Several causes contributed to the collapse of the Super League, which halted the project in the middle of the night. Its participants, the English clubs, in particular, ceded to the pressure coming from their fans, players, and coaches, but also some geopolitical factors led to the debacle, Corriere della Sera reports.
The grassroots protests of the supporters, especially in London and Liverpool, the statements coming from Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, and the intense backlash played a part. However, the project was undercut from its start because PSG and Bayern Munich, the most recent Champions League finalists, did not adhere.
The German outfit did not feel the need to participate in the profitable breakaway competition because they are in a better financial situation than other clubs. The French one instead refused because some Saudi Arabia funds were among the financial supporters of the new cup. Moreover, the involvement of their owners could have impacted the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The founding clubs were confident the Super League would have been upheld after appeals based on the current sports regulations. On the other hand, the initiatives of French president Emmanuel Macron and United Kingdom PM Boris Johnson were unexpected. The former began working to stop it based on the bylaws of the European Union.
President Aleksandar Ceferin reacted: “These clubs made a mistake, but they have re-joined our family now, and they have a lot to offer. The most important thing is to move forward and rebuild the unity of our sport.”