United News of Bangladesh

The 6- times Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football champions Dhaka Abahani Limited lost their right to play in the AFC Cup preliminary match against the Club Eagle of the Maldives due to lockdown and travel restriction in Bangladesh. The Abahani-Eagles clash was supposed to take place in Dhaka on April 21, and the play-offs were scheduled for April 28. However, the Abahani-Eagles match could not happen on time due to the worsening COVID-19 situation in Bangladesh and the resultant countrywide lockdown and travel restrictions  Also Read: AFC Cup: Both Abahani, Maziya want to make good start Abahani also chose Kathmandu as host for the match on April 21, but extended flight restrictions meant they could not avail that opportunity. AFC had given Abahani an extended deadline to host the match. However, the club’s inability to meet that deadline resulted in them withdrawing from the competition. The Dhaka-outfit could not host the match because of the problems caused in the country by the outbreak of Coronavirus. Later, AFC asked Abahani whether they could host Club Eagles in India but travel restrictions was one of the major hindrances for Abahani, who lastly attempted to host Eagles between May 5 and 7 in Dhaka, which too did not materialise due to the extension of travel restrictions. In an official statement, the AFC Cup South Zone, the AFC COVID-19 Sub-Committee for AFC Champions League and AFC Cup (West) has also noted the mounting challenges faced by Bangladesh’s Abahani Limited Dhaka in meeting the extended deadline to host their AFC Cup Preliminary match against Club Eagles of the Maldives. Also Read: AFC Cup: Abahani want to return to winning track in Male Taking into careful consideration the exceptional circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular the lockdown and travel restrictions in Bangladesh, the Sub-Committee decided that Abahani Limited Dhaka are considered to have withdrawn from the AFC Cup 2021 and that the situation constituted an event of force majeure. The Sub-Committee also agreed to award the Playoff Stage slot to Club Eagles, who will now face India’s JSW Bengaluru FC for a place in the AFC Cup Group D on May 11, 2021 in Maldives. "As per AFC official statement, Bengaluru FC will face Club Eagles in the play-off. The winner will join ATK Mohun Bagan, Basundhara Kings and Maziya S&RC in Group D of the AFC Cup 2021  

Bashundhara Kings made a flying start to the second phase of the 13-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football Friday, outplaying Uttar Baridhara Club 6-0. Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), which was forced to cancel last year's BPL Football after only six rounds due to the Covid-19 outbreak. However, BFF is now determined to complete the league amid the new spike in Covid-19 cases and newly extended lockdown in the country. Due to countrywide lockdown, all the BPL matches are being held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium instead of four venues. In the second phase opener on Friday, the Kings dominated the first half 3-0. Argentine forward Raul Becerra scored twice for them in the third and 63rd minutes. Brazilian striker Robson Robinho also scored two goals in the 34th and 91st (90+1) minutes while Brazilian midfielder Jonathan Fernandes netted the other two for the Kings in the 10th minute and 55th minute of the match. With the day's result, Robson Robinho took the solo lead in the scorer list with 14 goals, followed by Raul Becerra with 13 goals and Gambian forward Sheikh Jamal Omar Jobe with 12 goals. The Kings have comfortably dominated the league so far with an unbeaten record, securing 37 points from 13 matches, leaving nearest rivals Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Dhaka Abahani at second and third in the points table. After conceding the sixth defeat in the league, Uttar Baridhara Club went down to the 11th slot in the 13-team league with their previous credit of nine points from 13 matches.

