European Super League plans condemned by supporters groups from all six Premier League founding members

Supporters groups from every Premier League club announced as a founder member of the new European Super League have strongly spoken out against the controversial plans.

It was announced on Sunday night that the Premier League’s ‘big six’ - Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham - intended to join a new midweek competition, along with AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid.

The Super League - plotted by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez - has prompted a furious backlash from supporters of the English clubs involved.

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust said: “The board of THFC betrayed the club, its history and the magic that makes this game so special when they put their name to a statement announcing the formation of a breakaway European Super League.

“We demand the board immediately disassociates itself from the breakaway league. Only then can meaningful discussions about change take place.

“If the board does not do this, we will have no choice but to call on new owners prepared to safeguard the past, present and future of our great club to step forward and work with us.”

There was outrage from Arsenal, too, with their fans saying they “deplore” the club for signing up. The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust described the decision as “the death of Arsenal as a sporting institution”.

In a statement on Monday morning, they added: “This represents the death of everything that football should be about.

“Not surprisingly, this action has been taken with no consultation or dialogue, continuing the silence and contempt that [Arsenal owner Stan] Kroenke has shown for Arsenal supporters since day one.

“The AST will do everything we can to oppose this. It will require firm action by the Government and the football authorities.”

The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust said: “Our members and football supporters across the world have experienced the ultimate betrayal.”

They added: “This is a decision of greed to line the pockets of those at the top and it has been made with no consideration for the loyal supporters, our history, our future and the future of football in this country.

“It is likely that this proposal will never come into existence. However, it speaks volumes that CFC are prepared to risk our existence in the Premier League and the FA Cup.

“The CST has held extensive talks with CFC over the past few weeks regarding various issues and there has been no mention of this secretive proposal.

“The CST and its members demand answers. This is unforgivable. Enough is enough.”

Liverpool fans’ group Spirit of Shankly said they were appalled by the decision and completely opposed it. They added: “FSG [Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group] have ignored fans in their relentless and greedy pursuit of money.

“Football is ours not theirs. Our football club is ours, not theirs.”

Manchester City’s Official Supporters Club said they were “totally opposed” to the new Super League.

They added: “These owners, irrespective of where they come from, seem to think football belongs to them — it doesn’t, it belongs to us, the supporters, irrespective of which team we support.”

The Manchester United Supporters Trust also released a statement saying the proposals were “completely unacceptable”.

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