Proposals for a European Super League are in tatters just 48 hours after the founders made their plans public.
The ESL had threatened to destabilise Europe’s top-flight football competitions and the pay-TV market that relies on them as the key properties for its sports channels.
After protests outside of Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge ground on Tuesday, the London club was soon joined by Manchester City in confirming plans to abandon its involvement. By late evening all six English clubs had listened to the views of their fans – and some nervous broadcasters – and begun the process of withdrawal.
On Wednesday AC Milan and Inter Milan joined Atletico Madrid in their abandonment.
Founder and Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli told Reuters the league wouldn’t go ahead but he remained “convinced of the beauty of that project.”