Liverpool reject new European Super League plans

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 22 December 2023

Liverpool announce that their position on the European Super League remains unchanged following Thursday's monumental ruling by the European Court of Justice.

Liverpool have become the latest club to denounce the new European Super League project and have insisted that they remain loyal to UEFA.

On Thursday, the European Court of Justice ruled that FIFA and UEFA were unlawful in threatening to ban players and kick clubs out of tournaments if they signed up to the breakaway competition, which was first proposed in 2021.

The ECJ's conclusion has led to renewed hope that the European Super League - which was initially launched as a closed competition with only 12 teams - could be revived in the future.

A22 Sports - who have been backing principal advocates Barcelona and Real Madrid in their attempts to succeed with the project - announced a revamped format mere hours after the court ruling, involving 64 men's teams and 32 women's teams in three separate divisions.

A22 also claimed that matches would be free to stream, but a multitude of top European clubs have already rejected the new plans, with Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea releasing statements on Thursday.

General view as Liverpool's Anfield Stadium is seen with seats in the new Anfield road stand upper tier on December 13, 2023 © Reuters

On Friday morning, Arsenal also confirmed that their stance on the European Super League has not changed, with Mikel Arteta affirming that his side will continue to compete in UEFA competitions.

Now, Liverpool - one of the original 12 clubs to commit to the project - have followed suit, stating that they have "discontinued" their Super League association and will not abandon the current continental pyramid.

"Yesterday's ruling by the European Court of Justice does not change Liverpool FC's previous stance on a proposed European Super League," Liverpool said in a statement on their website.

"Our involvement has been discontinued. We will continue to work with fellow clubs through the ECA and participate in UEFA competitions."

Jurgen Klopp is also expected to face questions on the potential revival of a European Super League when he faces the media on Friday, as the Reds prepare to meet Arsenal in Saturday's top-of-the-table Premier League clash.

Liverpool's Cody Gakpo celebrates scoring their third goal on December 20, 2023 © Reuters

The two title rivals formed part of the 12-club contingent to sign up to the original Super League in April 2021, which also housed the other four 'Big Six' teams as well as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and AC Milan.

However, news of the breakaway league led to enormous backlash from supporters, players and governments, and fans protested against the Super League outside Premier League grounds in the hours that followed.

Within the space of a few days, all clubs apart from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus had backed out of the plans, before the Old Lady also pulled out this summer due to the threat of being expelled from Serie A.

Barca and Real Madrid remain firmly in favour of a European Super League, with the former stating that the footballing "monopoly" must be opposed, while Blancos president Florentino Perez described Thursday's ruling as a "great day for the history of football".

Nevertheless, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin is unperturbed by the prospect of a Super League given the wave of clubs and supporters to condemn the idea for a new tournament over the past 24 hours.