ED WOODWARD has sensationally resigned as Man Utd executive vice-chairman with the European Super League project looking doomed.
Just days after confirming United were part of the 12-club breakaway, Chelsea and Man City have already withdrawn to leave the proposal in tatters.
Club legends Sir Alex Ferguson and David Beckham had earlier come out and slammed the ESL plans.
Stay up to date with our blog, below, for all the latest from Old Trafford…
- Jack Figg
WOOD YOU BELIEVE IT
More breaking news as according to talkSPORT, Ed Woodward has resigned as chairman of Manchester United.
Woodward and United’s owners, the Glazers, are said to be driving forced behind the proposed European Super League.
He stepped down from his role with Uefa amid the club’s involvement with the Super League.
But now, with Chelsea, City, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid looking to leave the rebel breakaway season, Woodward is rumoured to have walked from United.
- Jack Figg
EURO TRASH
Chelsea's clash with Brighton has been sensationally delayed by 15-minutes as fans protest outside Stamford Bridge.
Hundreds of supporters have gathered outside the stadium in anger over the plans for a European Super League.
They blocked in the team bus trying to drop off the players for their scheduled 8pm kick-off.
But that has been pushed back until 8.15pm by the Premier League – to help pre-match preparations.
- Jack Figg
JOHN TOP
Chelsea legend and former skipper John Terry has failed fans who protested outside Stamford Bridge.
Since then, the news has broken that Chelsea have pulled out of the proposed European Super League.
- Jack Figg
BLUE LOSE
Man City have quit the European Super League with Chelsea set to follow them in a victory for football.
The Etihad club no longer want to be involved in the rebel league and the Blues are also 'preparing documentation' to request withdrawal.
In what will be a potentially fatal blow to the £4.6billion scheme, Etihad chiefs decided they could no longer be party to the plans that have rocked football to its very foundations.
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When asked to confirm if they had withdrawn, City said they could not comment for legal reasons.
- Jack Figg
TUCHEL SPEAKS OUT
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel speaks out for the first time since the news his club have pulled out of the proposed European Super League.
It comes amid fan fury outside Stamford Bridge as supporters made their feelings known and called for the cancelation of the ESL.
- Jack Figg
BLUE FUNDAY
Here is the moment Chelsea fans heard the news their club was pulling out of the proposed European Super League.
Utter carnage outside of Stamford Bridge as supporters protested before the Blues game against Brighton.
But alas, their voices seem to have been heard.
- Ian Tuckey
MEETING TO DROP ESL PLAN?
THE 12 rebel clubs forming the European Super League are reportedy meeting tonight to consider DITCHING the plan.
That’s according to talkSPORT – as the outcry against the scheme rises.
- Jack Figg
MORE ON CHELSEA’S ESL DEPARTURE
According to the Dail Telegraph, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich decided the Blues could not go ahead with joining the ESL.
Along with with the board, Abramovich gave the green light for the club to start preparing documentation to pull out.
Fast developing story…
- Jack Figg
CITY BREAK
Just as the news breaks Chelsea are preparing to pull out of the proposed European Super League… so too are Manchester City.
According to SunSport’s Martin Lipton, City have told organisers they no longer want to be part of the £4.6billion scheme.
IT’S ALL FALLING APART.
- Warren Chrismas
- Jack Figg
SHAW THING
Luke Shaw has spoken out about the proposed European Super League.
The Manchester United defender shared his thoughts on Twitter.
- Jack Figg
BREAKING
BBC Sport reporting Chelsea are now preparing documentation to request withdrawing from the proposed European Super League.
It would mean they are the first to split from ESL.
- Jack Figg
REALITY CECH
Chelsea fans stopped traffic outside Stamford Bridge as they protested the European Super League before tonight's game against Brighton.
Numerous Blues supporters gathered at the London ground with anti-ESL banners as they demanded Roman Abramovich back away from the controversial plans.
A line of police officers were then seen trying to keep the crowd from getting into the road and preventing further traffic from moving.
One sign called on Abramovich to 'do the right thing', and another mourned: "1905-2021. RIP CFC. Save The Bridge."
The protest came after SunSport exclusively revealed Chelsea players were left concerned by the official ESL announcement on Sunday – as well as the threat of being banned from the Champions League following their semi-final achievement.
- Jack Figg
'BIG SIX' FACE GRILLING
European Super League rebels face being summoned to appear before MPs.
Committee chair and Tory MP Julian Knight said: “The DCMS Committee has given its strong support for a hearing on these momentous developments in the football world.
“We are in discussion with key players and will want to hear from major stakeholders as the impact of the new European Super League proposals unfold.”
