English Premier League side Manchester City have announced their withdrawal from the newly created European Super League.
The Blue side of Manchester, one of six EPL clubs identified as founding members of the Super League, made their change of position known in an official statement.
“Manchester City Football Club can confirm that it has formally enacted the procedures to withdraw from the group developing plans for a European Super League,” the Qatari-backed club stated on their website.
The club’s manager Pep Guardiola had earlier in the day decried the need for fairness and competition in sports during his pre-match press conference.
“Sport is not a sport when the relation between the effort and reward don’t exist. It’s not a sport when it doesn’t matter if you lose
“I’ve said many times I want the best competition as possible. It’s not fair if teams fight at the top and cannot qualify.”
Apart from City, Chelsea are also on the verge of following the Cityzens, while Barcelona’s assembly will vote to
decide if the club should also leave the project.
…Ed Woodward to leave Man United at the end of 2021
In further fallout from the ESL crisis, Manchester United announced that Executive Vice-Chairman Ed Woodward will leave his role at the end of the year.
“Manchester United has today announced that executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward will step down from his role at the end of 2021,” the club wrote on their website.
The investment banker’s role in the ESL has been heavily criticized due to his ties with JP Morgan, financiers of the competition.
However, Co-chairman of the club Joel Glazer praised the 49 years old investment banker’s contribution to United’s growth.
“Ed Woodward has served the club with great distinction. On behalf of everyone at United I would like to place on record our sincere thanks for his tireless work and dedication.
“His contribution to the club has been massive, and he will always be welcome at Old Trafford as a part of the Manchester United family.”
Woodward became Executive Vice-Chairman in 2012 but has been at the Old Trafford club in 2005.
