The world of football was set alight when news of a new European Super League involving many of the largest clubs in Europe broke on Sunday evening.
Since then, major figures from across the sport, as well as celebrities and politicians, have weighed in with near-universal condemnation of the plans.Here’s what they had to say.
9. Patrick Bamford, Leeds United player
“We’re like fans really, we can’t believe it and we’re talking about it. We don’t know what’s going to happen and we’re in shock. “I think that for me personally from what I’ve seen on Twitter and the news, I haven’t seen one football fan who is happy about the decision. “I think football ultimately is for the fans. Without the fans every single club would be pretty much nothing. “It’s important we stand our ground and show that football is for the fans and try and keep it that way.” Photo: (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
10. Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager
“It is not a sport when success is guaranteed or it doesn’t matter when you lose. "It is uncomfortable for us because we do not have all of the information. I can only talk about what we know today. "I support my club and I know the people. I'm part of this club, but I also have my own opinion, and I want it to be clear with the information." "We are going to play the Champions League next week and try to reach the final and next year we are going to play European competition because we deserve it, we won it on the pitch. "We did our job and after the right people have the obligation the duty to clarify as soon as possible, clarify all around the world why this teams play and the others not, Ajax with four Champions League's are not there. "Everyone makes his own interest, the Premier League looks at his interest, and Uefa looks at his. Photo: (Photo by Frederic Scheidemann/Getty Images)
11. Prince William
Writing on the official @KensingtonRoyal Twitter account, Prince William said: “Now, more than ever, we must protect the entire football community – from the top level to the grassroots – and the values of competition and fairness at its core. “I share the concerns of fans about the proposed Super League and the damage it risks causing to the game we love.” Photo: (Photo by Jonathan Buckmaster - Pool / Getty Images)
12. Brendan Rodgers - Leicester City manager
“The game is for the supporters and in turn the players, so I think there’s been a line drawn in the sand with all of this. It’s moved across into what looks like a purely business proposal, and all the merits of teams and the reward of sport and competition; it looks like, from the outside, that this isn’t really taken into the ideas going forward.” Photo: (Photo by John Walton - Pool/Getty Images)