Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

The revamped 36-team Champions League was agreed on Monday.

It comes the day after 12 clubs, including six from England, announced plans to join a new, separate European Super League (ESL) instead.

The controversial new Champions League format is due to start in 2024 and run until at least 2033. A planned announcement last month was scrapped amid arguments over club involvement in the running of the tournament.

The new format will see 36 clubs qualifying for an expanded 'first phase', where all clubs will play against 10 opponents of varying strengths. This will result in a league table, with the top eight qualifying for the knockout phase and the next 16 going into a play-off for the remaining eight slots.

The format has been criticised by fans' groups, not least because two of the additional four slots will be allocated on the basis of past performance, to the clubs with the highest Uefa co-efficient that did not qualify for the Champions League automatically - but did qualify for another European competition.

If the process was in existence this season, Liverpool - depending on the outcome of the domestic cup competitions - and Chelsea would have been the clubs who stood to benefit.

Manchester United shares have risen strongly within minutes of the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange, where they are traded.

Fifteen minutes after the trading day began they were up around 8.5% in a sign that investors believe that the plans for a lucrative European Super League will get off the ground.

However shares are still more than 10% lower than their 12 month high of $20.13 in mid-March.

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily Podcast for some reaction to the proposed European Super League, with ex-England midfielder Kieron Dyer among the guests.

The Turbo Bear: So the statement yesterday mentioned that they held discussions for weeks with all the stakeholders in football. They didn't ask fans players or managers. Who are the stakeholders then? Football will survive without chairmen, it won't without fans and players.

Paul Leonard: Did Spurs honestly think by releasing the statement of Mourinho today would anyway shape or form let them off the hook over the ESL agreement How stupid does Levy think fans are knowing he did the sacking Friday night.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, whose side are in the semi-finals of the Champions League and one of the six English teams set to play in the European Super League, has been speaking to the media today.

He said: "If I had a clear opinion I wouldn't mention it, but it's too early to judge it and there are way too many opinions out there.

"I'm an employee of this club and I trust this club. My job is very clear so I'm maybe not the right person to ask.

"I understand there are many emotional reactions out there but I honestly don't know enough to judge it. I don't know the details. I was not involved in this decision making and nor were my players."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

That was an amazing press conference from Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin.

He started on the offensive and kept going, calling the people responsible for the Super League plans 'liars' and 'snakes'.

Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward was blasted, Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli was accused of walking away from his member clubs.

Ceferin said he will be talking to lawyers tomorrow to see if there is any potential for clubs being thrown out of European competition - five of them are due to play in Champions League or Europa League semi-finals next week - and players being barred from Euro 2020.

Unbelievable stuff.

Image source, EPA

Ivory Coast would be the hardest hit of the African national teams if players in a proposed new European Super League are banned from playing international football.

The Elephants have five first-team regulars at clubs that have announced their intention to join the ESL - Serge Aurier at Tottenham; Nicolas Pepe at Arsenal; Franck Kessie at AC Milan; and Manchester United pair Eric Bailly and Amad Diallo.

Egypt's Mohamed Salah, Algeria's Riyad Mahrez and Gabon's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would also miss out if world football's governing body Fifa follows up on previous statements that any players who appear in an ESL would be banned from international tournaments such as the World Cup.

As it stands, a total of 13 African nations could lose players. Click here to see which players and nations could be affected.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Finally from Gary Lineker, the ex-Tottenham and England striker told BBC Radio 5 Live about how the European Super League could affect players and managers.

"Footballers are employed by clubs, " he said. "I’m not sure what their position is, they will be asked to play in whatever competition they are asked to play in. I imagine one or two players will possibly speak out.

"They have been put in a difficult position here, managers have been put in a difficult position. Someone like Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola - what do they think about it? Jurgen Klopp has always been a man of the people but this goes against the people and the whole ethos of our game - the fact you can qualify for competition, be promoted, be relegated. Suddenly clubs are guaranteed a position in the world’s most foremost competition and it becomes a closed shop. That’s the issue.

"This is a fundamentally massive difference and players will have to play a lot more games if they are on one of the sides in this proposition. It’s a lot more football to fit into an already-congested football calendar."

Karl: Is it just me who thinks we should let the teams go? Kick them out of the Premier League and then watch them crumble within three years.

Sierra: I'd like to see this Super League breakaway happen. Not because I want them to succeed but to see them fail. Ban the clubs from the domestic leagues. Let the super rich have their league and see how long they last without the domestic game.

On the European Super League plan, BBC presenter Gary Lineker added: "It came out of the blue, didn’t it?

"My reaction is probably similar to most people in the country, most football fans across Europe. It’s one of concern, a bit of worry where it will lead and the ramifications for football across Europe, particularly here.

"Where will it leave the Premier League? Will they try to kick these teams out? If not, who knows? It is very worrying.

"The clubs have been frustrated with aspects of Uefa in recent times and perhaps the new proposed layout for the Champions League. I hope there will be some sort of compromise made - it might be that kind of a powerplay from the Super League to get that bit more say.

