{"id":20982,"date":"2021-04-19T10:04:27","date_gmt":"2021-04-19T14:04:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=20982"},"modified":"2021-04-19T10:04:27","modified_gmt":"2021-04-19T14:04:27","slug":"gary-neville-calls-for-breakaway-premier-league-clubs-to-be-relegated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=20982","title":{"rendered":"Gary Neville Calls For Breakaway Premier League Clubs To Be Relegated"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville have condemned the new Super League (PA Archive\/PA Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>Gary Neville claimed clubs should be relegated, Jamie Carragher called Liverpool an \u201cembarrassment\u201d and UK prime minister Boris Johnson demanded answers as plans for a new European Super League came to light.<\/p>\n

Reports emerged on Sunday that the Premier League\u2019s so-called \u2018big six\u2019 of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham intended to join a rebel competition.<\/p>\n

Those plans were confirmed that evening, with AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid joining as founding clubs with three more clubs expected to follow before the inaugural season.<\/p>\n

The backlash has been both fierce and prompt, with Liverpool great Carragher taking aim at his former club on Twitter after they confirmed their plans.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat an embarrassment we\u2019ve become @LFC,\u201d he said. \u201cThink of all the people who have come before us at this club who would be equally embarrassed as well. #SuperLeague.\u201d<\/p>\n

Former Arsenal and City defender Bacary Sagna said: \u201cOooook .. i think i will stop watching football..cause the football i know is not football anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ex-City player Micah Richards said the idea was \u201can absolute disgrace\u201d earlier in the day and former United captain Roy Keane said the move \u201ccomes down to money, greed\u201d.<\/p>\n

Neville said he was appalled by the developments, which he feels are motivated by greed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am a Manchester United fan and have been for 40 years, but I am disgusted, absolutely disgusted,\u201d the former England and United defender told Sky Sports.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is an absolute disgrace. Honestly, we have to wrestle back power in this country from the clubs at the top of this league, and that includes my club.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe motivation is greed. Deduct them all points tomorrow, put them at the bottom of the league and take the money off them. Seriously, you have got to stamp on this.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is criminal. It is a criminal act against football fans in this country. Deduct points, deduct money and punish them.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnough is enough. There isn\u2019t a football fan in this country that won\u2019t be seething listening to this conversation and these announcements. This is disowning-your-own-club stuff, this.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet them break away but punish them straight away. If they announce a letter of intent has been signed, those six clubs, they should be punished heavily. Massive fines, points deductions, take the titles off them.<\/p>\n

\u201cGive the title to Burnley, let Fulham stay up. Relegate Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal. Those three clubs, with their history in this country, are the ones that should suffer the most.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe history and traditions that run through those three clubs is absolutely enormous and I value it, but they leave a lot to be desired at this moment in time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neville also feels the timing is crass, coming amid a pandemic and just ahead of an anticipated announcement from European governing body UEFA on Monday detailing changes to the format of the Champions League.<\/p>\n

Neville said: \u201cSeriously, in the midst of a pandemic, an economic crisis, football clubs at National League level going bust, furloughing players, clubs on the edge in League One and Two, and this lot are having Zoom calls about breaking away and basically creating more greed? Joke.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to think Manchester United and Liverpool would stand there in the face of this and say something is not right here.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s collaborate with the game to try to get a better competition, a better Champions League. I\u2019m not against the modernization of competitions but this is a grab.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe timing is hideous. What world are these people living in to think they can bring this forward at this moment in time?\u201d<\/p>\n

The news has led to responses from UK politicians as well as those within football, including Mr Johnson.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlans for a European Super League would be very damaging for football and we support football authorities in taking action,\u201d he wrote on Twitter before Sunday evening\u2019s confirmation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey would strike at the heart of the domestic game, and will concern fans across the country.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe clubs involved must answer to their fans and the wider footballing community before taking any further steps.\u201d<\/p>\n

UK culture secretary Oliver Dowden also commented on the matter, saying any decisions should involve fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cFootball supporters are the heartbeat of our national sport and any major decisions made should have their backing,\u201d he said in a statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith many fans, we are concerned that this plan could create a closed shop at the very top of our national game. Sustainability, integrity and fair competition are absolutely paramount and anything that undermines this is deeply troubling and damaging for football.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a football pyramid where funds from the globally successful Premier League flow down the leagues and into local communities. I would be bitterly disappointed to see any action that destroys that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Damian Collins MP, the former chair of the UK’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee said: \u201cThe idea of creating a closed franchise league of elite football clubs must be stopped.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a self-serving proposal by a small number of clubs seeking to maximize their revenues from the global audience of football, and to the detriment of everyone else.\u201d<\/p>\n

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