Independent journalist Miguel Delaney on BBC Radio 5 Live: "I was outside Stamford Bridge, ready to take a picture of the protests, and a massive clear went up as if a goal had been scored. I was wondering what had been happened and then I got a message. The scene was as electric as any goal that has been scored. Ultimately it is what football is about and that community spirit and celebration. It was electric."

Alistair Magowan
BBC Sport

The decision was taken by owner Roman Abramovich and the Chelsea board after witnessing negative global reaction to the Super League.

There was a fear that it could do reputational damage to the club and undermine some of its campaigning and community work.

Questions were raised internally as to whether fans would respond to the club if it continued with a proposal which has gone down so badly.

The decision was made earlier on Tuesday before protests started outside Stamford Bridge.

It is understood Chelsea was not one of the main drivers of the Super League idea, but felt it had to get on board when it was presented to them late last week.

Image source, Getty Images

Now we should briefly backtrack.

Yes the European Super League is falling apart and yes Ed Woodward's reign at Manchester United is pretty much now over.

But a few moments before all this happened, there was some serious protesting going on at Stamford Bridge about the controversial Super League.

It took Petr Cech and his safe hands to go out to fans and call for calm.

Those fans present then broke into cheers as news filtered through that their club had called time on any plans to join the ESL.

So not only did we get drama, we got drama against a backdrop of protest. Drama squared.

Chelsea are playing a game of football by the way.

It's against Brighton. It's not in the European Super League. It's in the Premier League. You know, the one we all watch.

There's no crossing of borders needed. The match is 90 minutes long and not shortened to appease those who prefer clips.

It's football, just how we like it. It's all here for you.

Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

It has been a very interesting 48 hours - there was a lot of reaction and a lot of early overreaction but things seem to be falling the way some thought they would. It is all happening very quickly.

I thought everyone that didn't have a section in the initial statement their silence was deafening and low and behold two days later they are pulling out and making a bigger statement by removing themselves from the project.

Those of you who have followed the European Super League story will know a certain Gary Neville was like Mel Gibson in Braveheart in carrying the fight.

He's feeling good it seems.

So if you're turning in just now:

• Manchester City are pulling out of the European Super League and Chelsea are preparing to
• Ed Woodward has resigned at Manchester United

The other thing we can tell you is that there is widespread rumour that some of the Spanish participants in the European Super League are likely to pull out too. We have not yet had that confirmed but Atletico Madrid look close to the exit. It is safe to say the grand plan has, well, not worked out.

So Ed Woodward has resigned and will leave at the end of the season.

BBC Sport's Simon Stone says: "It is anticipated an official announcement will be made when the New York Stock Market closes at 2100 BST.

"Woodward was intending to leave at the end of the year anyway."

Yes, that's right, it's one of those nights.

Anyone for any more carnage?

Image source, Getty Images

I mean, the news is coming thick and fast but we are now hearing Manchester United's executive vice chairman Ed Woodward has resigned.

Huge news again.

More from Independent journalist Miguel Delaney on BBC Radio 5 Live: "I was talking to someone today who has been heavily involved and they said this has been the opportunity for football reform that had been long needed but that they had found roadblocks in the way.

"It is possible that this situation will just release a game a little bit and force them to face a lot of inherent problems.

"The Super League hasn’t come from anywhere, it’s come at the behest of the big clubs. Hopefully one thing that comes out of this is the spirit for reform."

Image source, Getty Images

Wow.

This live text closed down at 18:00 BST but a lot can happen in a couple of hours thesedays.

So what we know is that Chelsea are preparing to exit the European Super League and have to do the necessary paperwork to do so.

Manchester City meanwhile are totally out of the proposed competition.

All of this happened as protests broke out outside Stamford Bridge in the build-up to Chelsea's game against Brighton.

BBC sports editor Dan Roan broke the news and you can read it all here.

We are back and the news is big.

The European Super League that has rocked the footballing world in recent days has encountered a colossal setback as Manchester City have withdrawn, while Chelsea are preparing to do so.

