Looking for Soccer News?

Uganda Revenue Authority FC missed a chance to move top of the Ugandan Premier League table after they were held to a 0-0 draw by SC Villa on Wednesday.

The Tax Collectors went into the fixture against the Jogoos seeking a win to topple Vipers SC at the top of the 18-team table but it was not the case as the tie ended all-square at Bombo Military Barracks Grounds.

Coach Sam Ssimbwa made one change to the URA squad with Benjamin Nyakoojo coming on for Victor Katongole and it was his side that started the game well with Cromwell Rwothomio hitting the crossbar with a header in the 10th minute.

In the 27th minute, Michael Birungu combined well with Rwothomio and unleashed a thunderbolt which the Villa custodian punched back into play and the ball fell to Stephen Mukwala, whose final effort went inches wide.

The two teams headed into the half-time break tied at 0-0 and it was URA, who continued to search for an opener and in the 53rd minute Nyakoojo rose the highest to head a cross from Mukwala but his effort kissed the bar.

In the 67th minute, URA created another chance to go ahead as Shafik Kagimu forced Villa keeper Saidi Keni into another top save to make the scores 0-0.

The draw denied URA a chance to seal a double over their rivals whom they had beaten 2-1 in the first round meeting and also saw them stay second on the table, on 43 points, the same as Vipers, who also dropped points on Tuesday after a 0-0 draw against Wakiso Giants.

Meanwhile, Kampala City Council Authority FC also failed to break down a resilient Mbarara City side as they battled to a 0-0 draw at Kakyeeka Stadium.

The Kasasiro Boys under interim coach Morley Byekwaso were looking to end a bad run of results against Mbarara at the venue but they could not threaten nor pose any major threat to the home team.

The draw will leave KCCA sitting in position five on the table with 33 points from 18 matches while Mbarara will remain 11th with 22 points from 19 matches.

Former Bayern Munich and Liverpool defender Markus Babbel has said that UEFA must be “laughing its head off”, stating that Europe's governing body is just as interested in making money as those involved in the failed Super League plans.

Sunday's announcement of a 20-team, ring-fenced tournament was met with global consternation and anger, with fans and pundits alike of the opinion that a self-appointed elite group of teams had acted out of sheer greed and were sucking the soul out of the game.

Plans to form a breakaway league have since dissolved, however, and Babbel took aim at what he perceives to be UEFA's hypocrisy after European football's governing body had lambasted those responsible for pushing ahead with plans to form a Super League.

What did Babbel say?

“UEFA is laughing its head off!” Babbel told Goal and SPOX. “The 2024 Champions League is also sh*t to the power of 10. Nobody can take that seriously either because it's all about more games and more money.

“From my point of view, the reforms are a disaster, but at least the teams still have a chance to qualify based on sporting merit.”

What Champions League reforms have been made?

The biggest change to the Champions League is the transformation from the traditional group stage to a single league including all participating teams, which will rise from 32 to 36.

The top eight teams in the league will then qualify for the knockout stage, while those finishing from ninth to 24th will compete in two-legged play-offs to secure a path into the round of 16.

Babbel's views on Liverpool

Babbel spent seven years of his playing career at Bayern Munich and was pleased to see that one of his old clubs hadn't buckled to pressure, but he admits that he was left furious by those in charge of another of his former sides.

“I was very disappointed because I never would have thought it possible that a club like Liverpool would do something like that,” he said of Fenway Sports Group's decision to take part in the breakaway project.

“But when I found out that neither Jurgen Klopp nor the players had been informed about the plans, I knew: 'Okay, there were a couple of guys who had nothing to do with the history of the club making the decisions'.

“The fact that those primarily responsible for the sporting sector did not know anything about it finally calmed me down a bit. It was clear that only the business people who only think about money and are ready to tell the soul of the club had made the decision.”

Further reading

Arsenal legend Nwankwo Kanu believes Alex Iwobi would have been more comfortable in the Mikel Arteta’s team than he is at Everton.

The forward joined the Toffees in the summer of 2019 on a five-year deal for a fee of around £34 million, thus, putting an end to his time at the Emirates Stadium.

Iwobi teamed up with the Gunners at the age of four and made more than 100 appearances for the club after his promotion to the first team in 2015.

The 24-year-old is yet to replicate his eye-catching performances for the Goodison Park outfit consistently and in the current season, he has managed two goals and three assists in 33 appearances.

Kanu, who spent five years with the London outfit, has berated the decision of the club to sell the Nigeria international.

“I was surprised they let Alex Iwobi go when they did. He was supposed to be a part of this team,’ Kanu said, as per Metro.  

“I think they’d be a better team with him in it. He’s Arsenal blood and he’s always given his all for the team.

“He plays at an international level. I believe he’d be much more comfortable in this Arsenal team than he is in the Everton team.”

Kanu also assessed the performance of Arsenal under Arteta, and revealed the club need to win more laurels before the 39-year-old can be regarded as doing an "amazing job"..

“It’s a difficult one to assess as far as Arsenal’s season is concerned because domestically they aren’t anywhere near what we’re used to seeing, but in Europe, they look really strong,” he continued.

“The coach did a good job in winning the FA Cup last season but this is a big club, and the expectation of a big club is to win the league.

“As things stand, you can’t rate Arsenal highly in terms of performances in the Premier League, but if they can win the Europa League, it gives them a good balance, knowing they have struggled in the league. 

“You can’t exactly say that Mikel Arteta is doing an amazing job, but we have to remember he’s in a European semi-final and he’s working hard. He’s not been in charge for very long so it’s tough to judge him too much.”

Iwobi will have a chance to return to the Emirates Stadium when Everton take on Arsenal in their next Premier League game on Friday.

Gokulam Kerala defeated KSEB 2-1 in the final of the 2021 Kerala Premier League to be crowned champions of the eighth edition of the tournament run by the state football association. 

The Malabarians have clinched their second KPL title after having become the champions of Kerala in the 2017-18 edition of the competition under the guidance of the-then head coach Fernando Varela. 

This year, the Kozhikode-based club was led to the title by head coach NM Najeeb, who took charge of the reserve team at the start of the 2020-21 campaign. Under Najeeb, the team has become champions without losing a single game. 

What happened in the final? 

Viknesh broke the deadlock in the 54th minute for a dominant KSEB who looked like they would add a second soon after they scored the first.

Malabarians got back into the contest in the final 20 minutes and put pressure on the KSEB defence which looked shaky. Nimshad (80') and Ganesan (92') completed Gokulam's comeback and helped the club to seal their second KPL title win. 

Journey to the final 

Gokulam Kerala were one of 12 teams that took part in this year's KPL. They were placed in Group A along with Basco, SAT, Kerala Police, Luca, FC Kerala. 

Najeeb's team went unbeaten and topped the group stage with 15 points to progress to the semi-final. KSEB and Kerala United, who both had 12 points, progressed from Group B. 

The Malabarians took on Kerala United in the semi-final and beat them on penalties before tasting victory in the final which was held in Kochi on Wednesday. 
 

Inter and Atletico Madrid have officially announced their intention to walk away from the proposed European Super League.

On Sunday, 12 of Europe's elite clubs were named as founding members of the breakaway project, designed to rival the UEFA Champions League.

Only two days passed before things started to unravel, however, with all six of the Premier League clubs involved pulling out on Tuesday.

What did Inter say?

In a statement released via their official website, Inter confirmed their intention to turn their back on the Super League.

It reads: "FC Internazionale Milano confirm that the Club is no longer part of the Super League project.

"We are always committed to giving fans the best football experience; innovation and inclusion are part of our DNA since our foundation. Our engagement with all stakeholders to improve the football industry will never change.

"Inter believes that football, like every sector of activity, must have an interest in constantly improving its competitions, to keep on exciting fans of all ages around the world, within a framework of financial sustainability.

"With this vision we look forward to carry on working together with institutions and all stakeholders for the future of the sport we all love."

What did Atletico say?

Diego Simeone's side posted a similar note, stating: "The Atlético de Madrid Board of Directors, meeting this Wednesday morning, has decided to formally communicate to the Superliga and the rest of the founding clubs its decision not to finally formalise its adherence to the project.

"Atlético de Madrid made the decision last Monday to join this project in response to circumstances that no longer exist today.

"For the club, harmony is essential between all the groups that make up the rojiblanca family, especially our fans.

"The first team squad and their coach have shown their satisfaction with the club's decision, understanding that sporting merits must prevail over any other criteria."

More to follow...

Andrea Agnelli has defended Juventus's decision to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, insisting the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's presence has "guaranteed" the other clubs in Serie A €4 million in extra revenue.

