UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has urged the bosses of England’s ‘Big Six’ clubs who have signed up to the breakaway European Super League to “come to their senses”. Fans and former players have also joined the queue to have their say on the matter. Reaction to the decision being pushed through by 12 of the world’s largest clubs ranged from humour to sarcasm to condemnation and anger.
The decision was labelled an “absolute disgrace” by football fans and some started calling the twelve rebel clubs as “the dirty dozen”.
‘Shame on you. RIP LFC 1892-2021.’
Fans aired their frustrations on social media and some also visited grounds to unfurl banners in protest. A banner hung on the railings outside Anfield during Liverpool vs Leeds game displayed a strong message to Liverpool’s American owners as it said, “Shame on you. RIP LFC 1892-2021.”
"Shame on you. RIP LFC. 1892-2021"
Les fans présents devant Anfield n'ont pas manqué de donner leur avis sur la participation de Liverpool à la Super Ligue européenne. [@Route1futbol] #LFC #NoToEuropeanSuperLeague pic.twitter.com/dPheu0CHL5
— Liverpool 🇫🇷 (@RedsFrance) April 19, 2021
‘This is a war on football’
Former Red Devil Rio Ferdinand branded the breakaway proposal “a disgrace” and opined that “it goes against everything football is about”. He said, “It’s a disgrace, I can’t believe it. How have they got the audacity to do it in the climate we’re in at the moment with the pandemic around the world?
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) April 18, 2021
European Super League created to ‘save football’
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is of the opinion that the European Super League was created “to save football”. He mentioned that the move had been made because young people are “no longer interested in football” because of “a lot of poor quality games”.
Florentino Perez to El Chiringuito: "This #SuperLeague is not for the rich, but it's to save football. If this continues, football will disappear and by 2024 we would already be dead. This is the only way to save everyone: big, medium and small clubs". 🚨
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 19, 2021
Dock points from the ‘Big Six’ clubs
Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has called for the Premier League to dock points from the ‘Big Six’ clubs for their part in the controversial European Super League plans. “Every part of it is against the idea of British football,” Moshiri further said.
https://twitter.com/philkecho/status/1384438671139655681
Really hard to understand
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 (@M10) April 19, 2021
Punish the six English clubs
Former Manchester United defender and owner of fourth-division English club Salford, Gary Neville described those running the breakaway clubs as “imposters” and called Premier League authorities to punish the six English clubs involved with point deductions.
Go on Everton ❤️ https://t.co/mImcCkubPj
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) April 20, 2021