The 2nd phase of the 13-team prestigious Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football begins Friday at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here amid  Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown in the country. The Covid-19 outbreak in the country forced the BFF to cancel the last years BPL Football after only six rounds and this time the BFF are adamant to complete the league. Due to ongoing countrywide lockdown, all the ensuing BPL matches will be held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here instead of four venues, till May 5. Three matches of the 2nd phase 14th round will be held every day at 4 pm, 7 pm and 9 pm respectively. League leader Bashundhara Kings will play Uttar Baridhara Club in the opening 2nd phase match at 4 pm on Friday. Six times champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd will face Bangladesh Police FC at 7 pm while Sheikh Russel KC will encounter Brothers Union Club at 9 pm in two other opening day's fixture. On the following day (Saturday), Mohammedan SC will play Arambagh KS at 4 pm, Saif Sporting Club will face Rahmatganj MFS at 7 pm while Sheikh Jamal DC will encounter Chittagong Abahani Ltd at 9 pm. Earlier, the first phase of the BPL Football concluded on March 7 with the absolute supremacy of star studded and Federation Cup champions Bashundhara Kings, also a former BPL champions. Kings poised for their 2nd league title as they comfortably dominated  the ongoing league with unbeaten record securing 34 points from 12 matches, eight points ahead of their nearest rivals Three times champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and six times champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd followed the leader distantly with 26 and 25 points respectively, also playing 12 matches each. Two mediocre teams--Arambagh KS and Brothers Union Club--are struggling to avoid relegation with only one and five points respectively, playing 12 matches each. After the first phase matches, Gambian forward of Sheikh Jamal Omar Jobe and Brazilian forward of Bashundhara Kings dominated the scorer list scoring 12 goals each.

Cristiano Ronaldo is rumored to be thinking of leaving Juventus because he doesn't want to miss out on the opportunity to play in the Champions League. In that case, Ronaldo would aspire to join one of Europe's top teams. He still plays with a lot of intensity and scores a lot of goals at the age of 36. Any European giant would be happy to have him into their squad. The economic aspect is an important issue here but Ronaldo is also ready to make concessions in terms of salary. This article discusses potential destinations for Ronaldo if he leaves Juventus. Ronaldo's possible destinations if he leaves Juventus Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly expressed a desire to return to Real Madrid next season, regardless of whether Juventus is guaranteed a spot in the Champions League.Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is a big fan of Ronaldo. So, Zidane will surely embrace Cristiano’s return to the team.But it's not just a case of will; economic issues are important here. It would be very difficult for Madrid to invest a lot of money to get a mega Star into the squad since they have a debt of about 1 billion Euros. In that case, Ronaldo would have to give up a large chunk of his current wages. But Madrid supporters will be overjoyed to see Ronaldo return to the Bernabeu. Read: Football Transfers 2021: Why Lionel Messi should play for Manchester City next season Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo is a person who is always up for a challenge. He prefers to play in situations that allow him to display his charisma. Considering this, Manchester United could be an ideal destination for Ronaldo if he leaves Juventus. Red Devil fans are hoping to see Ronaldo return to the team. In terms of finances, the amount of money that would have been spent on Ronaldo five years ago is not as much now. Besides, both sides would be benefitted as Ronaldo has an extra affection for Manchester United. PSG A few years back, PSG have created a stir by signing two superstar footballers Neymar and KylianMbappé. If possible, the Qatari owner Nasser Al Khelaifi would bring Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to Paris Saint-Germain. Although the PSG owner has no shortage of money, it will not be possible to include so many star footballers in one team due to the financial fair play. In that case, PSG will want to keep the best two footballers in the team by spending more money. They will try to bring Cristiano Ronaldo to the team if Neymar leaves the team for Barcelona next season. Ronaldo would welcome the opportunity to play in Paris for a while. Among the potential destinations for Ronaldo, PSG would be a suitable option. Bayern Munich Bayern Munich has expressed no interest in buying Cristiano Ronaldo so far. However, Bayern Munich may be willing to sign him if Ronaldo shows an interest in leaving Juventus. They can make a good offer within their capacity. Ronaldo may be interested in joining Bayern Munich because it gives him the opportunity to play in the German Bundesliga and with one of Europe's biggest clubs. Read: How the European Super League could have ruled Messi and Ronaldo out of the FIFA World Cup 2022 Sporting Lisbon Cristiano