Juve forked out £99m ($138m) to lure Ronaldo away from Real Madrid in 2018 in the hope that he could inspire them to a first Champions League triumph since the 1995-96 season.

The Italian giants have since been unable to make it past the quarter-finals of the competition, however, and although Ronaldo's output in the final third has remained as high as ever, it has been suggested that the Portuguese is holding back the rest of the team.

What's been said?

Ronaldo was kept quiet during Juve's shock Champions League round-of-16 defeat to Porto and has been powerless to prevent them from falling out of the Serie A title race this season, but Agnelli still has no regrets over the club's purchase of the 36-year-old.

The Juve chairman has also jumped to the defence of under-fire head coach Andrea Pirlo, telling Corriere dello Sport  and La Repubblica: "Wrong to take Ronaldo? Never.

"I would do it again tomorrow. And Pirlo too. Stability allows us to follow the path of growth by investing in young players and coaches even at their first experience."

Agnelli added: "We brought Cristiano to Italy and his presence alone has guaranteed the other clubs €4 million at the box office. 

"We wish to continue importing other champions with the benefits for all levels of football, from the youngsters to the amateurs."

Ronaldo's record at Juve

Ronaldo has racked up 126 appearances across all competitions for the Bianconeri since making his debut for the club three years ago, scoring 97 goals.

The former Madrid frontman has also secured two Serie A titles and two Supercoppa Italiana winners' medals to add to his illustrious CV.

The bigger picture 

Thirty-two of Ronaldo's goals for Juve have come during the 2020-21 campaign, including 25 in Serie A - four ahead of Inter forward Romelu Lukaku in the race for the Golden Boot.

Pirlo's side have become reliant on the Portugal international to deliver the goods in front of goal, and although they are no longer the dominant force in Italy, it seems unlikely that they will part ways with a prized asset any time soon.

Ronaldo has been linked with a return to Madrid as he approaches the final year of his contract at the Allianz Stadium, but Juve vice-chairman Pavel Nedved has insisted that he will be staying put  for at least one more season.

"For me, Ronaldo can't be touched," Nedved told DAZN last month. "He has a contract until June 30, 2022 and will stay. What happens after that remains to be seen."

Further reading

SC Villa coach Edward Kaziba has explained why they can not afford another defeat when they take on URA FC in a Ugandan Premier League match on Wednesday.

The Jogoos will host the Tax Collectors at Bombo Military Barracks Grounds seeking to bounce back to winning ways having lost their last league match 2-0 against KCCA FC at Lugogo Stadium.

According to Kaziba, the game will provide the Jogoos with a big chance to return to winning ways after collecting just one point from the two derbies from the previous two matchdays.

“We lost the first round to URA and we are also going into tomorrow’s [Wednesday’s] game after losing to KCCA so tomorrow we cannot afford to lose two games consecutively,” Kaziba told the club’s official website ahead of the match.

“Even though we have had less recovery time as compared to URA, we will not use it as an excuse for failing to get results tomorrow. We have prepared for this game very well.”

Right-back Fred Agandu will not feature in this game after he received his third yellow card of the season against KCCA while Andrew Kiwanuka will remain sidelined because of the injury he sustained against Express.

“In addition to Andrew [Kiwanuka], we will not be with Fred [Agandu], who got a third yellow card, and Salim who is injured but the rest of my squad is in great shape and ready to collect the three points on Wednesday,” Kaziba continued.

The Jogoos will, however, come up against a high-riding URA side, who are currently second on the 16-team league table with 42 points, four places above Villa, and they come into the fixture having won their last league match 3-1 against BUL FC.

In the first round meeting, Villa failed to win the match despite taking an early lead as URA hit back with two goals courtesy of Benjamin Nyakoojo and Saidi Kyeyune to emerge 2-1 winners.

In the last six matches between the two sides, Villa have managed two wins, while URA have won only once with the other three ending in draws.

Swansea City and Ghana have been boosted by news that attacker Andre Ayew is expected back in action before the end of the season.

The 31-year-old sustained a hamstring injury while in action for the Jack Army in a 2-2 draw with Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Championship, a setback which resulted in his substitution in just the ninth minute of the game.

He consequently missed Tuesday's 1-0 loss to Queens Park Rangers and is also set to miss Swansea's trip to Reading on Sunday.

