Reaction to the Super League: Super Anger

Reaction to the Super League: Super Anger

Rory SmithReporting on European soccer ⚽️

The announcement took the game’s leagues and clubs by surprise, and left many of its officials seething. The president of European soccer’s governing body called the architects of the plan “snakes” and “liars.”

Reaction to the Super League: Super Anger

Rory SmithReporting on European soccer ⚽️

The reaction from fans was no less vitriolic. On Monday, some hung banners outside the stadiums of the 12 founding members of the breakaway league, while others raged against their own teams on social media.

Reaction to the Super League: Super Anger

Rory SmithReporting on European soccer ⚽️

Liverpool was the first of the teams committed to the new Super League to take the field. Hundreds of fans staged a protest before its game at Leeds United, greeting the team bus with howls of derision.

Reaction to the Super League: Super Anger

Rory SmithReporting on European soccer ⚽️

Liverpool’s coach and players said they were blindsided by their team’s move, and stars at other clubs leveled their own criticisms at the plan.

“I don’t like it and hopefully it doesn’t happen,” Liverpool’s James Milner said.

Reaction to the Super League: Super Anger

Rory SmithReporting on European soccer ⚽️

Until Monday night, the plan’s architects had been silent. Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Pérez, was the first to break cover by turning up on Spanish TV. He said the Super League was the only way for teams to make up revenues lost to the coronavirus pandemic.