Man United insist their position ‘has NOT changed’ as they turn their back on new European Super League plans… while Bayern Munich claim the revised competition ‘represents an attack’ on football

• Several top clubs across Europe have condemned the new Super League plans
• Atletico Madrid say they are ‘in favor of protecting the European football family’
• IAN LADYMAN: Mikel Arteta gets criticised for his touchline behaviour, but Arsenal are a team that reek of excellent coaching – It’s All Kicking Off 

Manchester United have turned their back on a revised European Super League by pledging allegiance to UEFA and the Premier League.

United were one of the 12 founding members of the failed ESL that collapsed in 2021, and the club’s American owners later apologised to fans over their involvement in the breakaway competition.

The Super League’s backers A22 tabled fresh proposals on Thursday in the wake of a European Court of Justice ruling that FIFA and UEFA acted unlawfully in banning clubs from joining up.

The new plan would involve 64 men’s teams making up three leagues, and 32 women’s teams in two leagues. Unlike the original proposals, there would be promotion and relegation.

However, United issued a statement on Thursday afternoon stating the club’s support for the existing system overseen by UEFA, European Club Association (ECA) and the Premier League.

Manchester United have turned their back on Thursday’s revised European Super League plan

Fans turned out in full force to protest the announcement of the ‘closed’ league in April 2021

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The new plan for the European Super League was revealed by A22 CEO Bernd Reichart (above)

It read: ‘Our position has not changed. We remain fully committed to participation in UEFA competitions, and to positive cooperation with UEFA, the Premier League, and fellow clubs through the ECA on the continued development of the European game.’

Following Manchester United’s lead, several other top clubs across Europe have written statements to reject the Super League concept.

Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich condemned the proposal, labelling it as an ‘attack’ on football’s current structure.

Club chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen said: ‘It’s very clear: the door for the Super League at FC Bayern remains closed.

‘Such a competition would represent an attack on the importance of domestic leagues and the statics of European football.’

Atletico Madrid also released a statement to criticise the plans, while taking a swipe at LaLiga rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid, who were the two of the biggest proponents of the European Super League during it’s initial launch. 

Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen labelled it an ‘attack’ on football’s current structure

Barcelona and Real Madrid were two of the biggest proponents of the European Super League

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Their statement read: ‘The European football family does not want the European Super League. Germany, France, England, Italy, Spain (except for Real Madrid and Barcelona), etc. do not want the Super League’. 

‘We are in favor of protecting the European football family, safeguarding domestic leagues, and ensuring that qualification for European competitions is achieved through on-field performance every season’. 

LaLiga added: ‘The Super League will make the rich, richer and would mean the loss of tens of thousands of jobs.’

‘Today, more than ever, we reiterate that the Super League is a selfish and elitist model. Anything that is not fully open, with direct access only through the domestic leagues, season by season, is a closed format.’

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