“He is out with a hamstring injury, it is a grade one so he is unlikely to be available for Reading, but hopefully he will be okay for Derby,” said Cooper, as reported by his club's official website.

“It could have been worse, for sure. Hamstring injuries can be nasty, it could have ruled him out for the rest of the season.

“But it will not do that, we will have to see if he could be ready for Sunday in a few days or so.”

Ayew's current absence is a huge blow to Swansea who are in a fierce battle for Premier League promotion.

The Wales-based club are currently third on the league table and need positive results in their last three games to stand a chance of toppling Watford for the second automatic qualification slot, the first ticket having been already taken by Norwich City.

In the worst-case scenario, thee Jack Army will hope to finish in any place between third and sixth to secure a slot in the promotion play-off which will see one of four contestants rewarded with a ticket to join the top two finishers of the regular season into the elite division.

Ayew's importance for Swansea is highlighted by his status as the club's top scorer so far this term, having featured in all but two of the club's 43 games and racking up 15 goals, the same tally he reached last year during the regular season.

His return before the end of the season will also be good news for Ghana ahead of the commencement of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in June when the Black Stars take on Ethiopia and South Africa.

Kaizer Chiefs' bid to finish the Premier Soccer League season in the top eight faces a stern test when they clash against Cape Town City at FNB Stadium on Wednesday.

It is a battle between teams separated by five points on the table where Chiefs are 10th while City are placed seventh.

After missing an opportunity to climb up into the top-eight in their last match away at Baroka FC, Amakhosi are looking to atone for that with victory over City which would take them to eighth on the table.

The visitors from the Mother City will, however, not move from seventh spot even if they beat Chiefs.

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

Squads & Team News

Chiefs have announced that forward Leonardo Castro is available for selection after recovering from a nose injury sustained during the 2-2 draw against Stellenbosch, a match in which he scored.

He then missed Chiefs' last two games and if he plays on Wednesday, it would be his 100th appearance for Kaizer Chiefs in all competitions since joining the Soweto giants in January 2018.

The Colombian's return is expected to boost coach Gavin Hunt's selection options upfront where he could partner Samir Nurkovic.

Cape City coach Jan Olde Riekerink has declared a clean bill of health in his camp and that is some good news for the Dutchman.

Mozambique defender Edmilson Dove, who last featured in October 2020 before getting injured, could be thrown into the fray at FNB Stadium.

Match Preview

Chiefs go into Wednesday's match enjoying a rare run of eight unbeaten games across all competitions. 

Amakhosi have not lost in their last five league games but that run has been undone by sharing the spoils four times which translates to eight points dropped.

They face a Cape Town City side which has recorded just one win, three draws and a defeat in their last five outings.

But City might want to build on their last league game which was a 3-0 win over SuperSport United at home.

Since then, they have spent 10 days without playing competitive football while Chiefs have had five days away from competitive action.

Carrying the bragging rights going into this match are Chiefs, who edged City 2-1 in the reverse fixture at Cape Town Stadium in January.

The African teams have learnt their preliminary round opponents for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games football tournament.

The draw which was conducted on Wednesday morning at Fifa headquarters in, Zurich, was led by Sarai Bareman, Fifa chief women’s football officer and Fifa’s director of tournaments Jaime Yarza.

They were assisted by two legends: Lindsay Tarpley, member of the USA women’s national team and two-time Olympic gold medallist (Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008), and Ryan Nelsen, captain of the New Zealand Olympic squad in 2008 and London 2012.

Reigning African U23 champions Egypt were handed some hard-hitting Group C foes. There, they will slug it out against Barcelona 1992 gold medallists Spain, Australia and 2004 & 2008 winners Argentina.

The Pharaohs begin their campaign for the diadem against Spain on July 22 at the Sapporo Dome, before taking on Australia three days later at the same venue.

The North Africans will wrap up their group phase by trying the South Americans for size at the Saitama Stadium 2002.

Cote d’Ivoire are in what appears to be another tough zone as they will face reigning champions Brazil, Germany and Saudi Arabia in Group D.

The Ivorians will open their bid against Saudi Arabia on July 22 at the International Stadium Yokohama and they play the Selecao three days later at the same venue before playing their last group game against Germany on July 28 in Rifu.

Africa’s third team Tokyo, South Africa, are in Group A with hosts Japan, Mexico and France.

