Politics
European Super League ‘far from being abandoned’ with Premier League teams ‘waiting for new format’ says Barcelona chief
BARCELONA president Joan Laporta believes that the European Super League is “far from being abandoned”.
The hated project was canned last year just days after its announcement after fans mobilised to protest against football fat cats.
EPAJoan Laporta is determined for the Super League to come into existence[/caption]
Desperate Barca, Real Madrid and Juventus chiefs have clung on to hopes of a revival, however, and Laporta reckons that English clubs could risk the wrath of their supporters by getting back onboard.
In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, he said: “Super League abandoned? No, far from it.
“We are there with Juventus, Madrid and waiting for the other teams.
“The English clubs and German clubs are waiting to see if it will be a new format of competition or it will be an improved Champions League.”
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Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville was among those most staunchly against last year’s grim proposals.
And the Manchester United icon fully expects it to rear its ugly head again in future.
Speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit earlier this month, Neville said: “It will make a comeback, I don’t believe the hierarchy and elite in football that exists are going to go away.
“They want more money, they want to create more wealth for themselves and they don’t have a great interest in the wider game beyond their own clubs.
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GettyGary Neville has been left disgusted by ESL plans[/caption]
“Tracey Crouch, the Conservative MP, has done a fantastic fan led review that was part of the Tory manifesto at the last election, it is a great report and it now needs to move through legislation in parliament and if it does then I will finally believe the ESL is dead.
“Until that point I don’t believe the ESL is dead, I believe it will come back rehashed, reworked and maybe with a cherry on it this time.
“But the reality of it is I still don’t think it will be accepted because the fans don’t want it.”
Neville’s beloved Man United were pioneers of the initial breakaway attempt, as well as Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham and Arsenal.
ESL tyrants Juventus were recently dumped out of the Champions League Villarreal – marking the FOURTH consecutive year that they have been eliminated by a team that wasn’t involved in the initial Super League power grab.
RexJuve were dumped out of the Champions League in humiliating fashion[/caption]
