THE NEW SUPER LEAGUE...AN IDEA NOBODY WANTED

The end of the revamped ESL was quick as clubs and fans stood firm

- SIMON BIRD

THE condemnation of the latest European Super League proposals came swiftly and unequivocally.

First Manchester United, then Manchester City, then the Premier League and leading football figures.

All quickly pledged their opposition to a new European competition being proposed by A22, the company behind the original ESL idea which was shot down within 72 hours in 2021.

Back then 12 clubs, including English heavyweight giants Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, United and Tottenham, initially signed up to the breakaway competition.

They were greeted by a backlash, widespread fury and condemnation from fans. European domestic leagues and even government, led to the collapse of the plan. This rehashed version, refloated after a European court ruling that UEFA did not have a monopoly on competitions, looks set to be to be sunk like a dead duck for the foreseeable future, such is the almost unanimous opposition.

Real Madrid and Barcelona, though, are bang up for it.

Yesterday, there was no way the majority of clubs or organisations were going to allow themselves to be caught flirting with the idea again.