Pranav Nair
Manchester United are yet to withdraw from the European Super League
According to The Times (Subscription Required), Manchester United could be involved in an attempt to relaunch the controversial European Super League in the future.
This comes just a couple of months after six top English clubs including United were a part of the plans for the breakaway Super League. Fan sentiment was overwhelmingly against the venture, forcing all the six clubs to take a step back and drop their participation in the competition.
The next few weeks saw a spate of public apologies and pledges to resist revisiting the idea from the clubs involved. However, all six English sides remain co-owners and shareholders of a holding company in Spain. As such, there does not appear to be a mechanism for withdrawal. It can be argued that the idea for the Super League has not been shelved and merely appears to be on hold instead.
Organisers continue to believe that the hugely controversial plan is even more vital given the current financial crisis caused by Covid-19. Just how they will decide to strike and how remains to be seen.
“We will resume dialogue, whether this year or next year. It’s just financial gravity. Football can’t survive in its current form.”
Perez the soothsayer?
These revelations are in line with what Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has stuck to in recent months. The Spanish honcho was adamant that no club involved could walk away and it appears to be the case. Of the original 12 members, only Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona are yet to denounce their participation in the competition.
Apart from United, the other five English clubs involved were Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. The six clubs were fined a total of £22m in total earlier this month. They also agreed to pay £25m each and lose 30 points if they attempt to reignite the scheme. (h/t The Daily Mail)
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Governing bodies UEFA and FIFA both condemned the proposals and warned that any teams involved would be banned from their leagues. This also includes outlawing the involved players from international competition.
Something has got to give and who blinks first remains to be seen. Given that fans are overwhelmingly against the proposal, just how the clubs plan to win them over will prove interesting.
