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European Super League plans crumbling as English clubs withdraw

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4 years ago

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All six Premier League teams involved in the European Super League (ESL) have withdrawn from the competition.

Manchester City were the first club to pull out after Chelsea had signalled their intent to do so by preparing documentation to withdraw.

The other four sides, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham, have all followed suit.

The Super League said it would reconsider “the most appropriate steps to reshape the project”.

The 12-team Super League was announced on Sunday to widespread condemnation.

The remaining six clubs, Spain’s Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid and Italy’s AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus are yet to comment on the withdrawal of the English sides.

“Despite the announced departure of the English clubs, forced to take such decisions due to the pressure put on them, we are convinced our proposal is fully aligned with European law and regulations,” the ESL said, adding it was “convinced that the current status quo of European football needs to change”.

In an interview with Italian newspaper la Repubblica, Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli said the remaining clubs will “press ahead” and the project still had “a 100% chance of being a success”.

Manchester City confirmed they had “formally enacted the procedures to withdraw” from the Super League.

Liverpool said their involvement in the proposed breakaway league “has been discontinued”.

Manchester United said they had “listened carefully to the reaction from our fans, the UK government and other key stakeholders” in making their decision to not take part.

Arsenal apologised in an open letter to their fans and said they had “made a mistake”, adding they were withdrawing after listening to them and the “wider football community”.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said the club regretted the “anxiety and upset” caused by the proposal.

Chelsea confirmed they have “begun the formal procedures for withdrawal from the group” that they only joined “late last week”.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin welcomed the reversal, adding: “I said yesterday that it is admirable to admit a mistake and these clubs made a big mistake.

“But they are back in the fold now and I know they have a lot to offer not just to our competitions but to the whole of the European game.

“The important thing now is that we move on, rebuild the unity that the game enjoyed before this and move forward together.”

The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson posted on Twitter: “I welcome last night’s announcement. This is the right result for football fans, clubs, and communities across the country. We must continue to protect our cherished national game.”

Labour leader Keir Starmer added that this “must be a watershed moment, where we change our game to put fans first again”, while Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey tweeted: “This must be the start of a fans-led football revolution.”

In a statement, the European Super League said: “Given the current circumstances we shall reconsider the most appropriate steps to reshape the project, always having in mind our goals of offering fans the best experience possible while enhancing solidarity payments for the entire football community.”

English football’s ‘big six’ were part of a group that announced plans to form the breakaway league, which they hoped to establish as a new midweek competition.

It was condemned by fans, football authorities and government ministers in the UK and across Europe by UEFA and league associations.

Around 1,000 fans gathered outside Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge ground before their game against Brighton on Tuesday to protest at their club’s involvement.

Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, who was involved in the Super League discussions, has announced he will step down from his role at the end of 2021.

Leading players at some of the six clubs signalled their disapproval of the planned breakaway league.

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson said on social media his side’s “collective position” is they do not want the Super League to take place.

“We don’t like it and we don’t want it to happen,” read a message that was also posted by many fellow Liverpool players.

After City confirmed their withdrawal, England winger Raheem Sterling posted: “Ok bye.”

UEFA had hoped to stave off the threat of a European Super League with a new 36-team Champions League, which was agreed on Monday.

In announcing their proposals for a Super League that would eventually comprise of 20 teams, the 12-club group said the Champions League reforms did not go far enough.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who was named as the ESL’s chairman, said the competition was set up “to save football” because young people are “no longer interested” in the game because of “a lot of poor quality games”.

None of the Spanish and Italian sides have yet released a statement after the six Premier League teams pulled out.

-BBC

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EPL: Merino header gives Arsenal slim win over Chelsea

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1 hour ago

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March 16, 2025

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EPL: Merino header gives Arsenal slim win over Chelsea

Chelsea’s challenge for a place in next season’s Champions League faltered in a toothless 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday as Fulham beat Tottenham 2-0.

Mikel Merino scored the only goal of a disappointing contest at the Emirates as Arsenal pulled clear in second place and to within 12 points of runaway leaders Liverpool.

Chelsea badly missed the presence of the absent Cole Palmer due to illness as they meekly surrendered to a damaging defeat for their hopes of a top-four finish.

The Blues remain in fourth for now but have five sides from Manchester City in fifth to Aston Villa in ninth within four points of Enzo Maresca’s team.

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Arsenal have struggled badly for goals since the loss of Kai Havertz to a season-ending injury has forced midfielder Merino into a makeshift centre-forward role.

The Spanish international proved the match winner from a corner as he looped a header from Martin Odegaard’s delivery inside the far post on 20 minutes.

Chelsea barely threatened but were nearly gifted a route back into the game when David Raya fumbled Marc Cucurella’s shot and the ball trickled wide.

At the other end, Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez made a brilliant stop to prevent Merino doubling Arsenal’s lead with the best effort of the second half.

