Tuesday night marked a victory for fans against greedy owners when it emerged the proposed European Super League is set to be called off.
It was understood that all of the clubs involved in the controversial plans are meeting on Tuesday night to disband the idea, after Premier League duo Chelsea and Manchester City pulled out of the competition.
In what has proven to be a fatal blow to the £4.6billion rebel alliance, Chelsea and Man City chiefs decided they could no longer be party to the much hated plans that threatened to rip the heart of football as we know it.
“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,” a statement from the club read.
And Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel suggested he and his players are all for the collapse, too.
“I am not aware of any of the politics, I trust the club that they take decisions into consideration that we embrace competitive sport,” he said before the Premier League game with Brighton.
The 8pm kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes owing to the protest from fans outside of Stamford Bridge where former Blues goalkeeper Petr Cech, now a technical adviser at the club, was seen trying to appease supporters.
Scores of fans chanted, let off blue smoke bombs and marched around the west London ground – and the cheer from supporters when news of the possible U-turn by greedy owners emerged could be heard across the capital.
The collapse of the Super League will be well received by fans across Europe, with thousands letting their feelings on the matter known.
It began on Monday with angry protests before Leeds’ clash with Liverpool at Elland Road on Monday night and a furious backlash from supporters up and down the country has continued.
James Milner was among the current players who said he hoped it wouldn’t come to fruition, while former footballers Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher were also forthright in their views on the league.
The other ‘founders’ of the European Super League are now set to follow suit and back down, with a meeting taking place on Tuesday night between the 12 clubs when it is expected they will accept their bold bid to shake-up the game is over.
As Chelsea fans congratulated Arsenal supporters and other rivals put aside their differences to join forces for something good, it emerged that Ed Woodward sensationally quit his job at Man United.
It was also reported in Italy that chief architect Andrea Agnelli had left his role at Juventus.
“You couldn’t make it up. This is Hollywood movie. Blockbuster gone horribly wrong,” former Man City defender Danny Mills said reacting to the news on talkSPORT.
“What did these clubs think the reaction would be. They’ve tipped the toe in the water, it’s been bit off and scolded in the process.”
The message was clear on Tuesday night to anyone who would dare try and rip the heart of a football club ever again.
And it wasn’t just fans in the streets happy, it was those who have been lucky enough to play the game they love so much too.
Luke Shaw and Kevin De Bruyne were among those who tweeted their thoughts on the matter.
Neville was also among the first to toast the demise of the ‘ESL’.
The Man United legend and popular pundit tweeted a picture of himself drinking a glass of wine with the caption: “To the Super League.”
Neville’s fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool defender, was also in a jubilant mood.
He tweeted a picture of a headstone engraved with the inscription “European Super League, born April 18, 2021, died April 20, 2021.”