That foreshadows uncomfortable inquisitions for the club bosses, although it is unlikely United’s Joel Glazer, Liverpool owner John Henry or Roman Abramovich could be compelled to attend.
Knight added: “We will reflect the widely-expressed concerns of supporters which will be at the centre of our investigation.
"We welcome the Government’s fan-led review announced yesterday, finally given the impetus to go ahead by these seismic events.
“No-one will be off limits in our determination to establish what needs to be done to safeguard the preciously held enjoyment the sport gives to people and to protect its legacy for the future.”
- Jack Figg
FEELING BLUE
Chelsea fans have protested against the proposed European Super League outside of Stamford Bridge.
The Blues are one of the rebel six Premier League clubs who have signed up to the breakaway ESL.
But ahead of Chelsea's home match against Brighton, supporters have made their feelings known.
- Jack Figg
'VIGOROUSLY REJECT PLANS'
The Premier League have released a statement announcing all 14 clubs 'unanimously and vigorously rejected the plans' for the European Super League.
The statement read: "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."
- Jack Figg
EURO DIVIDE
LaLiga chief Javier Tebas is the latest high-profile name to slam the European Super League plans.
Tebas also hit out at ‘clueless’ Real Madrid president Florentino Perez following his remarkable statement on the new plans.
Perez, the prime driver of the £4.6billion project, became the first of the 12 breakaway club owners to speak publicly about the plans in a TV interview in Spain.
In his statement, he suggested games could be shortened to accommodate the younger generation, supporters are losing interest in football, and that it would ‘save football.’
But Tebas, like the vast majority of those involved in football, has fired a scathing response and instead called it the ‘death of football.’
He posted on Twitter: “In December 2020 I said that Florentino Perez was pretty clueless, but right now he’s lost.
“Football isn’t completely ruined like he says, nor is the Super League, which is one of the problems, the solution… it’s the death of football.”
- Jack Figg
EURO DIVIDE
LaLiga chief Javier Tebas is the latest high-profile name to slam the European Super League plans.
Tebas also hit out at 'clueless' Real Madrid president Florentino Perez following his remarkable statement on the new plans.
Perez, the prime driver of the £4.6billion project, became the first of the 12 breakaway club owners to speak publicly about the plans in a TV interview in Spain.
In his statement, he suggested games could be shortened to accommodate the younger generation, supporters are losing interest in football, and that it would 'save football.'
But Tebas, like the vast majority of those involved in football, has fired a scathing response and instead called it the 'death of football.'
He posted on Twitter: "In December 2020 I said that Florentino Perez was pretty clueless, but right now he's lost.
"Football isn't completely ruined like he says, nor is the Super League, which is one of the problems, the solution… it's the death of football."
- Jack Figg
HOW THE PROPOSED ESL WILL WORK
- Jack Figg
ICYMI
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has reportedly called an emergency meeting between all Premier League captains.
The Mail reports the England midfielder has taken the action as the fall-out from the breakaway Super League continues.
The 30-year-old will chair meeting with club reps from sides in and out of the breakaway.
Henderson previously helped lead players in their response to the crisis caused by the pandemic.
- Jack Figg
MORE ON LEVY
Another club boss added: “Daniel can paint himself as a victim but nobody was buying that at all. It’s too late for that.”
Richard Masters and the Prem leadership, as well as the clubs outside the Big Six, were left bolstered by a firm vow from PM Boris Johnson that he will bring in urgent legislation that would prevent the Six from joining the £4.6billion scheme.
That meeting involved representatives of Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester United supporters’ trusts and the Football Supporters Association, FA chief executive Mark Bullingham, as well as Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden.
Johnson is understood to have made it abundantly clear to the meeting that he would simply not allow the breakaway to take place.
- Josh Graham
WHO ARE YA?
Manchester United are owned by the Glazers but who are the other people behind the breakaway Super League.
- Josh Graham
'VIGOROUSLY REJECT PLANS'
The Premier League have released a statement announcing all 14 clubs 'unanimously and vigorously rejected the plans' for the European Super League.
A crisis meeting was held this morning with all top-flight clubs except the 'big six' who want to form a breakaway league. And the Prem reassured everything in their power will be done to prevent the plans from going ahead.
It adds how they will also hold shareholders to account for their role in the farce while hinting at bans.
The statement read: "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."
- Josh Graham
MARC MY WORDS
Marcus Rashford has tweeted a powerful image of the Old Trafford stands showing a banner with the Matt Busby quote: "Football is nothing without fans."
The England man shared the photo in the wake of the hugely controversial Super League breakaway with Manchester United one of the 'founders'.
- Josh Graham
CON JOB
Manchester United fan Connor Kennedy showed his fury at the club joining the league outside Old Trafford.
Credit: PA
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