Clubs Announce New Super League Competition

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Manchester United and Manchester City have been confirmed as two of Europe’s leading football clubs which have come together to announce they have agreed to establish a new midweek competition, the Super League. 

United Fans Champions League Final 2009

AC Milan, Arsenal FC, AtlΓ©tico de Madrid, Chelsea FC, FC Barcelona, FC Internazionale Milano, Juventus FC, Liverpool FC, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid CF and Tottenham Hotspur have all joined the new competition as Founding Clubs.  

It is anticipated that a further three clubs will join ahead of the inaugural season, which is intended to commence as soon as practicable. 

Format of the new competition

Twenty participating clubs with fifteen Founding Clubs and a qualifying mechanism for a further five teams to qualify annually based on achievements in the prior season.

Midweek fixtures with all participating clubs continuing to compete in their respective national leagues, preserving the traditional domestic match calendar which remains at the heart of the club game.

An August start with clubs participating in two groups of ten, playing home and away fixtures, with the top three in each group automatically qualifying for the quarter finals. Teams finishing fourth and fifth will then compete in a two-legged play-off for the remaining quarter-final positions.  

A two-leg knockout format will be used to reach the final at the end of May, which will be staged as a single fixture at a neutral venue.

Joel Glazer, Co-Chairman of Manchester United and Vice-Chairman of the Super League said: 

“By bringing together the world’s greatest clubs and players to play each other throughout the season, the Super League will open a new chapter for European football, ensuring world-class competition and facilities, and increased financial support for the wider football pyramid.”

Reaction

The proposals have been met with huge criticism. 

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