We will keep you abreast of all the information as we get it.

We're going to close this live page now - thank you for all your company and contributions throughout the day. You can scroll back through this live page, and in particular the last couple of posts, to catch-up with all the latest European Super League news.

We'll continue to bring you reaction to the European Super League across the BBC Sport website, starting with the Chelsea-Brighton live page which Phil Dawkes has just started. There's a 5 Live special from 19:00 BST about the new league too.

But, if you want to avoid more ESL chat, we've got an EFL live page and commentary of West Ham v Aston Villa in the Women's Super League.

See you soon.

If reading is more your thing, then these are the key articles you need to make sure you read tonight to be across all the latest European Super League developments:

• Fifa boss Gianni Infantino 'strongly disapproves' of breakaway league
• Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin calls on the English clubs to "come to your senses"
• European Super League created to "save football", says Florentino Perez
• No action off the table, says number 10
• 'Women's ESL would be devastating'
• 'People are not happy about it, I can understand why' - Klopp

We're going to be closing this live page down at 18:00 BST - but the reaction to the European Super League will continue alongside build-up to Chelsea's Premier League game against Brighton.

Before we sign off, we'll run through some of the key bits of video and written content from the day so you're fully across all the latest ESL news.

Overnight the chairman for the breakaway league and Real Madrid chairman Florentino Perez spoke about the league being needed to "save football". You can watch that below.

However, the criticism for the league has continued throughout the day.

We've heard from Fifa boss Gianni Infantino and Uefa's Aleksander Ceferin with the pair sharing the overriding message of "you are in or you are out", while Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking about the competition for the first time.

Alan Shearer has also suggested that the six English clubs that have signed up for the competition should be ban from the Premier League.

These are the current scenes outside Stamford Bridge as fans continue to protest against the European Super League...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Africa

Our colleagues in BBC Africa have pulled together some of the best reaction about the European Super League from their continent.

Former Tottenham, Newcastle and Cameroon defender Sebastien Bassong is philosophical about the proposal - while South Africa's all-time leading scorer Benni McCarthy, who played for Blackburn and West Ham in the Premier League, and Ajax and Porto in Europe - is not happy with the news.

They've also spoke to Gaetan Bong, who is currently playing for two-time European champions Nottingham Forest in the Championship. He is undecided on the plans because he "loves change" but football is "about sharing".

You can read more from them here.

Leicester City

Leicester City have just become the latest Premier League side to share a statement opposing the European Super League. The Foxes are currently third in the Premier League, but haven't been invited to join the league.

Here's what their statement says:

Leicester City Football Club has joined 13 of its Premier League colleagues in opposition to a European Super League and to reaffirm our commitment to the long-standing and successful structure of domestic football.

Competitive integrity and merit-based achievement are fundamental principles of the sport which, if compromised, will cause irreparable damage to the game, to the clubs whose legitimate aspirations underpin the entire football pyramid and to the communities those clubs serve.

As custodians of our respective clubs, it falls to us to uphold football’s values, the solidarity and unity that protect the future of the sport and to ensure its commercial successes help strengthen its foundations throughout the pyramid and into the grassroots game.

Football clubs exist for their supporters, whose passion and devotion are not simply a response to the game, but a fundamental and indispensable part of it. Their contribution is fed by their right to dream – a right we share a collective responsibility to protect.

Leicester City is wholly supportive of the Premier League’s position in this matter and enormously encouraged by the way football’s supporters, Government and regulators have come together to challenge this threat to the game’s future.

League Two side Grimsby Town have offered fans of English clubs involved in the European Super League (ESL) a chance to swap their shirts.

Grimsby Town has offered to exchange fans' shirts for the "big six" sides for one of its own.

It said the offer would last until Friday or "while stocks last".

The club said it would accept Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United or Tottenham tops that were three years old or less.

Items can be donated at Grimsby's Blundell Park club shop or bar, with all items given to local groups and to projects in Africa.

Read more here.