Amaglug-glug start their campaign versus the Asian on July 22 at the Tokyo Stadium, before taking on France (July 25- Saitama) and Mexico (July 28 - Sapporo).

Nigeria remain the only African team to win a gold medal at the men’s football Olympics after the Dream Team silenced Argentina in the final of the 1996 games.

In the women’s event, debutants Zambia will slug it out against China PR, Brazil and the Netherlands in Group F.

Bruce Mwape's Copper Queens will make their bow in the championship against the Netherlands on July 21 at Rifu's Miyagi Stadium.

Three days later, they take on the Asians in Rifu before challenging powerhouse Brazil on July 27 at the Saitama Stadium 2002.

Orlando Pirates head coach Josef Zinnbauer cannot specify when one of his star players Thembinkosi Lorch might return to action.

The Bafana Bafana international sustained abductor strain injury during Bucs' 1-1 draw with SuperSport United in a PSL match on February 24.

Lorch has since missed 10 matches, including the Soweto Derby clash against Kaizer Chiefs, and the Nedbank Cup encounter against Mamelodi Sundowns, which saw Pirates lose both games.

“It’s a good question‚” Zinnbauer said when speaking during Tuesday’s pre-match press conference with the Buccaneers set to face Algerian giants ES Setif on Wednesday. 

“We know we need him and I know that he’s working on himself‚ and the medical staff too. But I cannot say that he’s ready for tomorrow or maybe for Saturday [in the league Soweto derby against Moroka Swallows at Dobsonville Stadium].

“I don’t know. We hope that we’ll get him back soon.”

It was reported in March 2021 that Lorch had handed in a transfer request in order to try and facilitate a move to an unnamed Belgian side.

Meanwhile, Pirates are currently placed at the top of the Caf Confederation Cup Group A standings and they will qualify for the quarter-finals if they secure a win over Setif.

Zinnbauer is expecting a difficult match against Setif at their iconic home ground, Orlando Stadium, with the two teams having drawn 0-0 in the reverse fixture which was played in Ghana on March 10. 

“Yeah‚ I think this can help. But don’t forget the opponent – the opponent might also find the better field an advantage‚” he continued.

“We hope we will play better. In the away game we did have a few problems with this grass‚ but the opponents maybe also did.

“We have seen the clips of Setif’s other games‚ played on normal surfaces. And they played better than in this game [in Ghana]. But important for us is that we play our style‚ and the three points are the target.”

Pirates will be hoping to emulate their PSL rivals Sundowns and Chiefs, who have already qualified for the quarter-finals of the Caf Champions League.

Super League chairman Andrea Agnelli has admitted that the competition cannot go ahead after the withdrawal of all six Premier League clubs involved in the breakaway.

Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham have all pulled out of the plans for the new European tournament amid intense pressure from fans, players and pundits across the footballing community.

AC Milan, Inter, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are still on board as it stands, along with Juventus, but the Italian champions' club president now expects the Super League to disband completely.

What's been said?

Asked whether the formation of the competition could still happen after the exits, Agnelli, who founded the breakaway proposal, said on Wednesday: "To be frank and honest no, evidently that is not the case." 

What else have the Super League said?

After seeing six of the original 12 founding clubs drop out, the Super League released a statement promising to reconfigure its plans and continue pushing for change amid the financial uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

"We are proposing a new European competition because the existing system does not work," the statement reads. "Our proposal is aimed at allowing the sport to evolve while generating resources and stability for the full football pyramid, including helping overcome the financial difficulties experienced by the entire football community as a result of the pandemic. 

"Despite the announced departure of the English clubs, forced to take such decisions due to the pressure put on them, we are convinced our proposal is fully aligned with European law and regulations as was demonstrated by a court decision to protect the Super League from third party actions.

"Given current circumstances, we shall reconsider the most appropriate steps to reshape the project, always having in mind our goals of offering fans the best experience possible while enhancing solidarity payments for the entire football community."

How has UEFA reacted?

UEFA made it clear it was against the formation of a new competition to rival its current Champions League structure right from the beginning, with the organisation's president Aleksander Ceferin vowing to impose severe sanctions on the clubs and players involved .

Ceferin released another statement after receiving confirmation of the withdrawal of all six English teams that had signed up, welcoming them back with open arms while outlining his desire to put the whole episode in the past.

“I said yesterday that it is admirable to admit a mistake and these clubs made a big mistake,” said Ceferin. “But they are back in the fold now and I know they have a lot to offer not just to our competitions but to the whole of the European game.