Ronaldo can return to his native Portugal if he leaves Juventus. In that case, Sporting Lisbon may be the best option for him as Ronaldo started his competitive football career with this club. He later became a superstar at Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United. Recently, Ronaldo's mother expressed interest in returning to Portugal while talking about her son's transfer. However, Ronaldo is less likely to play for Sporting Lisbon next season. Inter Miami If the big teams in Europe fail to lure Ronaldo, then David Beckham's Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer (MLS) may be an excellent option. Ronaldo can increase the popularity of football in the United States by playing at the age of 36. Besides, Miami is a great place to live. Inter Miami would be the most perfect destination for Ronaldo at the moment if he can give up the temptation to play in a competitive league in Europe. But will a competitive footballer Ronaldo choose this option? Read: How European football is badly affected by the pandemic covid-19? Verdict Juventus are currently fighting hard to finish the top four in Serie A. Cristiano Ronaldo will remain in the squad if they can secure next season's Champions League spot at the end of the season. If not, potential destinations for Ronaldo could be the above-mentioned clubs. Therefore, he could be seen playing for another club next season. With one year left on his contract with Juventus, it is expected that interested clubs will not have to spend a lot of money to obtain Ronaldo. Read: Football Transfers 2021: The hot favorites to replace Sergio Aguero at Man City

Bayern Munich hired Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann on Tuesday to replace the departing Hansi Flick starting next season. The 33-year-old Nagelsmann will move to Bayern on July 1 with a contract that runs through 2026. Bayern said it agreed to terminate Flick’s contract after he asked to be released early. Also Read: Bayern confirms Flick to stay as coach for rest of season Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff said Bayern agreed to its demand for a high fee for Nagelsmann, without specifying a sum. Nagelsmann grew up near Munich and came through the youth system at another club in the city. “There were some inquiries from other clubs. I told Oli (Mintzlaff) that I wouldn’t want to end my contract for any other club but this one,” Nagelsmann said. He added the first contact from Bayern came on April 16 after Leipzig’s game against Hoffenheim. That was after Flick told Bayern management he wanted to leave but a day before he went public. Nagelsmann has been with Leipzig for three years and led the team to the Champions League semifinals in 2020. Leipzig is in second place behind Bayern in the Bundesliga, and will play Werder Bremen on Friday for a place in the final of the German Cup. Nagelsmann was the youngest head coach in league history when he took over at Hoffenheim at 28 in 2016. The team then qualified for the Champions League for the first time in its history. Nagelsmann was a professional player but moved into coaching when his career ended early because of knee injuries. “Julian Nagelsmann signifies a new generation of coaches,” Bayern president Herbert Hainer said. “Despite his young years, he has already built an impressive career. We are convinced that we will build on the great successes of recent years together with Julian Nagelsmann.” Nagelsmann will join up again with defender Dayot Upamecano, who is also moving to Bayern from Leipzig at the end of the season. Bayern was forced to look for a new coach after Flick said this month he wanted to leave the club despite having a contract through 2023. Flick won the league, German Cup and Champions League last season with Bayern and is on the verge of bowing out with another league title. Bayern will secure the Bundesliga title if it wins its next game on May 8 against Borussia Mönchengladbach or if Leipzig loses to Borussia Dortmund the same day. Bayern initially appointed Flick in 2019 as an interim coach when Niko Kovac was fired. He was supposed to step in for a few weeks but the team’s winning run meant he was given an extension, first until the end of the 2019-20 season, then until 2023. Flick has not been able to celebrate any trophies in front of the team’s fans because of the pandemic. Only the European Super Cup in Hungary and Club World Cup in Qatar were won in front of small numbers of supporters. “One tinge of sadness remains, that we could not celebrate the great successes during this period with the fans. I’ve missed you in every match,” Flick said in a statement from Bayern. The 56-year-old Flick has been linked with the Germany job, which will be vacant once Joachim Löw steps down after the upcoming European Championship. Flick was Löw’s assistant from 2006 until Germany won the World Cup in 2014. Leipzig CEO Mintzlaff said losing Nagelsmann to Bayern didn’t mean the Red Bull-funded club was lowering its ambitions. He said the club plans to strengthen the squad and wants a successor who will “continue with what Julian has built.” Mintzlaff denied reports an agreement had been reached with Salzburg’s Jesse Marsch and said there was a shortlist of three coaches. “Next season we’re going to go full-on attack, and that means attacking Julian Nagelsmann and FCB,” Mintzlaff said.