"It’s easy to get emotional quickly on these things, which a lot of people have done, but trying to look at it in terms of what will actually happen and transpire is another matter."

BBC Radio 5 Live

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Tottenham and England striker Gary Lineker was asked about the Jose Mourinho sacking.

"It's an interesting time, a good day to hide bad news," he said. "He has struggled at Tottenham, it didn’t look a great fit and he has found it difficult.

"I think it would be quite difficult. He was hugely successful in the early days. The game has evolved tactically and I don’t think he has evolved with it.

"Was he fired in case they won the Carabao Cup? He has always been a big character but struggled, as he did at Manchester United."

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham striker Harry Kane has been the subject of transfer speculation in recent weeks, but the Englishman has paid tribute to departing Spurs boss Jose Mourinho...

Southampton

While six Premier League clubs have signed up to the proposal for a European Super League, some other top-flight English sides have been having their say since the news broke.

Southampton visit Tottenham, one of those six clubs, on Wednesday and their boss Ralph Hasenhuttl says the move is a "big threat" to football worldwide...

Brighton & Hove Albion

Speaking at his news conference earlier, Brighton boss Graham Potter called news of a potential European Super League "disturbing" but felt club chairman Tony Bloom and chief executive Paul Barber were better placed to address the issue.

"To be honest, I haven't read into it too much," he said. "Of course the headlines are there, they are disturbing and they are things for us to consider

"I have just been preparing for the game against Chelsea. I am pretty sure the chairman and Paul Barber will speak in terms of the club's position and that's pretty much where I'm at, at the moment."

Chelsea

Finally from Thomas Tuchel, the German was asked if the European Super League plan will affect what he achieves as Chelsea manager this season.

"Everyone wishes for a calm atmosphere and situation to have full focus," he said. "Do we have it, maybe not. But it's clearly our choice if we get influence, read too much about it, get lost in sports politics.

"We are involved in this club to play our role and make our challenge happen at the highest level. This is what I am here for. Nobody expects anything else from me, maybe you guys [do] in the next few days.

"Nothing will change between me and the team. Sometimes in the middle of the storm is the calmest. Let's hope it is like this and I don't want to enter in this as it may sound like an excuse."

And on the reaction of the club's fans, Tuchel added: "I clearly don't have the right to speak for the fans. Everyone is old enough to form their opinion, have the right to speak up, and support.

"I am sad that we've got used to playing in empty stadiums. We play for our spectators and our supporters. I wish they could be in the stadium tomorrow to support us. How can I judge what the reaction of the supporters would be, I simply don't know. I have trust in our club. Let's get some more details."

Chelsea

Some more now from Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel, who left striker Tammy Abraham out of the matchday squad for Saturday's FA Cup semi-final win over Manchester City.

"We sometimes spend an hour after training trying to decide the team," said Tuchel. "Tammy has had these decisions a few times but it isn't personal. I hope he doesn't get lost in many thoughts and he knows from me that he doesn't have to be too concerned or have too many thoughts about his situation.

"All he can do is stay focused, have belief, and for a striker the situation can change in minutes. I hope he isn't concerned about his future and the only thing he is focused on is his training.

"It's my job to take these choices and sometimes they aren't fair. Sometimes we have to find the mix for 18 players to find the right solutions in the game, so he has to keep his head up and trust himself."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin says a final decision over the full list of venues to stage the upcoming Euros has been postponed.

“Postponed our final decision until on Friday," said Ceferin.

"We have to settle some things from three possible venues who might be excluded.”

UEFA

More now from Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin, responding to the notion of a European Super League...

He added: "Uefa distributes 90% of revenue back to the game - into the Children's Foundation, the women’s game and the youth. The Super League is only about money for the dozen. Uefa is about football. Unity doesn’t exist, only their pockets.

"I would like to thank leagues, clubs, except the 12. I would like to thank Boris Johnson and President Macron who respect European values. This idea is a spit in the face of all football lovers. We will not allow them to take it away from us."

UEFA

Speaking about the proposal for the European Super League, Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said: "I cannot stress more strongly how everyone is united against this disgraceful, self-serving proposals, fuelled by greed above all else.

"We are all united against this nonsense of a project. Cynical plan, completely against what football should be. We cannot and will not allow that to change.

"Players who will play in the teams that might play in the closed league will be banned from the World Cup and Euros.

"We urge everyone to stand tall with us as we do everything in our power to ensure this never ends up in fruition."

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea

Today's other big story is Tottenham sacking Jose Mourinho, who won the Premier League three times during two spells as Chelsea manager.

Their current boss Thomas Tuchel said: "I am always a little bit surprised when it happens. We are all competitors and try to beat each other but in the end we hope a manager is in a good place to work. So when it happens, it never feels good as a manager. It's not my job to comment but it is what it is.

"Everyone fights hard for results and when a big decision comes, it was a surprise. I didn't see it coming but I wasn't focusing too much on their situation."

Image source, PA Media