European Super League ESL plans could see a huge number of promotions across English divisions, according to reports on Monday morning.
Late on Sunday night, it was confirmed that Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham are among 12 clubs who have agreed to join a new tournament.
In what has been described as a ‘seismic move for European football’, the Premier League clubs will join the likes of AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid.
The proposal involves the clubs forming their own mid-week competition to rival the UEFA Champions League whilst still competing in the Premier League.
The six English sides would need to be given permission by the Premier League to compete in the new European Super League.
That decision won’t come down to a vote by the 20 Premier League clubs themselves but it will instead come from the league’s board.
That same board has already made it clear that they do not support the formation of a Super League.
If they do not give them permission to join, then those clubs will be forced to leave their domestic league in order to take part.
UEFA, the FA, the Premier League, the Royal Spanish Football Federation, La Liga, the Italian Football Federation and Lega Serie A have all released a joint statement in which they threatened all the clubs involved with a ban.
Should plans go ahead, and the clubs leave the league, it might just see a mass restructuring of the Football League.
Questions are asked if six teams leave the Premier League, will six teams have to come up from the Championship? Then will six teams have to come from League One?
In this article, we take a look at how each league in the 92 would look CURRENTLY (19 April) for next season, promoting the current top 6️ sides.
PREMIER LEAGUE – AFC Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Barnsley, Brighton, Burnley, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, Leeds, Leicester, Norwich, Swansea, Newcastle, Sheffield United, Southampton, Watford, West Brom, West Ham and Wolves
CHAMPIONSHIP – Birmingham, Blackburn, Blackpool, Bristol City, Cardiff, Coventry, Derby, Huddersfield, Hull, Lincoln, Luton, Middlesbrough, Millwall, Nott’m Forest, Oxford, Peterborough, Preston, QPR, Reading, Rotherham, Sheffield Wedm Stoke, Sunderland and Wycombe
LEAGUE ONE – Accrington, AFC Wimbledon, Bolton, Bristol Rovers, Burton, Cambridge, Charlton, Cheltenham, Crewe, Doncaster, Fleetwood, Forest Green, Gillingham, Ipswich, MK Dons, Morecambe, Northampton, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Rochdale, Shrewsbury, Swindon, Tranmere and Wigan
LEAGUE TWO – Barrow, Bradford, Carlisle, Colchester, Crawley, Exeter, Halifax, Grimsby, Harrogate, Hartlepool, Leyton Orient, Mansfield, Newport, Oldham, Port Vale, Salford, Scunthorpe, Southend, Stevenage, Stockport, Sutton, Torquay, Walsall and Wrexham
UEFA, the Football Association, the Premier League, the Royal Spanish Football Federation, La Liga, the Italian Football Federation and Lega Serie A have all released a joint statement in which they threatened all the clubs involved with a ban.
The statement read: “As previously announced by FIFA and the six Federations, the clubs concerned will be banned from playing in any other competition at domestic, European or world level, and their players could be denied the opportunity to represent their national teams.”
“We thank those clubs in other countries, especially the French and German clubs, who have refused to sign up to this. We call on all lovers of football, supporters and politicians, to join us in fighting against such a project if it were to be announced.
“This persistent self-interest of a few has been going on for too long. Enough is enough.”
EFL STATEMENT:
“The EFL stands with the Premier League, The FA, PFA, LMA, the FSA and colleagues across European professional football in condemnation of proposals which attack the foundation of open and fair competition upon which our game is built.
“A strong pyramid based on promotion, relegation and ultimately European qualification, is fundamental to our game’s continued success. The EFL opposes any reform that doesn’t support competition integrity or offer Clubs the prospect of one day competing at the highest end of the game.
“Collective reform efforts should be focused on creating conditions that foster long-term sustainability at all levels of the domestic football and remove the current, almost impossible financial pressures created as a result in the huge difference of revenues allocated to the Premier League in comparison to the Championship and Leagues One and Two.
“The EFL has long stated that the economics and governance of the English pyramid should be re-set and we remain committed to working with the Premier League, The FA and the game’s stakeholders to deliver that vision, so that English professional football can thrive in communities across the country for generations to come.
“At its heart, football is a game for supporters and the widespread rejection of these proposals must be acknowledged. EFL Clubs are an integral part of the towns and cities from which they take their name and, in many, deliver the biggest single form of communal activity in their local area.
“The EFL’s collective response to the pandemic in the face of significant challenges highlights just how vital they are to the life of the nation and anything that fundamentally weakens that system must be resisted.
“Having pioneered the world’s original League format in 1888, it is ironic that proposals which would serve to destroy the value of sporting merit were announced on the weekend of the League’s 133rd anniversary.
“Across EFL competitions, any club can triumph over another and fans of all Clubs regardless of size and status, must always be afforded the hope that successes on the pitch will be rewarded. The Championship is one of Europe’s most prominent divisions and the gateway to England’s top tier. The introduction of a predominantly closed European competition at the elite end kills a part of the game and the League system we established over a century ago.
“Similarly, the rejection of these proposals, does not represent an endorsement for UEFA’s own proposed reforms, which themselves represent a significant challenge to English football’s domestic programme.
“Under both proposals, the EFL has concerns about the future of the League Cup which provides vital income to EFL Clubs, is the breeding ground for stars of the future and provides the top and bottom of the English pyramid the opportunity to win the first major trophy of the season.
“The EFL will continue to work with colleagues across the game at home and abroad, to defend our national game, protect our members and ensure that fans continue to have a healthy, vibrant and enduring pyramid system that they can continue to be proud of.”
As the ESL plans are revealed, could you see huge number of promotions across English divisions? Let us know on our socials!
As ESL plans could see huge number of promotions across English divisions, fans reacted to the EFL’s statement…
@tlmfootball: announce no relegations this season imo
@KnightTangerine: Promote the top 6 in each league. Kick out the ‘Sorry Six’ and do a deal with @skytv to show all EFL and @SkySportsPL matches through iFollow if needs be. You need fans more than ever now so engage with them and appoint a independent regulator.
@PompeyFan24680: Put them in non league and prompte top 6 teams from each league
@DanNicholls03: Don’t even let them play in non league, ban them completely from all English football, if they want to come back when their new league fails then they’ll have to start again
@CalumBright_: Not often I say this but pretty much spot on from the EFL ?
@IronessWest: Let’s kick out the super snake six and bring up six hungry clubs to The Prem and let that ripple effect go through all the leagues and benefit clubs that have had a tough old time this past year. We fans want our clubs back we want our football back. Support your local team.
@Stef1885: Go fuck yourselves EFL, you couldn’t give two shits about the fans neither, you can’t even run your league properly, regards a #buryfc fan, remember them ??
@TerryHobkirk: Get them kicked out of the football pyramid and promote the top 6 from each division
@KeithWildman: Ahem. Premier league B teams in the EFL trophy? #bteamboycott
@Keiith_C_1971: I get the sentiment but can just imagine the “top 6” will be saying to each other “ hang on lads we don’t want to piss off the mighty EFL, let’s have a rethink “
@npGxA: didn’t care about a fair and open game when you let awful owners ruin Charlton, Portsmouth, Luton, Bury, Bolton etc etc
@CafcTom18: I don’t normally agree with the efl but jesus christ i stand by this
@robsgen14: It’s difficult to take this seriously given how easily they gave in to having B teams
@DavidJarvis18: Announce top 6 promotion party
@SheffWedWOTMT: It is good that EFL have finally said this. Hope the EFL chairman has learnt from his experience of helping some PL clubs to try and deliver changes to the football structure. Those changes would have enabled the so called ‘Big Six’ to further their greed and power agenda.
@wrigs91: Open and fair competition finishing seasons up on PPG when teams had games in hand and allowing teams that voted to wrap the season up to play in playoffs? Or teams that couldn’t afford to carry on spend big in the summer. Don’t talk shit you lot are corrupt as they come!
@JPBrett1: While I agree with the sentiment, it’s hypercritical given you allow some clubs to chase premier league £s by getting away with operating at huge losses that dwarf their income. It’s already an unfair system loaded against clubs who want to do things the right way
@dannyowen54: The same efl that was willing and has let clubs go to the wall no shame
@FrontRowBrad: EFL bigger than the super league anyways
@comeonhatters: Make sure you all back those words up & don’t bottle it – again!!
@sambillybob: I’m surprised the efl arent backing the big 6 owners, just as corrupt as them
@TomDevlin0709: Open and fair competition like allowing a company in Hong Kong to buy Wigan and 4 weeks later put them into administration to win a bet?
@Stever62Roberts: Fucking hell can’t believe I have liked something from the football league ?? #trfc
@rmbfc1: Announce top 6 promoted
The EFL managed to do something right pic.twitter.com/1Av47TJigY
— Kieren Rees (@kieren_rees) April 19, 2021
