Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan has moved to explain the club’s decision to sign up for the new Super League by writing a letter to employees on Monday morning.
The Reds are one of 12 clubs that have been announced as the founders of the new competition and join the rest of the Premier League’s big six and three clubs each from Spain and Italy. The Super League will compete directly with UEFA’s Champions League, but it has not been well received at all.
Ex-Manchester United defender Gary Neville has been one of the critical critics and fan groups across the country have united against the plans. At Anfield, signs were displayed with the text ‘LFC fans against the European super league’ and ‘Shame you, RIP LFC’ with reference to their involvement in the project.
The cup will look very different the next time we see it when fans protest against the European Super League. ?
– 90min (@ 90min_Football) 19 April 2021
The anger stemmed from the fact that Liverpool marketed itself as a “family club” that puts its supporters first and foremost, only to pursue a project that the fans clearly do not want any part of.
In a letter sent to employees on Monday, which has been leaked to The Athletic, CEO Hogan raised it. However, his words do little to place an upset fan base that sees the Super League as little more than a cash withdrawal at their expense.
Part of the letter reads: “We know that this announcement has evoked strong emotions within the game and elsewhere, but we believe that this decision is in Liverpool’s football club’s best long – term interest.
Exclusive: Billy Hogan emailed staff at LFC this morning, claiming that the Super League is “the future of European football … we should definitely be part of that process and have a place at the table rather than outside that group.” Me: you would say that, Billy … https: //t.co/N7h0wXFuvY
– Simon Hughes (@Simon_Hughes__) April 19, 2021
“It is important that this is the beginning of the journey and we can now start a process of engagement with you, supporters and key stakeholders to help shape this process in the right way.”
Another episode describes the Super League as an opportunity for growth, where Hogan claims that Liverpool would be left by their rivals if they were not involved.
It continues: “The Super League will be the future of European football and if we want to continue our journey to be a sustainable club with the ambition to grow and continue to win trophies, we should definitely be part of that process and have a place on the table rather than outside that group. “
European Super League. What would that mean for football in general? ? pic.twitter.com/VT4PphhBDJ
– 90min (@ 90min_Football) 19 April 2021
Liverpool is one of the iconic clubs in Champions League and European Cup history. They have won the famous trophy six times and are defined by some of their most famous successes – such as Istanbul 2005 and the miraculous semi-final comeback against Barcelona 2019.
So it’s easy to see why it has not been popular to throw away six decades of it to participate in a financially motivated closed shop ‘Super League’ without character or history.
Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and FC Porto are among the clubs that have rejected the proposals, but so far no one invited from the Premier League, La Liga or Serie A has said no.