But the game petered out with little goalmouth action as a limp performance will do little to quieten the critics of Maresca’s style of play among the Chelsea support.

EPL: Merino header gives Arsenal slim win over Chelsea

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Chelsea beat Man City to win Women’s League Cup

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11 hours ago

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March 16, 2025

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Chelsea beat Man City to win Women’s League Cup

Chelsea edged past Manchester City in the Women’s League Cup final to win their first trophy under Sonia Bompastor and keep their bid for a historic quadruple alive.

Bompastor has exceeded expectations since succeeding Emma Hayes as head coach last May, winning 26 of her 28 games.

Mayra Ramirez netted an early opener for Chelsea, bundling in a rebound that bounced off City skipper Laia Aleixandri at Derby County’s Pride Park.

Aoba Fujino levelled after the break with a stunning strike, but an own goal by Yui Hasegawa restored Chelsea’s lead and ended their three-year losing streak in League Cup finals.

“It feels great, for sure. I’m really happy,” Bompastor said.

“From the beginning of the season we said we are going to be ambitious and when you have the opportunity to win a first title that is always really positive so I am really happy for that reason and I am really proud of my players.”

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City, who were playing their first game under interim boss Nick Cushing following Gareth Taylor’s sacking five days ago, dominated play after Chelsea’s opener.

But they were unable to find a way through during the first half as Chelsea’s solid centre-back paring of Millie Bright and Nathalie Bjorn stood firm, limiting City’s chances to ambitious efforts from the edge of the box.

Chelsea appeared to regain control after the interval, but Fujino’s powerful strike flew past Hannah Hampton and into the roof of the net before Hasegawa’s own goal handed momentum back to Bompastor’s side.

They remain in the hunt for the Champions League and FA Cup, while they have all but secured a sixth successive Women’s Super League (WSL) title, sitting eight points clear at the top of the table with six games remaining.

This final marked the start of an intense 12-day battle, with Chelsea and City playing each other four times in a row.

Chelsea beat Man City to win Women’s League Cup

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Osimhen scores hat-trick as Galatasaray demolish Antalyaspor

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1 day ago

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March 15, 2025

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Victor Osimhen

Osimhen scores hat-trick as Galatasaray demolish Antalyaspor

Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen scored a hat trick as Galatasaray defeated Antalyaspor 4-0 on Friday night.

Álvaro Morata scored from the penalty spot, completing the overwhelming victory.

Osimhen opened the goal at Rams Park in the 30th minute, completing Morata’s assist.

Morata scored a penalty in the 45th minute, followed by Osimhen’s second goal assisted by B. Yılmaz three minutes later.

The Nigerian striker completed his hat trick in the 52nd minute, with an assist from Y. Akgün.

The Nigerian striker completed his hat trick in the 52nd minute, with an assist from Y. Akgün.

This hat trick brings Osimhen’s season total to 20 league goals in 22 appearances, making him the leading scorer in the Turkish Süper Lig.

Since joining Galatasaray on loan from Napoli following the fourth game of the season, Osimhen has 26 goals and 5 assists across all competitions in 30 appearances.

Galatasaray’s strong performance cements their place at the top of the Süper Lig.

Prior to this match, they lead the rankings with 68 points from 26 matches, having won 21 and drawn 5.

Their closest competitors, Fenerbahçe, have 61 points after 25 games.

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With this victory, Galatasaray expands their lead to 71 points, increasing their bid for the league championship.
According to a post-match statement on the club’s website, this was Okan Buruk’s 100th game as head coach.

“Galatasaray faced Onvo Antalyaspor in the 28th week of the Trendyol Super Lig. Our team won the match played at Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex RAMS Park with a score of 4-0.

“Our goals came from Victor Osimhen (30′, 45+3′, 52′) and Alvaro Morata (45+2′).

“Continuing their undefeated lead, the team increased its points tally to 71 and increased it to 10 with two games more than its opponent.

“Before the match, our coach Okan Buruk was presented with a plaque to commemorate his 100th match as a coach at Galatasaray,” it read.

Yunus Akgün, Lucas Torreira, and Victor Osimhen were replaced by Roland Sallai, Dries Mertens, and Mario Lemina in the 68th minute.

Muslera blocked Van de Streek’s kick for Antalyaspor in the 73rd minute.

This was Antalyaspor’s only attack in the second half, according to the club’s statement.

Kaan Ayhan replaced Davinson Sanchez in the 77th minute. In the 79th minute, Kaan Ayhan attempted to score from a free kick, but his shot was saved by custodian Piric.

In the 83rd minute, Berkan Kutlu replaced Barış Alper. In the remaining portion, we will travel to Beşiktaş with a 4-0 victory, as the positions we found with Morata and Sara yielded no results.

 

Osimhen scores hat-trick as Galatasaray demolish Antalyaspor

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