Lionel Messi is widely regarded as one of the all-time greatest footballers. However, he has not been able to maintain his usual form in competitive football for the past two years. There are two reasons for this: first, Messi is no longer as fit as he once was due to his age, and second, Barcelona and Argentina no longer have world-class footballers. A notable number of new footballers have been included in Barcelona. With whom it is not possible to win big trophies. So in this article, we discuss why Lionel Messi should play for Manchester City next season.  Why Lionel Messi should leave FC Barcelona Helping Barcelona to overcome the economic downturn Barcelona are going through an economic recession. According to various sources, their current debt is estimated to be 1. 2 billion euros. On the other hand, Messi's current annual salary is 71 million euros. Apart from him, the Catalan club also has high-paid players like Philippe Coutinho and Antoine Griezman.In addition, Barcelona have suffered heavily due to the coronavirus outbreak. Overall, if Messi leaves, Barcelona will save a lot of money. Read: How the European Super League could have ruled Messi and Ronaldo out of the FIFA World Cup 2022? Responding to critics by playing in the Premier League There's a saying about Messi that he doesn't play well outside of his comfort zone. Messi has been a success for Barcelona, but not so much for Argentina. Many believe that he will struggle to succeed if he plays in the English Premier League. That's why Messi should play in the Premier League for at least two or three seasons to respond to his critics. Opportunity to win the Champions League once again Lionel Messi has not won the Champions League trophy since 2015. Along with Suarez and Neymar, Messi won the most coveted club-level football competition in Europe for Barcelona that season. But with the best players leaving the club, Barcelona have been unable to form a competitive squad capable of winning major trophies. As a result, the Catalan club is being eliminated from the knock-out stages every year. Messi will have the opportunity to play for the best team in the world if he joins Manchester City. As a result, Messi's chances of winning another Champions League before retirement will increase. Ending the GOAT debate It will be a strong response to many critics if Messi wins the Premier League and the Champions League for Manchester City. Then there will be no doubt on anyone's mind that he is the real GOAT. Because what Messi has achieved is truly remarkable, and no one is likely to surpass his overall record. Read: How European football is badly affected by the pandemic covid-19? Why Manchester City should sign Messi Chances of reuniting with Pep Guardiola When Pep Guardiola was at Barcelona a few years back, he certainly brought out the best version of Messi. Guardiola was Barcelona's coach from 2008 to 2012. Playing under Pep, Messi scored 211 goals in 219 matches and had a total of 88 assists. Barcelona won a record 14 trophies under his management. So, Lionel Messi can find his best form by playing under Pep again. Man City will benefit a lot if he is included in the squad. Strengthening the forward line of Manchester City Without playing any forward, Pep Guardiola is leading Manchester City to new heights. In short, he is redefining football. Guardiola is bringing out excellent results by playing some world-class midfielders instead of strikers. Manchester City will improve if Lionel Messi joins the squad, then it would be difficult to stop them. There is no alternative to Messi if Man City want to be an irresistible team in Europe. Read: Football Transfers 2021: The hot favorites to replace Sergio Aguero at Man City Manchester City will be hot favorite to win the Champions League Manchester City are yet to win the Champions League despite hiring the best coach in the world, Pep Guardiola, in 2016.That demonstrates how difficult it is to win Europe's best tournament. Apart from luck, winning such a championship requires one or two best football players on the team.They will be the X factors and in that case, Lionel Messi may be the most ideal option for citizens. Manchester City's brand value would significantly increase Manchester City are still lag behind Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Manchester United In terms of brand value. The brand value of Man City will increase by several times if they can bring one of the best footballers in history, Lionel Messi to Etihad. The citizens will also benefit financially. Overall, it will be a win-win situation for both Messi and Man City. Read: Potential Young Players Who Could Rule World Football Next Decade Verdict So far, we have discussed some of the key reasons Why Lionel Messi should play for Manchester City. It would be difficult for Messi to leave Barcelona after 21 years and find a new club. Because Messi has a strong emotional attachment to this club. However, Messi should accept the reality and seek a new challenge. In this case, the above discussion explains why Lionel Messi should play for Manchester City next season. Messi will have the chance to cement his place as the greatest player of all time by playing in the Premier League.

Is it possible to imagine a World Cup without Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo?However, such concerns were raised when an announcement came on Sunday (April 18th) that a new competition branded the "European Super League" will be launched with the best clubs from across Europe. The competition was initially planned to feature 15 topclubs as permanent members.UEFA responded immediately, warning that the teams would be excluded and their players would be banned from participating in international competitions.This article discusses, how the European Super League could have ruled Messi and Ronaldo out of the FIFA World Cup 2022?  What is the European Super League? The European Super League is a brand new competition for so-called elite clubs which will feature 20 teams. There will be 15 founding clubs and the names of 12 clubs have been released so far.  They are Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham from Premier League; Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid from La Liga; and Inter, Juventus, AC Milan from Serie A. Read: How European football is badly affected by the pandemic covid-19? Three more clubs are expected to join as founding members. Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Borussia Dortmund are believed to have been contacted, but none of them have shown a desire to join. Five more teams will be picked for the competition each season based on their domestic season performance. Tournament format The clubs will be split into two groups and the matches will be played on a home and away basis, as usual. The top three teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals. For the final two spots, the fourth and fifth teams in each group will play a two-leg play-off match. Then the rest of the way is like the Champions League. Expected tournament schedule The season's calendar can be complicated since Super League teams still tend to compete in the domestic league. It'll be a packed schedule and being occupied in such a tournament means bidding farewell to the Champions League. The Super League authority has confirmed that the matches will take place in mid-week. The final will be one match and it will be held by the end of May. When is the Super League set to begin? FC Barcelona said in an official statement that they want to begin the league as soon as possible. However, the clubs announced in a joint statement that the competition will begin in August. How much money will the clubs earn? European Super League teams will get a huge financial benefit. The founding clubs will receive 3.5 billion euros for infrastructure improvements and debt relief. The prize money for teams in the Super League will be significantly higher than the prize money for teams in the Champions League. Read: Football Transfers 2021: The hot favorites to replace Sergio Aguero at Man City UEFA's response on super league UEFA, the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A all responded quickly to the Super League's announcement. In an official statement, UEFA said that they are all working together to avoid this unethical project, and they believe the super league is formed to protect the clubs' self-interest. UEFA also stated that football is a merit-based sport and that they will never support such a decision. As a result, super league clubs will be banned from competing in any domestic, continental, or worldwide competition. Players from the teams will also be unable to represent their country in any international matches. After the announcement of UEFA, there are fears that superstar footballers like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will not be seen in FIFA World Cup 2022. Both Messi and Ronaldo have yet to win the World Cup. So they want to make one last attempt to win the World Cup in Qatar. But if UEFA's announcement is true, then apart from these two best footballers of all time, almost half of the world's best footballers will be absent in the World Cup 2022. Because nearly all of the world's biggest stars play for Europe's top clubs. Read: Potential Young Players Who Could Rule World Football Next Decade Protest and confirmation of all English clubs withdrawal Supporters from a number of Premier League clubs have protested the club owners' arbitrary decision. Fans of Liverpool and Chelsea were prominent among them. Within 48 hours of the widespread criticism, all Premier League clubs reversed their positions and announced their withdrawal from the Super League. Following the announcement by all Premier League teams, the Super League's other six clubs would no longer remain in their previous stands. So, the European Super League's dissolution may be announced at any moment. However, UEFA and FIFA must place more emphasis on protecting everyone's interests. Read:  Summer Window 2021: Five Potential Big Football Transfers Bottom Line Coronavirus has placed all of Europe's big clubs into a huge economic crisis. As a result, they're attempting to cover the financial loss by introducing new initiatives. However, there is no valid reason to support a proposal that undermines the very essence of football. The demands of the clubs are not completely unreasonable. In this case, UEFA needed to be more vigilant. If the Super League tournament is not held as expected, big names like Messi and Ronaldo will be able to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2022. This will be great news for millions of football fans around the world. Read:  Lionel Messi: The Argentine Football Star’s Most Unbreakable Records

Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli says the European Super League (ESL) project cannot proceed as Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid joined the six Premier League clubs in withdrawing,reports BBC. Agnelli was one of the chief architects of the breakaway plans, which involved 12 clubs from England, Spain and Italy. Also Read:Super League collapses after the 6 English clubs withdraw But with eight of the 12 teams pulling out, he accepts it cannot now go ahead. "To be frank and honest no, evidently that is not the case," said Agnelli, on whether the ESL could still happen. "I remain convinced of the beauty of that project, of the value that it would have developed to the pyramid, of the creation of the best competition in the world, but evidently no. I don't think that project is now still up and running." Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan announced their withdrawal on Wednesday morning. Also Read: Atlético Madrid, Inter Milan drop out of Super League The Juventus chairman was described as a "snake and a liar" by Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin on Monday after the announcement of the breakaway plans on Sunday evening. Agnelli resigned his position as chairman of the European Clubs' Association on Sunday and refused to take calls from Ceferin. The six Premier League clubs involved all withdrew within hours of each other on Tuesday following a furious backlash against the plans. Manchester City were the first club to pull out after Chelsea had signalled their intent to do so by preparing documentation to withdraw. The other four sides - Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham - then followed suit late on Tuesday evening. In announcing their withdrawal on Wednesday, Atletico Madrid said "harmony is essential" between the club and the fans, and added that the first-team squad and coach Diego Simeone had backed their decision because "sporting merits must prevail over any other criteria". In their statement, Serie A side Inter Milan said they were "committed to giving fans the best football experience", adding: "Our engagement with all stakeholders to improve the football industry will never change." The 12-team Super League, which also included Spanish sides Barcelona and Real Madrid and Italy's AC Milan and Juventus was announced on Sunday to widespread condemnation. "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," the ESL said earlier on Wednesday, adding it was "convinced that the current status quo of European football needs to change". "Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is insisting on the idea of keeping the group together to push for change," says Spanish football expert Guillem Balague. "Barcelona say they agreed to the ESL, but only if the season ticket holders' assembly approve it, which could be their way out."

Atlético Madrid and Inter Milan both decided to drop out of the Super League on Wednesday, leaving the new competition on the verge of extinction before it even started. Only four clubs were still officially involved — Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and AC Milan. The moves by Atlético and Inter came a day after the six Premier League clubs gave up on the controversial breakaway competition. Also Read:Super League collapses after the 6 English clubs withdraw Atlético said the decision was made after its board of directors met on Wednesday. The Spanish club said it “decided to formally communicate the Super League and the rest of the founding clubs its decision not to formalize its participation in the project.” Atlético said the “circumstances” that allowed it to join the new league on Monday “no longer existed today.” “For the club, harmony is essential for everyone involved in the (Atlético) family, especially our fans,” it said. “The first team squad and its coach showed satisfaction with the club’s decision, understanding that sporting merits must prevail over any other criteria.” Inter said the club was committed to delivering the best soccer experience for fans because “innovation and inclusion have been part of our DNA since our foundation.” “Our commitment with all stakeholders to improve the football industry will never change,” the Italian club said. “Inter believe that football, like any sector of activity, must have an interest in constantly improving its competitions in order to continue to excite fans of all ages all over the world, within a framework of financial sustainability.” Also Read: UEFA president urges Super League owners to reverse decision

The Super League collapsed before a ball was kicked in the European breakaway competition after being abandoned by the six English clubs, leaving the Spanish and Italian participants stranded. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham throughout Tuesday evening deserted the proposal to launch a largely-closed midweek competition amid an escalating backlash from their supporters and warnings from the British government that legislation could be introduced to thwart it. Also Read: UEFA president urges Super League owners to reverse decision The Super League project was overseen by Real Madrid President Florentino Perez, who also signed up Barcelona and Atlético Madrid in Spain, and Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan from Italy. The rival for the UEFA-run Champions League became unviable without the six clubs from the world’s richest league. The remaining fledgling Super League organization was defiant, blaming “pressure” being applied for forcing out the English clubs and insisting the proposal complied with the law and could yet be revived