KEY POINTS

  • Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal opt to pull out of the European Super League
  • Arsenal issues statement behind the withdrawal and says it was a mistake
  • Chelsea and Manchester City are not willing to gamble their stakes at the 2021 UEFA Champions League

Controversy continues to hound the European Super League even though the intentions initially seem logical.

But with the UEFA and FIFA not too coy about those plans, it appears several teams are now slowly pulling out due to fear of repercussions and sanctions that would be meted by other football bodies.

Chelsea and Manchester City are reportedly the first clubs to withdraw from the league, according to several media outlets.

The pullout of the two teams could deal the European Super League a big blow since they were originally listed among the 12 founding teams.

It appears that the Blues and City are not the last ones pulling out. Another team that has allegedly withdrawn from the league is Arsenal.

The Gunners' withdrawal adds to the lower odds of seeing the European Super League push through, a move that most saw was something done with the greed and selfishness of billionaire owners yearning to expand their empires.

It was Arsenal together with Manchester United and Liverpool were the teams that have been singled out as the main protagonists of the proposed European Super League.

The Gunners posted an official statement via their website on the matter.

“We made a mistake, and we apologize for it,” the statement began. “Our aim is always to make the right decisions for this great football club, to protect it for the future and to take us forward. We didn’t make the right decision here, which we fully accept.”

The European Super League was supposed to give European competition opposite the UEFA Champions League. However, it was the automatic inclusion of founding members that came under fire.

Rather than earn their way into the competition, it would have been an easy ticket for them to book a seat in the planned tourney.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola saw his side held 1-1 by second-bottom West Brom on Tuesday
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola saw his side held 1-1 by second-bottom West Brom on Tuesday POOL / Martin Rickett

"It is not a sport where the relation between effort and success does not exist," Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said via ESPN.

UEFA warned that there could be severe sanctions on clubs who push through with their plans to join the European Super League.

Chelsea and Manchester City may have considered this, something that could have dire consequences in their 2021 Champions League aspirations.

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