The football world has largely acted with negativity towards the controversial breakaway European Super League.
Here, the PA news agency rounds up the strongest social media reaction to the announcement.
The clubs involved released the news late on Sunday night.
Official Announcement: Leading European football clubs unveil new Super League.#RealMadrid — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 18, 2021 Leading European football clubs announce new Super League competition.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 18, 2021
Leading European football clubs announce new Super League competition: AC Milan joins as Founding Club ➡️ https://t.co/dXiStCInkVI principali Club europei di calcio annunciano la nuova Super League: il Milan tra i Club Fondatori ➡️ https://t.co/b4nWsJ6GCn pic.twitter.com/XrAYgSs8LU — AC Milan (@acmilan) April 18, 2021
Four of the six English clubs involved tweeted out the statements – but neither Manchester City or Manchester United did.
Fan groups of all six were quick to voice their disapproval.
The death of Arsenal as a sporting institution https://t.co/0S2UFwtkFC — AST (@AST_arsenal) April 18, 2021 @ManCity hang your heads in shame.
— 1894 (@WeAre1894) April 18, 2021
#Embarrassing as fan representatives we are appalled & completely oppose this decision. FSG have ignored fans in their relentless & greedy pursuit of money. Football is ours not theirs. Our football club is ours not theirs. We will respond fully to this statement in due course. https://t.co/vFsykEm1Qz — Spirit of Shankly (@spiritofshankly) April 18, 2021 The @ChelseaSTrust has released the following statement regarding the #EuropeanSuperLeague ⬇️ This is unforgivable. #EnoughIsEnough pic.twitter.com/q6EqbCsuCy — Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (@ChelseaSTrust) April 18, 2021 MUST responds to Super League proposalhttps://t.co/yucocTbXUi pic.twitter.com/hz3nvxveR1 — M.U.S.T (@MU_ST) April 18, 2021 The betrayal of Tottenham Hotspur. THST statement on #ESL plans ⬇️https://t.co/NfJAUJzaz9#NoToEuropeanSuperLeague #StoptheGreed #EnoughIsEnough — THST (@THSTOfficial) April 19, 2021
Former players of the clubs also criticised the move.
Football is nothing without its fans. We’ve seen that clearly over the last 12 months. If fans stand as one against this anti-football pyramid scheme, it can be stopped in its tracks. — Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) April 19, 2021 What an embarrassment we’ve become @LFC think of all the people who have come before us at this club who would be equally embarrassed as well. #SuperLeague https://t.co/zLxhNyeaXB — Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) April 18, 2021 Absolutely shameful @Arsenal https://t.co/p0q9a7wLY2 pic.twitter.com/lLzSf5i0wJ — Ian Wright (@IanWright0) April 19, 2021 This lot think they can sweep up £300m more each season than the other teams and then wander back on a Saturday and play with that advantage in the PL . Deduct points , fine heavily and embargo transfers. I hope they haven’t bought some of the other 14 clubs. #stopthesuperleague — Gary Neville (@GNev2) April 19, 2021 Kids grow up dreaming to win the World Cup and the Champions League – not any Super League. The enjoyment of big games is that they only happen once or twice a year, not every week. Really hard to understand for all football fans out there…⚽💔 — Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) April 19, 2021 Oooook .. i think i will stop watching football..cause the football i know is not football anymore 😭 — Bacary Sagna (@Sagnaofficial) April 18, 2021 Cash before competition – the game really has gone. #SuperLeague — Jim Beglin (@jimbeglin) April 19, 2021 Just feel sick to the stomach this morning. And depressed. And extremely worried for the future of our game — Alan Smith (@9smudge) April 19, 2021
Wolves’ Daniel Podence probably put it best.
The Ball. The Song. The Dream. The Zidane’s volley… Kaka’s Solo… Liverpool In Athens… Ole in Barcelona… Cris and Seedorf … There some things we just can’t really pay for it. pic.twitter.com/v0cC9gZu9N — Daniel Podence (@daniel_podence) April 19, 2021
As did Manchester City commentator Ian Cheeseman.
I’m sorry @ManCity but you’ve got this wrong – we thought you fought UEFA so that everyone can dream, but once you succeeded, you showed your true colours, to become part of the cartel and exclude others #BoycottEuropeanSuperLeague — Ian Cheeseman (@IanCheeseman) April 18, 2021
Ander Herrera – whose club Paris St Germain are not signed up – was scathing about the plans.
— Ander Herrera (@AnderHerrera) April 19, 2021
Spartak Moscow offered their help to fans of the 12 teams.
Dear AC Milan, Arsenal , Atlético, Chelsea, Barcelona, Internazionale, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham fans, If you need a new club to support, we're always here for you. Kind regards,FC Spartak Moscow. — FC Spartak Moscow (@fcsm_eng) April 18, 2021
Why not Wellington?
If Spurs can get in then we definitely have a chance… — Wellington Phoenix (@WgtnPhoenixFC) April 18, 2021
Bromley offered a new home to disgruntled fans.
