Clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea have already made formal announcements to exit the Super League while others like Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are also expected to follow suit.
Less than 48 hours after the announcement of the new rebel league, as many as six clubs are backtracking from their decision to participate thereby putting the future of the Super League in jeopardy.
Premier League side Chelsea were the first side to formally announce that they have begun the necessary proceedings and then Manchester City came up with a similar announcement.
The official statement from Chelsea read: “As reported earlier this evening, Chelsea Football Club can confirm that it has begun the formal procedures for withdrawal from the group developing plans for a European Super League.
“Having joined the group late last week, we have now had time to consider the matter fully and have decided that our continued participation in these plans would not be in the best interests of the Club, our supporters or the wider football community.”
Manchester City made it clear: “Manchester City Football Club can confirm that it has formally enacted the procedures to withdraw from the group developing plans for a European Super League.”
We can confirm that we have formally commenced procedures to withdraw from the group developing proposals for a European Super League (ESL).#THFC ⚪️ #COYS
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 20, 2021
Manchester United have also confirmed that Ed Woodward will be leaving the club while Barcelona will not be joining the Super League without approval from their socios.
Withdrawing from the ESL, Man United said: “Manchester United will not be participating in the European Super League. We have listened carefully to the reaction from our fans, the UK government and other key stakeholders.
“We remain committed to working with others across the football community to come up with sustainable solutions to the long-term challenges facing the game.”
Liverpool Football Club can confirm that our involvement in proposed plans to form a European Super League has been discontinued.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 20, 2021
It’s pretty clear the ESL is not going to take place any time soon but will the clubs actually be allowed to leave via a really smooth process?
Florentino Perez in a recent interview had hinted that the Super League contract was actually binding in nature: “The contract of the Super League is binding. Nobody can leave, we will work all together.
“All the clubs signed the contracts last Saturday, there’s no problem.
“Whenever there is a change, there are always people who oppose it. We are doing this to save football at this critical moment.”
We are yet to hear anything official from the Super League board but we are more than certain that this hasty exit will not go down too well with Perez and he will surely try and make life difficult for all the clubs who have swiftly decided to take this u-turn.
Reports have it that UEFA are actually offering a more lucrative deal to all the 12 rebel clubs which is why they have decided not to go join the breakaway league.
