has joined the list of those expressing their disappointment and frustration at the current situation, focusing on the Premier League's rebel six

Bernstein told Radio Four: "I'm ashamed. I've supported Manchester City all my life. It's a club I love. But I'm really ashamed, as I know Gary Neville has said he is about his old club Manchester United, and I think Jamie Carragher and Liverpool."I'm ashamed as clubs with that history should have great responsibility to the rest of the game."I think the arrogance of these half a dozen English clubs is something to behold."

Regarding Gary Neville, here's what the former United defender had to say last night on Sky Sports - and he didn't hold back! You can read more here.

Enough is enough. I love Manchester United [but] this is disowning your own club stuff.

06:24 AM

What the governing bodies have said

The Premier League and Uefa were quick to take a swipe at the European Super League plans, the Premier League saying it would 'destroy the dream' of teams climbing to the top to play the best.

06:06 AM

Read Jamie Carragher's view

The former Liverpool and England defender, now Telegraph Sport columnist, has written how he is "sickened" over Liverpool's involvement in the European Super League:

Football executives always make the mistake of believing they are the most influential force in football. They swiftly realise that without the supporters, they are weak and powerless.

Read Jamie's column on the subject in full, here.

05:53 AM

Last night's statement in full

It came very late last night, but here is the joint statement from the 12 clubs who have signed up.

---

Twelve of Europe's leading football clubs have today come together to announce they have agreed to establish a new mid-week competition, the Super League, governed by its Founding Clubs.

AC Milan, Arsenal FC, Atletico de Madrid, Chelsea FC, FC Barcelona, FC Internazionale Milano, Juventus FC, Liverpool FC, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid CF and Tottenham Hotspur have all joined as Founding Clubs. It is anticipated that a further three clubs will join ahead of the inaugural season, which is intended to commence as soon as practicable.

Going forward, the Founding Clubs look forward to holding discussions with UEFA and FIFA to work together in partnership to deliver the best outcomes for the new League and for football as a whole.

The formation of the Super League comes at a time when the global pandemic has accelerated the instability in the existing European football economic model. Further, for a number of years, the Founding Clubs have had the objective of improving the quality and intensity of existing European competitions throughout each season, and of creating a format for top clubs and players to compete on a regular basis.

The pandemic has shown that a strategic vision and a sustainable commercial approach are required to enhance value and support for the benefit of the entire European football pyramid. In recent months extensive dialogue has taken place with football stakeholders regarding the future format of European competitions. The Founding Clubs believe the solutions proposed following these talks do not solve fundamental issues, including the need to provide higher-quality matches and additional financial resources for the overall football pyramid.

COMPETITION FORMAT

  • 20 participating clubs with 15 Founding Clubs and a qualifying mechanism for a further five teams to qualify annually based on achievements in the prior season.

  • Midweek fixtures with all participating clubs continuing to compete in their respective national leagues, preserving the traditional domestic match calendar which remains at the heart of the club game.

  • An August start with clubs participating in two groups of ten, playing home and away fixtures, with the top three in each group automatically qualifying for the quarter-finals. Teams finishing fourth and fifth will then compete in a two-legged play-off for the remaining quarter-final positions. A two-leg knockout format will be used to reach the final at the end of May, which will be staged as a single fixture at a neutral venue.

  • As soon as practicable after the start of the men's competition, a corresponding women's league will also be launched, helping to advance and develop the women's game.

The new annual tournament will provide significantly greater economic growth and support for European football via a long-term commitment to uncapped solidarity payments which will grow in line with league revenues. These solidarity payments will be substantially higher than those generated by the current European competition and are expected to be in excess of E10 billion during the course of the initial commitment period of the Clubs.

In addition, the competition will be built on a sustainable financial foundation with all Founding Clubs signing up to a spending framework. In exchange for their commitment, Founding Clubs will receive an amount of E3.5 billion solely to support their infrastructure investment plans and to offset the impact of the COVID pandemic.

Florentino Perez, President Real Madrid CF and the first Chairman of the Super League said:

"We will help football at every level and take it to its rightful place in the world. Football is the only global sport in the world with more than four billion fans and our responsibility as big clubs is to respond to their desires."

Backing the new European league, Andrea Agnelli, Chairman of Juventus and Vice-Chairman of the Super League said:

"Our 12 Founder clubs represent billions of fans across the globe and 99 European trophies. We have come together at this critical moment, enabling European competition to be transformed, putting the game we love on a sustainable footing for the long-term future, substantially increasing solidarity, and giving fans and amateur players a regular flow of headline fixtures that will feed their passion for the game while providing them with engaging role models."

Joel Glazer, Co-Chairman of Manchester United and Vice-Chairman of the Super League said:

"By bringing together the world's greatest clubs and players to play each other throughout the season, the Super League will open a new chapter for European football, ensuring world-class competition and facilities, and increased financial support for the wider football pyramid."

05:49 AM

'Money and greed': Reaction to European Super League announcement continues

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy said plans for a breakaway Super League launched by 12 of Europe's top clubs were "soulless" and expected a backlash from managers and players.

The move, which sets up a rival to the Champions League competition, was condemned by football authorities and political leaders, with UEFA saying participating clubs would be banned from domestic leagues, such as the Premier League.

Clubs from England, Spain and Italy have signed up to the plans, while no German or French sides have yet to be associated with the breakaway.

Former Liverpool midfielder Murphy said players would be risking too much to take part in the proposed Super League.

"The plans... sound soulless," he told the BBC.

"We've already seen strong opposition from leagues and federations who would be affected, and fans as well. Next, I think we will see a backlash from managers and players too."

World soccer's governing body FIFA has previously threatened to ban any players taking part in a breakaway from participating in World Cups and Murphy said the consequences for players could be severe.

"You're also being told you can no longer play for your country if you are part of this," he added. "Again, that's what you dream of doing as a kid, so I just don't see many footballers agreeing to that, which actually gives me hope that this whole idea will quickly fall apart."

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane said the Super League was all about "money and greed".

"Let's hope it's stopped in its tracks," he told Sky Sports. "We talk about big clubs, Bayern Munich are one of the biggest clubs in the world. At least they've made a stance, which is a good start."

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards said the new competition had not taken into consideration the fans of clubs.

"What happens to the memories of what the fans have had over the years?" Richards said.

"They're just forgotten about for the sake of money, and that's the way football has become now. I think it's an absolute disgrace."