Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has said that the independent European Super League would be a departure from 70 years of football history and that fans love the Champions League as it is.
Sources told ESPN on Sunday that 15 of Europe’s largest clubs are in talks to launch a pro-independence league, scheduled to start in time for the 2023-24 season, with a fund of $ 6 billion (4.3 billion). million) that will support the project.
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A total of six Premier League clubs, including United, had signed up for plans for a new league that would be a rival to the UEFA Champions League.
Ferguson, who won the Champions League twice with United after having European success with Scottish club Aberdeen, told Reuters he enjoyed “special nights” in the Champions League.
“Talking about a Super League is a departure from 70 years of European football club,” he told Reuters. “Both as a player on a Dunfermline provincial team in the 1960s and as an Aberdeen coach winning the European Cup, for a small Scottish provincial club it was like climbing Everest.
“Everton are spending £ 500 million to build a new stadium with the ambition of playing in the Champions League. Fans around the world love the competition as it is.
“In my time at United, we played four Champions League finals and they were always the most special of the nights.
He added: “I’m not sure Manchester United will be involved, as I’m not part of the decision-making process.”
The UK government also commented on the plans, and Culture Minister Olivier Dowden said: “Football supporters are the beat of our national sport and any major decision that is taken should be supported.
“With a lot of fans, we’re concerned that this plan could create a closed store at the top of our national game.”
Gary Neville, former Ferguson captain, interrupted his comment on Sky Sports coverage of United’s win over Burnley to criticize the break-up plans.
“I’m not against modernizing football competitions, because we have the Premier League, we have the Champions League,” he said.
“But advancing proposals in the midst of COVID, in the midst of the economic crisis that exists for all clubs is an absolute scandal.
“United and the rest of the six big clubs that have joined the rest of the Premier League should be ashamed of themselves.
“Is Arsenal in it? They just tied with Fulham, Manchester United draw with Burnley. I can’t concentrate on the game. Signing up for the Super League for a season is a joke, they should discount the six points. “