The European Super League looks set to be disbanded less than 48 hours after its initial announcement, with clubs already signalling their intent to leave following an extraordinary backlash against the project.
The seismic announcement on Sunday night came that 12 clubs, including six Premier League sides, were ready to create a breakaway tournament that would essentially replace the Champions League as the premier European football competition.
The decision has seen backlash from all levels, from competitors, their own fans and players and governments across Europe with those involved under an enormous amount of pressure to back out.
Chelsea were the first club reported to be considering their place in the competition on Tuesday evening, and football.london understands that the West London club are preparing to withdraw from the controversial competition.
Reports suggest that following a meeting with the Chelsea board, Roman Abramovich has given the go ahead for Chelsea to being withdrawing from the Super League.
Manchester City are also said to be leaving the Super League on the same day that City boss Pep Guardiola criticised the competition, stating “it’s not a sport where success is already guaranteed or it is not a sport when it doesn’t matter where you lose.”
In Spain, Atletico Madrid are also said to be putting in motion plans to leave the Super League, while Barcelona president Joan Laporta has stated that the club will not join the league until a decision is made by the club’s socios: “Barca will not enter the Super League without the approval of the Assembly of Members. It is they who decide, it is their club.”
talkSPORT report that the 12 member clubs will be meeting on Tuesday evening to discuss disbanding the Super League, and that Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward has handed in his resignation, while Andrea Agnelli is understood to have also left Juventus following his role as head of the European Club Association.
Questions are likely to be asked of the decision makers at all clubs involved. Whether the likes of Daniel Levy, Bruce Buck and others will be able to withstand the furore caused by their actions remains to be seen.
The recriminations are unlikely to stop there, with a vast amount of ill-will generated among rival clubs and supporters, amid calls for the six breakaway clubs in the Premier League to face harsh penalties ranging from fines and point deductions to being kicked out of the league.
The chances of any clubs being removed from the Premier League are extremely low, especially if no clubs actually follow through with plans to create the new league.