Report: United, Arsenal among clubs resistant to 'Super League'

It seems the idea of a new European “Super League” is far from universally appraised, even by the clubs said to be involved.

A report in German outlet Der Spiegel suggested an assortment of football’s behemoths have been working together to move away from UEFA’s control and form a new competition. Talks over the new league are said to have reached an advanced stage and the intent is for the tournament to begin as early as 2021.

However, according to the Telegraph’s Jeremy Wilson, Manchester United and Arsenal are two of the most high-profile clubs opposed to the suggested scheme, despite both being listed among the 11 proposed founding members.

Wilson claims European clubs that play in domestic leagues which are considered to be lagging behind the Premier League in terms of financial heft have been the most vocal advocates for the move.

However, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin opposes the radical change, saying Monday: “It would damage football worldwide. It would be boring. To see Juventus vs. (Bayern Munich) every week would be more boring than, let’s say, Juve vs. Torino. It’s no question for me that I will fight and do all I can against such a league for as long as I am here.

“If we are talking about a closed system, we can forget about solidarity and the development of football. In the long run, the clubs would be the losers.”

Bayern were also listed as one of the 11 potential starting clubs, but chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insisted the club “neither have any knowledge about this nor have we participated in any talks. That’s out of the question for us.”