Manchester City have quit the European Super League with Chelsea set to follow them in a victory for soccer.
The Etihad club no longer want to be involved in the rebel league and the Blues are also “preparing documentation” to request withdrawal.
It is also believed that Arsenal are preparing to leave and so are Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.
While Barcelona have said they will put the proposal to their fans before deciding.
In another dramatic twist, Manchester United chief Ed Woodward has quit amidst fans’ fury at the Super League.
In what will be a potentially fatal blow to the $6.4 billion scheme, Man City chiefs decided they could no longer be party to the plans that have rocked football to its very foundation.
A high level source with knowledge of the Super League company confirmed that City have sent a letter enacting the process of withdrawing from the initiative.
When asked to confirm if they had withdrawn, City said they could not comment for legal reasons.
City were the last of the initial six Prem clubs, and the 12th in all, to sign up to the plan hatched by Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester United and funded by US investment giant JP Morgan.
Like Chelsea, who are in the process of preparing their withdrawal documents, the Etihad outfit were understood to feel they had no option other than to join the breakaway.
That was despite both clubs’ hierarchies harboring doubts over the project.
But the fear of missing out on a huge tranche of the initial $4.2 billion joining pot and minimum $181 million per year on offer saw both clubs take a bite out of the carrot.
City’s concerns have grown over the past 24 hours, with the backlash intensifying as fans groups castigated the rebel clubs.
They were also slammed by their Prem rivals, with the League, FA and Government lining up to vow the clubs would simply not be allowed to walk away and join the elite cartel clubs.
And an extra blow to the crumbling project came from Barcelona, who announced they would not join the Super League unless there was a vote of members to approve the move.
President Joan Laporta said: “Barcelona will NOT join the Super League until our socios (fan members) vote for it.
“It’s their club, so it’s their decision.”
The European Super League was announced on Sunday night and met with a furious backlash from fans, players and authorities.
The plans have also been criticized by the likes of Boris Johnson and Prince William.
Fans protest the Super League outside Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge in London on April 20, 2021.
A massive fan backlash is believed to be one of the major factors behind half of the six Premier League teams involved having second thoughts.
In total, 12 European teams have announced the setting up of a new franchise league in which they will be free of relegation fears.
The remaining 14 top-flight clubs met Tuesday to discuss how to fight back against the proposals and how they will challenge the six rebels.
A Premier League statement said: “The Premier League, alongside The FA, met with clubs today to discuss the immediate implications of the Super League proposal.
“The 14 clubs at the meeting unanimously and vigorously rejected the plans for the competition.
“The Premier League is considering all actions available to prevent it from progressing, as well as holding those Shareholders involved to account under its rules.
“The League will continue to work with key stakeholders including fan groups, Government, Uefa, The FA, EFL, PFA and LMA to protect the best interests of the game and call on those clubs involved in the proposed competition to cease their involvement immediately.
“The Premier League would like to thank fans and all stakeholders for the support they have shown this week on this significant issue. The reaction proves just how much our open pyramid and football community means to people.”
Martin Lipton contributed to this report.
Comments