Super League: Uefa president tells Premier League clubs ‘there’s still time to change your mind’

Uefa stand firm against the Super League plans

(AFP via Getty Images)

The president of Uefa Aleksander Ceferin has delivered a direct message to the owners of Premier League clubs behind the controversial new European Super League, saying: “There is still time to change your mind.”

Backlash against the plans has been fierce and relentless from all angles since Sunday night, with opposition coming from supporters, clubs outside the 12 involved, broadcasters and politicians.

Now the two governing bodies have both stepped in to make their feelings absolutely clear, with Fifa voicing strong disapproval and warning the dozen breakaway sides that they would stand alone if they persist.

Ceferin has already been incredibly disparaging of the individuals involved too, labelling Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward and Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli liars and “snakes” for their part in what he felt was an ongoing deception - but he has opened the door for them to backtrack and admit the errors of their ways.

“I would like to address the owners of some English clubs,” Ceferin told the Uefa congress on Tuesday. “Gentleman, you made a huge mistake. Some will say it is greed, others disdain, arrogance, flippancy of England’s football culture.

“But it actually doesn’t matter. What matters is that there is still time to change your mind. Everyone makes mistakes. English fans deserve to have you correct your mistake. They deserve respect.”

The first signs of those within the game also taking a stand against the plans appeared on Monday, with Liverpool’s James Milner saying he hoped the Super League didn’t go ahead and his manager, Jurgen Klopp, reiterating his long-held thoughts that it wasn’t a great idea.

Local rivals of the Merseyside club, Everton, have labelled the Super League a “preposterous” idea and a YouGov poll revealed almost 80 per cent of fans were against the breakaway competition too.

Meanwhile, The Independent have been told that a number of players at involved clubs are already showing concerns at the possibility of being blocked from competing at major international tournaments.

While far from a solid sign that a backtracking is on the way as Ceferin has invited clubs to do, reports have suggested that some of the sides involved have “cold feet” and are reconsidering their position.

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