Former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger says the proposed European Super League is a plan by continental clubs to destroy Premier League superiority.
It was gathered that Manchester United and Liverpool are in talks over the creation of the new $6billion breakaway that would feature up to 18 clubs from Europe’s top five leagues.
According to reports, the founding members aim to get the tournament underway in 2022. Immediate past Barcelona president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, who resigned on Tuesday said the club already accepted a proposal to join.
After leaving the Arsenal role, Wenger became FIFA’s head of global development. The Frenchman said the plans will erode the Premier League’s “superiority”.
“The Premier League has a superiority, the other leagues try to destroy the advantage that the Premier League has.
“For them, the best thing to do that is to create a European League, which would basically destroy the Premier League.
“So if they get the agreement from the big English clubs, it would happen,” Wenger said.
European Super League: Club owners are the biggest beneficiary – Wenger
According to the leaked proposal, the Super League would feature top sides in Europe. They will be facing each other more regularly.
According to Wenger, real beneficiaries of the proposal would be the club owners.
“We’re in a period of owners who are investors. Their first target is to make more money. And the European Super League is one way, maybe, to make more money.”
The leaked plan has elicited several reactions from several quarters. The plan seems to leave the game on the precipice of generational change.
Wall Street bank JP Morgan is believed to be a financial backer of the plan.
Liverpool and Manchester United had been involved in talks of the construction of a new FIFA-backed tournament, which would be funded to the sum of $6billion (£4.6billion).
The tournament will feature 18 teams that will include over a dozen teams from England, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, and the provisional date is 2022.
Another wound for football – Gary Neville
On his part, Sky Sports pundit, Gary Neville says the idea of a European Premier League is “another wound for football”.
Nevile who also criticized the timing of talks during a pandemic as “obscene” recently joined an eight-strong group calling for independent regulation of English football.
The former Man United skipper said reform will bring about a fairer distribution of football’s wealth.
“The big issue that I have with it, is that at this moment in time, in the middle of a pandemic and when football is on its knees at so many different levels – the FA, EFL clubs and non-League clubs are struggling – the idea that a $6 billion package is being put together to set-up a new league when lower clubs are scrambling around to pay wages and stay in existence.
“It’s another wound for football. It doesn’t feel like the right time to be talking about this. The leak probably doesn’t suit Manchester United or Liverpool at this moment in time as they’re seen as the big, bad bullies.
“I’m for progression of football, with new competitions and new formats, but we have got to look after the fabric of the game and what it means to the communities in this country.
“There is a position, potentially, for a new European League and for an amazing Premier League, a fantastically competitive EFL and funded grassroots and non-League football. There is enough money.
“If they can pull $6 billion together for a European league then they can pull together £150-£200m to save the rest of football in this country.”
