EXCLUSIVE
reaction
Arsene Wenger has called on football to stay united as the ex-Arsenal manager criticised the controversial European Super League plans.
The so-called ‘big six’ announced their intentions to join the breakaway competition and would be among the 12 founder members.
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The move has sparked fury from UEFA – who are set to announce a new Champions League format on Monday – and drawn condemnation from the Premier League, Football Association and even the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.
Wenger predicted in 2009 that a European Super League would be here in the next decade and his prophecy is coming to fruition.
The former Arsenal manager, and FIFA’s head of global development, spoke to White and Jordan on talkSPORT on Monday following the announcement on Sunday.
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“I would say that’s a bad idea. Football has to stay united, it’s the most important thing,” Wenger told talkSPORT.
"It’s based on sporting merit and overall to respect the history that has been built from European football.
“I believe, personally, that this idea will not go far.
“I don’t know what exactly is behind (it). There is a more dangerous idea behind it and it’s a big threat for the Premier League.
“When I was still in charge it was a lot going on from other countries to diminish the dominance of the Premier League and a project like that would certainly accelerate that.”
How the European Super League will work
It will be a new European competition between 20 top clubs
AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur have all joined as the inital 12 founders
Three more founding clubs will join while a further five teams will qualify annually based on achievements in the prior season
Games will be played in midweek and all clubs will remain in their domestic leagues
There will be two groups of 10 clubs each, playing home and away fixtures within the group each year
The top three in each group will automatically qualify for the quarter-finals
Teams finishing fourth and fifth will then compete in a two-legged play-off for the remaining quarter-final positions
A two-leg knockout format will then be used to reach the final at the end of May, which will be staged as a single fixture at a neutral venue
Arsenal are one of the founder clubs who are set to benefit from the plans.
Currently in ninth place in the Premier League, it would mean they would be part of the competition season-after-season regardless of league position.
There have been threats from UEFA to take action, including banning teams from competitions.
When asked about Arsenal’s role in it, Wenger said: “I don’t know what’s going on but that doesn’t change what I think. I believe for me, the most important, is to keep unity in the game and that football is played the same all over the world and that it’s inside one organisation.
“I think it was a strength as football was the most popular sport in the world and this was one of the reasons.
“Absolutely we have to fight to keep football simple, understandable and based on merit and everybody has the same chance and dream to be successful.”