SM
Sunday, December 15
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Scotland

Scottish football league 'vehemently opposes' European Super League

:Headline: Scottish football league 'vehemently opposes' European Super League:
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said the proposed new tournament 'represents a clear and present danger to the sport we all love'.
Sports Mole

The Scottish Professional Football League has vowed to "vehemently oppose" plans for a breakaway European league as it warned they represent a "clear danger" to the game.

The SPFL issued a strong statement outlining concerns over the proposed European Super League after 12 clubs including Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea signed up for a football revolution.

Chief executive Neil Doncaster said the Scottish league stood alongside UEFA, the European Leagues, the English Premier League and the "overwhelming majority of the game's stakeholders in vehemently opposing" the controversial new competition.

"These proposals, or any like them, would have an enormously damaging impact on the very fabric of our sport at all levels. It is no surprise they have been so swiftly and overwhelmingly condemned by fans the world over," Doncaster added.

"We believe that any such 'competition' would dramatically undermine the global appeal of football and would be financially catastrophic for all but a very tiny minority.

"The proposals we have seen, assembled by a small, self-selected group of very wealthy clubs, appear to be a cynical and very worrying attempt to thwart the core principle of sporting merit which rightly underpins European football.  They represent a clear and present danger to the sport we all love.

"Now, more than ever, given what we have all been through over the past year, governments, together with the game's governing bodies and leagues, need to work together to do what is right and protect the very essence of the game.

"The SPFL stands ready to support all efforts to fight for the principles of solidarity, sporting competition and fairness which lie at the very heart of the game."

The league had earlier signalled its opposition to the breakaway clubs by posting a Twitter video of supporters from a number of its clubs under a message that read: "That's not football. This is football."

Individual Scottish clubs followed suit with the "this is football" messages on social media as they posted photographs of their fans at the heart of major days in their recent history.

Arbroath wrote: "You can't BUY Love. You can't BUY Passion. You can't BUY Heart. You can't BUY Loyalty. You can't BUY Memories. We have been without YOU for far too long, we can't wait to see YOU all again! This IS Football!"

The fallout from the controversy could affect Scotland boss Steve Clarke after UEFA declared that players who play in any unauthorised competition would be banned from representing their national teams. The 12 breakaway clubs have already taken legal steps to guard against such exclusions and FIFPro, the world players' union, vowed to "vigorously oppose" any moves to ban players.

Clarke has four players currently among the dozen clubs – Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney, Liverpool full-back Andy Robertson, Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay and Chelsea's Billy Gilmour.

Former Scotland full-back Callum Davidson said international football was always his priority as the row threatens to present players with a potential predicament.

The St Johnstone manager said: "First of all, I hope it doesn't come to that. It's a real difficult position to put players in.

Callum Davidson in Scotland action (PA)

"For me, international football was basically my drive, my aim. That was what I wanted to do. It wasn't what club I played for, it was 'can I play for my national team at a major tournament?' That was my biggest drive."

The former St Johnstone, Blackburn and Leicester player, who won 19 caps, added: "Hopefully it doesn't come to that, I haven't really looked into what they have said about it, but threats will probably come from all angles.

"It needs to be resolved and it probably needs to be resolved pretty quickly."

body check tags ::

amp_article__443878 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-04-19 16:24:19:
html db last update - 2021-04-19 16:24:19 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Neil Doncaster

Click here for more stories about Scotland

Share this article now:
KT
Read Next:
Arteta expecting Tierney to miss rest of season
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Neil Doncaster Steve Clarke Scott McTominay Kieran Tierney Andy Robertson Billy Gilmour Callum Davidson Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Arteta expecting Tierney to miss rest of season
Mason's misery: Man United star suffers new injury in Manchester derby
Shaw's replacement? Man Utd identify 'concrete' left-back target
Euro 2024 run it back: England learn World Cup qualifying opponents!

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City158342721627
6Aston Villa167452425-125
7Bournemouth157352320324
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Brentford157263128323
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1512121131-205
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Man City vs. Man Utd confirmed XIs: Foden decision made, Amorim makes four changes

1

MC

Mason's misery: Man United star suffers new injury in Manchester derby

NEW

2

MM

Silence broken: Why were Rashford, Garnacho dropped for Manchester derby?

NEW

3

SB

Wolves, Forest ready to target Premier League-proven defender?

4

WF

Sunday's Premier League predictions including Man City vs. Man United

5

SP

Man United 'leading the race' for generational talent as Amorim 'makes wishes clear'

6

MU

Ibra's influence: Zlatan's '£2.9m handshake' denies Arsenal dream transfer

7

II

Crossing for glory: Crystal Palace trump profligate Brighton in M23 derby

8

CF

O'Neil sacked: Wolves 'working on deal' to appoint Portuguese replacement

9

OS

Second boost! Man United 'receive more good news' in pursuit of 27-year-old

10

SB


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .