Plans For European Soccer 'Super League' Fall Apart
2021-04-22
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1Just days ago, it looked like some of the most famous soccer teams in Europe were forming their own league, called the Super League.
2Just 48 hours later, the Super League idea fell apart.
3Led by Florentino Perez, the head of Spain's Real Madrid, 12 teams, including Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Barcelona, Juventus and A.C. Milan, said they would start a new European soccer competition for professional teams.
4Two major governing bodies for soccer - FIFA and UEFA - threatened to ban those teams and their players from future games.
5The announcement led to anger from soccer fans.
6It also concerned officials in Great Britain, France and Italy.
7Most of the British teams pulled out on Tuesday.
8Then on Wednesday, teams from Spain and Italy also decided not to join the league.
9Teams from France and Germany did not take part.
10Some teams said they felt pressured to join the new league because they worried about being left behind.
11They said they did not want to upset their fans and did not think hard enough about the decision.
12The teams said they started the league because they are having financial problems during the coronavirus pandemic.
13The U.S. bank J.P. Morgan had offered the teams about $4 billion to start the new league.
14Fans called the 12 teams in the Super League "the dirty dozen."
15They were upset that teams would not have to win games to play in the league's tournament.
16Their places would be guaranteed.
17In order to play in the Champions League, teams must do well the year before.
18Leeds players wore shirts saying "earn it" before their game against Liverpool.
19And fans' protests delayed the start of Chelsea's game.
20Even players and managers on the breakaway teams seemed upset that they were not asked for their opinion ahead of time.
21Luke Shaw, who plays for Manchester United, expressed his support for the current Champions League on Twitter.
22Jordan Henderson from Liverpool posted a similar message, saying he and other players on the team wanted to stay with the current system.
23Aleksander Ceferin is the head of UEFA, the governing body of soccer in Europe.
24He had criticized the Super League plan on Monday.
25He said it was good that the teams reconsidered and admitted their error.
26Ceferin added, "The important thing now is that we move on, rebuild the unity that the game enjoyed before this and move forward together."
27I'm Dan Friedell.
1Just days ago, it looked like some of the most famous soccer teams in Europe were forming their own league, called the Super League. 2Just 48 hours later, the Super League idea fell apart. 3Led by Florentino Perez, the head of Spain's Real Madrid, 12 teams, including Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Barcelona, Juventus and A.C. Milan, said they would start a new European soccer competition for professional teams. 4Two major governing bodies for soccer - FIFA and UEFA - threatened to ban those teams and their players from future games. The announcement led to anger from soccer fans. It also concerned officials in Great Britain, France and Italy. 5Most of the British teams pulled out on Tuesday. Then on Wednesday, teams from Spain and Italy also decided not to join the league. Teams from France and Germany did not take part. 6Some teams said they felt pressured to join the new league because they worried about being left behind. They said they did not want to upset their fans and did not think hard enough about the decision. 7The teams said they started the league because they are having financial problems during the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. bank J.P. Morgan had offered the teams about $4 billion to start the new league. 8Fans called the 12 teams in the Super League "the dirty dozen." They were upset that teams would not have to win games to play in the league's tournament. Their places would be guaranteed. In order to play in the Champions League, teams must do well the year before. 9Leeds players wore shirts saying "earn it" before their game against Liverpool. And fans' protests delayed the start of Chelsea's game. 10Even players and managers on the breakaway teams seemed upset that they were not asked for their opinion ahead of time. 11Luke Shaw, who plays for Manchester United, expressed his support for the current Champions League on Twitter. Jordan Henderson from Liverpool posted a similar message, saying he and other players on the team wanted to stay with the current system. 12Aleksander Ceferin is the head of UEFA, the governing body of soccer in Europe. He had criticized the Super League plan on Monday. He said it was good that the teams reconsidered and admitted their error. 13Ceferin added, "The important thing now is that we move on, rebuild the unity that the game enjoyed before this and move forward together." 14I'm Dan Friedell. 15Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reporting by the Associated Press. Hai Do was the editor. 16Are you glad the teams abandoned their plans for the Super League? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. 17___________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19league -n. a group of sports teams that play against each other 20tournament -n. a sports competition or series of contests that involves many players or teams and that usually continues for at least several days 21dozen -n. a casual way to say the number 12 22qualify -v. to have the right to do, have, or be a part of something 23unity -n. the state of being in full agreement