Premier League chief executive Richard Masters insists he is not 'worried' about talks over a resurfaced European Super League proposal, labelling the plans as 'self-defeating'. The Premier League's so-called 'Big Six' were all originally in favour for a new continental competition, only to backtrack in the wake of an overwhelming backlash.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham all contributed to a £22m sanction payment in June last year and agreed to a future £25m fine and 30-point deduction if they attempted a similar breakaway project. The European Super League saw a dozen prominent clubs from England, Italy and Spain sign up to a closed-shop competition.
Fresh reports on Thursday indicate Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid are all looking to revive the proposals and garner approval for the second time in less than a year. Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville - who was one of several outspoken critics of the initial plans - says it is 'critical' recommendations from the fan-led review of football governance are 'accelerated' through parliament.
The move has been slammed by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, with the clubs concerned criticised for attempting to use Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a distraction to resurrect the plans. Masters was asked for his views on talk of a new Super League bid, and the chief executive indicates it was a 'poorly thought out plan' all along.
He told the Financial Times Business of Football Summit: "I'm not worried. ESL was over and done in 48 hours. It was poorly thought out and poorly executed. It was self defeating."
The Premier League's chief executive then confirmed the top-flight's broadcast deals with Russia are now 'clearly under review' as a result of the ongoing conflict. He added: "I would like the Russian people to see the strength of feeling. We will look at it very closely re suspension and termination.
"We are looking at it right now. Sport and Russia cannot mix right now. Nothing will change until Vladimir Putin gets removed from his position, I imagine."
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