in some form. “Given the current circumstances,” the Super League said in a statement, “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.” The English clubs heeded the appeals from UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin to remain part of the Champions League, which has a qualification criteria based on a team’s performance in the domestic league. Also Read: Threats of expulsion as UEFA confronts Super League rebel 12 “I said yesterday that it is admirable to admit a mistake and these clubs made a big mistake,” he said. “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.” As it became clear Chelsea and City were quitting the Super League on Tuesday evening, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and his teammates posted a message advocating staying within the open European competitions. Liverpool, which is owned by the Boston Red Sox investment group, eventually issued a statement thanking those inside and outside the club for “valuable contributions” before making the decision to stick within existing structures. Manchester United defender Luke Shaw also went against his club by tweeting his backing of the existing Champions League minutes before his club’s about-turn. “We have listened carefully to the reaction from our fans, the UK government and other key stakeholders,” said the club owned by the American Glazer family and listed on the New York Stock Exchange. “We remain committed to working with others across the football community to come up with sustainable solutions to the long-term challenges facing the game.” Just as the Glazers also own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Stan Kroenke has the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams in his portfolio along with Arsenal. It is the closed models of American sports that were believed to be so appealing to the U.S. owners by offering financial certainty. But they were resisted by fans of English clubs. “It was never our intention to cause such distress, however, when the invitation to join the Super League came, while knowing there were no guarantees, we did not want to be left behind to ensure we protected Arsenal and its future,” the north London club said. “As a result of listening to you and the wider football community over recent days we are withdrawing from the proposed Super League. We made a mistake, and we apologize for it. “We know it will take time to restore your faith in what we are trying to achieve here at Arsenal but let us be clear that the decision to be part of the Super League was driven by our desire to protect Arsenal, the club you love, and to support the game you love through greater solidarity and financial stability.” Tottenham also gave a detailed explanation for why it signed up before backing away. “We regret the anxiety and upset caused by the ESL proposal,” chairman Daniel Levy said. “We felt it was important that our club participated in the development of a possible new structure that sought to better ensure financial fair play and financial sustainability whilst delivering significantly increased support for the wider football pyramid. “We believe that we should never stand still and that the sport should constantly review competitions and governance to ensure the game we all love continues to evolve and excite fans around the world.” Chelsea, which is owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, said it only joined the Super League group last week. “We have now had time to consider the matter fully and have decided that our continued participation in these plans would not be in the best interests of the club, our supporters or the wider football community,” Chelsea said in a statement hours after its game against Brighton had been delayed by fan protests outside its Stamford Bridge stadium. The Premier League threatened to sanction the six rebel clubs and Prime Minister Boris Johnson considered introducing laws to stop them forming a new European competition he called a “cartel.” Divisions within the Super League clubs also grew with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola saying the Super League would damage the integrity and values of sport. Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has also expressed concerns about the actions of his club’s owners. The Premier League had threatened the six clubs with expulsion if they tried to go it alone in Europe. The other 14 clubs met Tuesday and “unanimously and vigorously” rejected the Super League plans. Britain’s Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said out-of-touch owners “completely misjudged the strength of feeling from fans, players and the whole country.” The government is exploring adopting the 50-plus-1 rule from Germany that gives fans the majority of voting rights, nominally to protect clubs from being controlled by private investors. “Our fan-led review will still happen and I remain convinced of the need for reform,” Dowden said. “We must make sure this never happens again.” Everton decried the “preposterous arrogance” of Super League clubs. Everton’s nine titles are the fourth most by a team in the history of the English top division, and the club from Merseyside was considered part of the country’s elite in the 1980s and early 1990s. “The backlash is understandable and deserved — and has to be listened to,” Everton’s board of directors said in a statement. “This preposterous arrogance is not wanted anywhere in football outside of the clubs that have drafted this plan.” The Italian clubs declined to comment earlier, and the Spanish teams were not commenting late Tuesday.