The Prime Minister (PM) of the United Kingdom (UK), Boris Johnson, has called for action to be taken against football clubs that are pushing to breakaway from the UEFA Champions League.
The UEFA Champions League has been plunged into danger as 12 clubs propose to breakaway.
Six English Premier League clubs are among the 12 clubs seeking to breakaway from the UEFA Champions League
The clubs are: Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan.
The teams agreed on Sunday, April 19, 2021, to form a ‘European Super League,’ causing a ‘civil war’ for European football.
But there are condemnations from football fans, experts, former footballers, and politicians across Europe over the move.
Many believe the move could have adverse consequences for European football.
Mr Johnson tweeted late on Sunday night, April 19, 2021, raising serious concerns about the move to breakaway, accusing the clubs of letting fans down.
According to him, “Plans for a European Super League would be very damaging for football and we support football authorities in taking action.”
“They would strike at the heart of the domestic game, and will concern fans across the country. (1/2)” says Mr Johnson.
He added that “The clubs involved must answer to their fans and the wider footballing community before taking any further steps.”
Plans for a European Super League would be very damaging for football and we support football authorities in taking action.
They would strike at the heart of the domestic game, and will concern fans across the country. (1/2)
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 18, 2021
UEFA meets today
On Sunday afternoon, UEFA issued a statement sanctioned by its President, Aleksander Ceferin, expressing its displeasure with the move to breakaway.
On Monday, April 20, 2021, UEFA senior officials are expected to hold an Executive Committee meeting in Montreux, Switzerland.
Money motives
The move to breakaway and form the European Super League is being seen as a potential threat to domestic leagues across Europe.
For critics, the move could destroy domestic leagues. Critics also believe the clubs that have proposed to breakaway are being carried away by profit motives and not caring about their fans.
History of Champions League
The UEFA Champions League replaced the European Cup. In the 1992-1993 season, the UEFA Champions League was played for the first time. Both the European Cup and UEFA Champions League span over 60 years.
The Champions is considered the most prestigious club tournament in football.
Ferguson speaks
Former Manchester United coach, Sir Alex Ferguson, has distanced himself from the move to breakaway.
Sir Ferguson in his statement read out on Sky News, noted that “Talk of a Super League is a move away from 70 years of European club football. Both as a player for a provincial team Dunfermline in the 60s and as a manager at Aberdeen winning the European Cup Winners’ Cup, for a small provincial club in Scotland it was like climbing Mount Everest.”
He said “Everton are spending £500 million to build a new stadium with the ambition to play in Champions League. Fans all over love the competition as it is.”
“In my time at United, we played in four Champions League finals and they were always the most special of nights. I’m not sure [if] Manchester United are involved in this, as I am not part of the decision making process,” according to him.
By Melvin Tarlue