In a shocking move Sunday, 12 of Europe's leading football clubs announced they were establishing a Super League, to rival the Union of European Football Associations' (UEFA) Champions League format, which has dominated European football for years, Sky News reported.
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Founding Super League members include six English Premier League clubs and three teams apiece from the Italian Serie A and Spanish La Ligam namely AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and the Tottenham Hotspur.
No clubs from France or Germany have joined the new league so far and it is known whether German giant Bayern Munich and French champions PSG will make the move.
It is also unclear when Super League games will begin.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour Party leader Keir Starmer both criticized the move.
The new league would "strike at the heart of the domestic game, and will concern fans across the country," Johnson was cited by Sky News. "The clubs involved must answer to their fans and the wider footballing community before taking any further steps."
Keir noted that "football in empty stadiums hasn't been the same over the last year. I can't wait to get back to games. But this proposal risks shutting the door on fans for good, reducing them to mere spectators and consumers.
"The clubs involved in this proposal should rethink immediately. And if they don't, they should face the consequences of their actions. Because football without fans is nothing."
A statement by UEFA offered a scathing condemnation of the breakaway move.
"If this were to happen, we wish to reiterate that we – UEFA, the English FA, RFEF, FIGC, the Premier League, LaLiga, Lega Serie A, but also FIFA and all our member associations – will remain united in our efforts to stop this cynical project, a project that is founded on the self-interest of a few clubs at a time when society needs solidarity more than ever."
The International Football Federation, the world's governing body for soccer, also slammed the move.
"FIFA can only express its disapproval to a 'closed European breakaway league' outside of the international football structures and not respecting the aforementioned principles," FIFA said in a statement. "FIFA always stands for unity in world football and calls on all parties involved in heated discussions to engage in calm, constructive and balanced dialogue for the good of the game and in the spirit of solidarity and fair play."
British media said the potential implications for global broadcasters were enormous, "both in terms of existing contracts and future deals."
Deadline magazine quoted Andrea Agnelli, chairman of Juventus and vice-chairman of the Super League as saying, "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 was cited as saying, "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."
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