🤨 #SuperLeague? Fans of the “Big Six” wanting a new club to support, we are here and ready to welcome you to our community. #WeAreBromley pic.twitter.com/VTTdGA9FU4 — Bromley FC (@bromleyfc) April 19, 2021
Anyone else read the Wrexham statement in Ryan Reynolds’ voice?
STATEMENT | ESL Despite the club's two 4-0 victories this week, we can confirm that we will not be seeking membership to the newly uncovered 'European Super League' and will continue our quest to reach the EFL. The club will be making no further comment. 🔴⚪️ #WxmAFC pic.twitter.com/Qqf9i2GeFf — Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) April 18, 2021
Who wouldn’t want an away day in Whitby?
No European super league for us.Nearest we get to Europe is Whitby on a Tuesday night and we wouldn’t have it any other way. #lovenonleague — Hyde United FC (@hydeunited) April 19, 2021
Jeff Stelling was left feeling deflated about it.
Thank god I support a proper club. And not just mine, but all those clubs who treat their fans with respect, whose players still speak to their supporters , whose fans respect each other. Feel sorry for the fans of those six clubs who are viewed as worthless by their owners. — Jeff Stelling (@JeffStelling) April 18, 2021
Celebrity fans piled in, too.
Forgetting something? @Arsenal pic.twitter.com/ibYqkWR3A8 — Dermot O'Leary (@radioleary) April 18, 2021 6 football clubs have achieved something that no politician or public figure has managed in these times of fracture, fission & feuding. They have brought together the whole divided nation, indeed all of Europe – everyone united in disgust & revulsion at such greed and stupidity — Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) April 19, 2021 I had a horrible nightmare about Europe’s top football teams forming a Super League……oh, wait a minute.#BoycottEuropeanSuperLeague — Daniel Mays 💙 (@DanielMays9) April 19, 2021 Ed Woodward & the Glazers….. you have outstayed your welcome @ManUtd ! It is not a toy, and it’s not yours to ruin… — Sam Billings (@sambillings) April 18, 2021 Does the premier league have the right to kick out all 6 clubs ?? Also the FA out of the FA cup … Asking for a friend ? #BoycottEuropeanSuperLeague — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 19, 2021 @PFA Time to call an all out strike so the players aligned to the big 6 clubs can show their solidarity with all the other players in the EPL and other leagues. The only way to make the owners see sense is to withdraw your members service at every level. #Solidarity ✌✌ https://t.co/6Mil2vsyU3 — Gary Webster (@RealGaryWebster) April 19, 2021
Arsenal’s inclusion did not go down well with a former X-Factor winner.
The last time you won the league I won X Factor. You're more embarrassing than my career. Chancers. pic.twitter.com/t50sEiArLE — Steve Brookstein (@stevebrookstein) April 18, 2021
Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn had a radical idea to punish the teams involved.
Pro evolution names til the end of the season for them.Man Blue v Merseyside Red — John McGinn (@jmcginn7) April 18, 2021
Footballers from other clubs were not happy.
Football as we know it in this country is going to be smashed to pieces! 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 mans game!!!!! — Charlie Austin (@chazaustin10) April 19, 2021 Some real mercenaries…all values and history thrown out the window 🤮👍🏿 — Yannick Bolasie (@YannickBolasie) April 19, 2021 Who picked the “Big 6” to enter this fraudulent shambles anyway? 2 of the so called 6 aren’t in the top 6 in this country as it stands 😡 Also please don’t call it a competition, you can’t compete when there are no consequences to losing! Glorified money grabbing friendlies 🤬 — Elliott Bennett (@Ebenno88) April 18, 2021
Susie Dent likes to keep her ‘word of the day’ topical.
Word of the day is ‘ingordigiousness’: extreme greed; an insatiable desire for wealth at any cost. — Susie Dent 💙 (@susie_dent) April 19, 2021
MPs past and present got involved.
There's only one Super League, and that's the one @WarringtonRLFC play in. https://t.co/IwRVczENwv — Charlotte Nichols (@charlotte2153) April 18, 2021 As a lifelong @Arsenal fan very sorry to see Kroenke sell us out to #ESL and ignore fans and try and rip heart out of English football. It's time to #BoycottEuropeanSuperLeague and for fans not return to Arsenal until Arsenal is returned to fans and gets out of #ESL — David Burrowes (@DavidBurrowesUK) April 18, 2021 The "Big 6" Super League is wrong. I agree with @GNev2 – football urgently needs a new model to ensure fairer distribution of wealth to all levels of the game and give fans the stake in decision making we deserve. In football and in life, greed and elitism is never the answer. — Paula Barker MP (@PaulaBarkerMP) April 18, 2021 Football is about fans and communities, not consumers and subscribers. It's about history and pride. A nail-biting relegation or promotion 6 pointer or a late run for the play offs. The underdog, the upset. The "European Super League" is not football. It's just corporate greed. — Angela Rayner 😷 (@AngelaRayner) April 19, 2021
Amid all the backlash, Kevin Pietersen didn’t understand what all the fuss was about.
If the SL is played during the week and doesn’t interfere with domestic league schedules, what’s the issue? Serious question? Would like to understand please? — Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) April 19, 2021
