Almost two-thirds of UK football fans are in favour of the creation of a European Super League, according to new research commissioned by the competition’s promoters.
Sixty-five per cent of 835 UK fans polled by French company Opinion Way were in favour or somewhat in favour of the new format put forward in December 2023, with support especially high among Manchester City and Chelsea supporters – 85 and 81 per cent respectively.
English football supporters took to the streets to protest against the creation of the original ESL in April 2021, which collapsed within 72 hours of its launch.
However, A22 says the new research shows “substantial support” for the new formats it presented just before Christmas for a 64-team men’s competition and a 32-team women’s event.
Overall, the survey canvassed the views of 6,458 fans aged 15 and over across eight countries – France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal, as well as the UK.
Football fans were defined as “people reporting to be fairly or very interested in football”.
Across the whole group, 72 per cent were in favour or somewhat in favour of the new formats. Support was higher among the younger age groups, with 86 per cent of the 956-strong group aged 15 to 24 in favour.
The survey also looked at the responses according to the clubs the 835 UK fans said they supported; 509 fans said they were supporters of ‘Big Six’ clubs, all of whom signed up to the original Super League in 2021.
Of the 75 City supporters surveyed, 85 per cent supported the new ESL proposal and 81 per cent of the 63 Chelsea supporters were in favour.
The lowest level of support among ‘Big Six’ clubs was at Tottenham, where 55 per cent of the 54 fans surveyed were in favour.
Under the new-look Super League, just 20 teams would be able to qualify for the third-tier ‘Blue League’ via domestic competition each season.
“We have evidence that the desire for a European Super League as a much more exciting alternative to the current European club football competition is stronger than ever,” A22 chief executive Bernd Reichart said.
Reichart said talks with clubs had “intensified” since December’s European Court of Justice ruling and that A22 had received “positive feedback” about its plans, giving it “great confidence that we are on the right track”.
The ECJ’s Grand Chamber found UEFA prior authorisation rules which blocked the formation of the Super League in 2021 were contrary to European Union law.
UEFA introduced new rules in 2022 in consultation with the European Commission. European football’s governing body said it would fully review those rules in light of the ECJ ruling.
UEFA is changing the format of its three main men’s club competitions for next season, while a new Women’s Champions League format kicks off in 2025-26.
Everton 1-0 Sheffield United: Toffees extend unbeaten run
Everton secured a 1-0 victory against Sheffield United at Goodison Park thanks to Abdoulaye Doucoure’s seventh Premier League goal of the season.
The Toffees were already assured of safety heading into Saturday’s contest, but they kept their positive run of form going against their already-relegated opponents.
Doucoure enjoyed a host of chances in the first half before his breakthrough arrived in the 31st minute after good play from Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Ben Brereton Diaz looked bright for the away side in the second half, but he couldn’t help mount a comeback for Chris Wilder’s men, who will finish the season in 20th place.
Dwight McNeil’s floated delivery to the back post should have led to a goal after he found the head of Doucoure in space in the 11th minute, but he failed to divert his effort into the back of the net from a few yards out.
Just minutes later, Doucoure was presented with another gilt-edged chance as he arrived in the box one-on-one with the goalkeeper from Calvert-Lewin’s cutback, but Wes Foderingham spread himself well to make a superb stop.
The Toffees eventually opened the scoring in the 31st minute after Calvert-Lewin latched on to a throughball from McNeil before rounding the goalkeeper, and he picked out Doucoure inside the box to head into an empty net.
Brereton Diaz found himself in space on the edge of the penalty area after the break as the Blades searched for an equaliser, but his shot flew into the stand behind the goal.
Shortly after, the lively Brereton Diaz broke into the Everton box and looked to create a goalscoring opportunity, but a strong last-ditch challenge from James Tarkowski prevented a shot on goal.
Wilder’s side continued to push in the final stages of the game, and Cameron Archer was allowed space to turn on the edge in the 80th minute, but he dragged his shot wide as the Blades were on the end of another loss.
Everton's unbeaten run continues
Since losing 6-0 to Chelsea, Everton have won four and drawn one of their five Premier League games - their longest unbeaten run of the season.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has now kept 12 clean sheets in the Premier League this season, with that his second most in a single campaign after 2018-19 (14).
The Toffees remain in 15th place in the table after picking up the victory, one point ahead of Brentford as they aim to finish as high as possible now safety is confirmed.
101 goals conceded for the Blades
Sheffield United have conceded 101 Premier League goals this season - just the second side to do so in a single campaign in the competition after Swindon in 1993-94. In a 38-game (or less) English top-flight season, only Darwen (112 in 1891-92) and Leicester City (102 in 1908-09) have shipped more.
The Blades will end the season in 20th place in the Premier League table, regardless of their result on the final day, with the Yorkshire side now preparing for at least one season back in the Championship.
Wilder and his team will host top-four chasing Tottenham in their last fixture of the campaign, with the Bramall Lane faithful getting the chance to see their side for the final time this season.
'We are nearly there!' – Rodgers revels in huge Old Firm win as Celtic close in on title
In an Old Firm derby that was almost certain to decide the Scottish Premiership title race, the drama did not disappoint at Celtic Park as Brendan Rodgers savoured a pivotal 2-1 victory over rivals Rangers.
Rodgers’ side began Saturday three points ahead of their rivals with three games to go, and they are now six clear with two to play, meaning a 12th title in 13 years is all but secured.
Rangers battled hard but ultimately left themselves with too much to do.
John Lundstram was at the heart of the drama towards the end of the first half, doubling Celtic’s lead with an own goal shortly before he was sent off after a VAR review.
Rangers have scored in 33 of their 36 games, more often than any other team this season, and Cyril Dessers was on target to get one back, Matt O'Riley having earlier put the hosts ahead.
However, Rangers only attempted eight shots in the game, their lowest total in a single Premiership match this season.
Philippe Clement felt like his side were always in the contest despite going down to 10 men, but he was disappointed with the rash decision from Lundstram to make an ill-advised challenge on Alistair Johnston.
The Belgian told Sky Sports: "We didn’t start well enough – we were not good enough and giving away too many shots.
"We started to play after 2-0 and then we did good things, a few good crosses, but then of course taking a red card makes things ten times more complicated for us.
"After the red card my team kept on fighting, but the red card kills off our plan for the second half.
"It is totally unnecessary to make the tackle. It is a split-second wrong decision, but I do not forget all the things he [Lundstram] did well in the last couple of months.
"The team need to show the mentality they showed for the last 70 minutes because the first 20 was not good enough. They need to show it for 90.
"In the next two games and the Scottish Cup final it is important to show a reaction."
Rodgers' side will travel to Kilmarnock for their penultimate league match of the season on Wednesday, now only needing one point to secure the title with a match to spare.
Reflecting on a vital win that came despite O'Riley having a second-half penalty saved by Jack Butland, the Celtic boss said: "It is very significant, we are nearly there!
"Three points and another goal to the goal difference [advantage], so it’s a fantastic win. Right up until the penalty we were very good, the energy and the speed was outstanding. It was a brilliant day.
"Celtic supporters all around the world in bars and houses, they understand Celtic-Rangers is all about winning.
"The guys showed a great mentality and it’s three victories against Rangers in four games now.
"The crispness and quality of football was very good. They showed great courage. It’s there for us now, we’ve got to go on and win it."
Celtic have avoided defeat in all four Old Firm derbies in the Scottish Premiership this season (W3 D1), doing so for the first time since 2017-18.
The teams will still meet again this season, with the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park scheduled for May 25.
Gvardiol unfazed by Alvarez taking penalty as defender gives up hat-trick chance
Josko Gvardiol had no problem with Julian Alvarez taking a late penalty in Manchester City's 4-0 rout of Fulham, as he passed up the chance to score a memorable Premier League hat-trick.
Gvardiol scored in both halves as City crushed Marco Silva's men at Craven Cottage on Saturday, going top of the table ahead of Arsenal's trip to Manchester United on Sunday.
The defender slotted his finish into the bottom-left corner after exchanging passes with Kevin De Bruyne for his first, then stretched to prod Bernardo Silva's cross under Bernd Leno for his brace.
It looked like he might get the chance to make it a treble when Alvarez won a stoppage-time penalty, and the Croatian was deep in conversation with his team-mates around the spot before the Argentine dispatched the kick.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Gvardiol revealed he did put his name forward but had no qualms with regular taker Alvarez stepping up.
"Another two goals for me and of course another clean sheet, so I'm really happy," he said.
"We discussed me taking the penalty, and of course I said I would have liked to take it, but we know who the taker is, and he takes them."
After not scoring in any of his first 32 appearances for City across all competitions, Gvardiol has now netted five goals in his last seven games for the club.
None of his five goals have been scored with his favoured left foot, with four coming from his right and one via his head.
Asked what he put his hot streak down to, he added: "Nothing different, I think that is just normal in sports.
"Currently I am in good form and the end of the season is coming, we have three more finals and we've got to be ready. We just need to be focused on ourselves and keep going in that way.
Fulham only managed one shot in a flat performance, recording six touches in their opponents' area to City's 38.
Their hopes of a top-half finish are now officially over, but Silva is proud of their efforts this term, saying: "It was a successful season with the context of what happened in the summer.
"We had to rebuild and we did it really well. We did not have the power of the other teams but it was a success. Now is the moment to sit with the board and discuss what the possibilities are.
"If we want to take a step forward, we need to be clear and find out what the steps are in the market and go from there."
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