Arsenal and Liverpool have joined other English clubs in reaffirming their opposition to the formation of a European Super League after a significant legal ruling on Thursday. The European Court of Justice ruled that FIFA and UEFA cannot control the participation of teams in competitions outside of their jurisdiction, prompting a response from the Premier League giants.
It’s been a rollercoaster year for European football, with 12 of the continent’s biggest clubs initially announcing their plans to break away and form a new competition. However, the proposal faced widespread backlash and protests from fans, leading to all but two clubs – Real Madrid and Barcelona – withdrawing from the controversial project.
Following the court ruling, English clubs like Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Tottenham have all restated their opposition to the Super League. Now, Arsenal and Liverpool have also released statements, making it clear that they will continue to compete in UEFA competitions and collaborate with other European clubs via the European Club Association (ECA).
In a statement, Arsenal said, “Our position in relation to the European Super League has not changed. We will continue to play in UEFA competitions and work with fellow European clubs and the ECA.” Similarly, Liverpool declared, “Yesterday’s ruling does not change Liverpool FC’s previous stance on a proposed European Super League. Our involvement has been discontinued. We will continue to participate in UEFA competitions.”
However, the presidents of Real Madrid and Barcelona, Florentino Perez and Joan Laporta, have continued to publicly support the Super League. They have even proposed a new format that would include more clubs from around the continent. The proposed format for the men’s edition would consist of 64 clubs across three leagues – the Star League, the Gold League, and the Blue League – all based on sporting merit rather than a fixed and permanent place. The women’s version would feature 32 teams split between two divisions.
The journey of the European Super League has been a tumultuous one, with initial excitement quickly turning into widespread condemnation. The latest legal ruling has further solidified the stance of English clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool, who, along with their Premier League counterparts, are committed to continuing their participation in UEFA competitions and working alongside other European clubs. As the conversation around the future of European football evolves, it remains to be seen how the landscape will change in the coming years.