“The important thing now is that we move on, rebuild the unity that the game enjoyed before this and move forward together.”

Further reading

Portugal-based defender Abdul Mumin has revealed he is not itching for a call-up to Ghana's national set-up.

The Vitoria Guimaraes centre-back has been on the rise since making a transfer from Danish side Nordsjaelland last summer. 

So far this season, he has made 21 league appearances so far the Conquerors in the Primeira Liga. 

"My focus is not really on the national team, I just focus on the aspects of my game that I need to improve," Mumin told Citi TV.

“If I look at my development two to three years ago, nobody was talking about me and I just focused on the development and now people are talking about me.

“So I don’t really look at the national team, of course, it is every Ghanaian player’s dream to represent the country.

“For me, my focus is to develop my game to the next level and reach my potential. If the time is right and I’m given a call-up, it will be a pleasure and honour to represent my country.”

Mumin started his football career with Ghanaian side Right to Dream Academy, from where he moved to Nordsjaelland in 2016.

He spent four years in Denmark, the stint involving a loan move to Koge, before signing for Guimaraes last August.

At his new club, he plays alongside renowned Portugal winger Ricardo Quaresma. 

“[Quaresma is a] sweet guy and also a very humble person as well. He is someone you can easily talk to and also ask for advice on how he sees the game," continued Mumin.

“Usually when we train and you do something wrong, he calls you and gives you pointers because we play against each other.

“He gives you tips to help you improve your game as a defender because he is a very skilful player."

Mumin’s Ghana chance could come next month when Black Stars coach CK Akonnor unveils his squad for a 2022 World Cup qualifying matches against Ethiopia and South Africa in June.

Before moving to Victoria, he was linked to English Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion.

The UAE Pro League announced the fixtures for the final three matchdays of the Arabian Gulf League (AGL). Each of the remaining rounds will be played on a single day. 

The league is set to resume on May 3, on which teams will play their 24th match. After a break of three days, matchday 25 will be held on May 7. Whereas, the final matchday of the Arabian Gulf League season is scheduled on May 11. 

The first two matchdays will kick-off at 23:00 local time, whereas the final day timings will be announced later considering each team's chances in the title race, relegation battle and the race to the AFC Champions League qualification spot. 

Al Jazira lead the current standings with 50 points from 23 matches. They are closely followed by Baniyas with 49 points. Meanwhile, Shabab Al Ahli are in the third spot with 43 points. 

The match between Baniyas and Al Ahli on May 3 will be crucial as one of them are fighting for the title, whereas the other are trying to have a firmer grip on the third place, which will assure them an ACL playoff spot. 

Sharjah are fourth in the table with 42 points and they would hope that Al Ahli slip in one of their three remaining fixtures so that they can make the most of it and re-occupy the third spot. 

Whereas, at the bottom of the table, Hatta looks set to be relegated as they have just nine points. Ajman and Fujairah are locked in an intense battle to fend off relegation as they are both on 14 points. 

On the final matchday, these two teams are locking horns against each other which could potentially decide their fortune. 

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Super League declared that the new competition will "reconsider the most appropriate steps to reshape the project" in the aftermath of a number of high-profile withdrawals.

Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool and Arsenal all confirmed that they were pulling out of the newly-formed competition as the Super League lost each member of the Premier League's Big Six.

As a result, the Super League's future is in serious doubt.

What did the statement say?

"The European Super League is convinced that the current status quo of European football needs to change," the statement says.

"We are proposing a new European competition because the existing system does not work. Our proposal is aimed at allowing the sport to evolve while generating resources and stability for the full football pyramid, including helping overcome the financial difficulties experienced by the entire football community as a result of the pandemic. It would also provide materially enhanced solidarity payments to all football stakeholders.

"Despite the announced departure of the English clubs, forced to take such decisions due the pressure out on them, we are convinced our proposal is fully aligned with European law and regulations as was demonstrated by a court decision to protect the Super League from third party actions.

"Given current circumstances, we shall reconsider the most appropriate steps to reshape the project, always having in mind our goals of offering fans the best experience possible while enhancing solidarity payments for the entire football community."

Which teams are still in the Super League?

Joining the English Big Six as founders of the Super League were Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan.

Barca's participation in doubt as the club could withdraw from the newly-formed Super League if their members vote against participation.

Further reading