Boris Johnson urges others to ‘follow lead’ of clubs quitting European Super League

He commended Manchester City and Chelsea for dropping out
Chelsea supporters demonstrate against the proposed European Super League
AFP via Getty Images

Boris Johnson has commended Manchester City and Chelsea for reportedly dropping out of the Super League and has urged Manchester United, Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal to follow suit.

The Super League lies in tatters just 48 hours after it was announced with the Prime Minister praising Manchester City’s decision to withdraw.

The PM tweeted: “The decision by Chelsea and Manchester City is – if confirmed – absolutely the right one and I commend them for it.

“I hope the other clubs involved in the European Super League will follow their lead.”

Manchester City have now confirmed their intention to pull out of the proposed European Super League becoming the first English club to officially withdraw.

It read: “Manchester City Football Club can confirm that it has formally enacted the procedures to withdraw from the group developing plans for a European Super League.”

With Chelsea understood to be withdrawing the proposed new venture looks doomed just 48 hours after it was announced.

On Twitter, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer welcomed Chelsea’s move and urged other clubs to “follow suit”.

He tweeted: “But let’s not lose the energy of the last few days – this must be a watershed moment, where we change our game to put fans first again.”

Meanwhile, there have also been reports that Spanish clubs Atletico Madrid and Barcelona were set to withdraw from the competition.

When the news that Ed Woodward was understood to have resigned as Manchester United executive vice-chairman broke, Gary Neville, an outspoken critic of the Super League, tweeted a waving emoji.

The former United defender then posted a picture of himself drinking a glass of wine with the caption: “To the Super League.”

Much-loved Hector Bellerin posted Arsene Wenger’s departing words before he left Arsenal asking fans to protect the values of the club.

UEFA president Ceferin welcomed the news that City had begun the process to withdraw from the Super League.

“I am delighted to welcome City back to the European football family,” the Slovenian said.

“They have shown great intelligence in listening to the many voices – most notably their fans – that have spelled out the vital benefits that the current system has for the whole of European football; from the world-beating Champions League final right down to a young player’s first coaching session at a grassroots club.

“As I said at the UEFA Congress, it takes courage to admit a mistake but I have never doubted that they had the ability and common sense to make that decision.

“City are a real asset for the game and I am delighted to be working with them for a better future for the European game.”

There had been reports that Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson had called a meeting of his fellow Premier League skippers, but he may now not need to.

He and a number of his Liverpool team-mates tweeted: “We don’t like it and we don’t want it to happen. This is our collective position.

“Our commitment to this football club its supporters is absolute and unconditional. You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

Henderson had handed over the running of his social account to an anti-bullying charity but said he was tweeting as himself because it “needs to be said”.

Neville’s fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, a former Liverpool defender, tweeted a picture of a headstone engraved with the inscription “European Super League, born April 18, 2021, died April 20, 2021.”

Carragher added: “At Sky Sports yesterday I felt resigned to #SuperLeague happening, but during #MNF after hearing managers, players & fans from @LUFC @LFC I’m convinced if we all get together & forget our tribalism we can stop this. Keep banging the drum.”

Former Chelsea midfielder Pat Nevin, covering their match against Brighton on Tuesday night, told BBC 5Live: “I’m not going to make excuses for Chelsea, they got it wrong.

“But the best thing to do when you realise something is wrong is hold your hand up and get out of it. Chelsea might pat themselves on the back and say ‘we’ve destroyed this’.

“It is so obvious that it is going to fall apart now.”

Ex-England captain Gary Lineker posted the simple message: “We’ve got our ball back.”

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