BBC World Service

Chelsea are one of the 12 clubs to have signed up to the European Super League. Their former manager Avram Grant has been speaking to BBC World Service. He was asked if he was still Chelsea manager would he feel able to express his views to owner Roman Abramovich.

"My policy was always I’m in charge of the professional side and not involved in the money and I draw a line but I think this is different, it’s not only money, these areas are coming together so of course I would speak to the owner let him know my opinion," said Grant.

"Of course money is important but it’s not 100% only the money so of course I would give my opinion.

"UEFA need to be a little bit more flexible and listen to the big teams to find a solution but I think the supporters and players and coaches can be a huge influence. The supporters will not accept it, they want competition, this is the nature of the game."

Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich, who are the current holders of the Uefa Champions League, have released the following statement in the last hour:

FC Bayern Munich takes a closed position on the Super League. President Herbert Hainer , externalsays: “Our members and fans reject a Super League. It is our wish as FC Bayern and our goal that the European clubs live this wonderful and emotional Champions League competition and develop it together with UEFA. FC Bayern says no to the Super League. "

The chairman of the board Karl-Heinz Rummenigge , externalconfirms: “On behalf of the board I can expressly state that FC Bayern does not take part in the Super League. FC Bayern stands in solidarity with the Bundesliga. It was and is always a great pleasure for us to be able to play as the German representative in the Champions League. We all still fondly remember our Champions League victory in Lisbon in 2020, such a happy moment is never forgotten. For FC Bayern, the Champions League is the best club competition in the world."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport reporter

We have just heard from Manchester City women's manager Gareth Taylor, where he responded to questions on potential plans for an equivalent European Super League - though he admitted he knew very little and didn't go into much detail as a result.

I asked for his initial response to the plans and he said: "There’s been a lot of reaction to it and not all of it necessarily good.

"Nobody really knows at the moment what that looks like, particularly in the women’s game.

"Ultimately I’m a football coach and my job is to make sure the players maintain their focus on tomorrow’s match [against Chelsea].

"We will see what happens in the future. I trust the club - we trust the club - to make the right decisions. We’re not part of making those decisions."

Earlier today, the chief executive of Football Supporters' Association Kevin Miles, along with other fan representatives, met with the prime minister Boris Johnson and secretary of state for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Oliver Dowden and the Premier League and FA.

Miles has since released the following statement:

“The greedy owners of some of our most historic football clubs have done nothing but unite fans throughout the pyramid, players, pundits, clubs, politicians and the Government in opposition to their plans to hoard power and wealth. There must be no more appeasement of these vultures.

“Today the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) and some of our member organisations met with the prime minister Boris Johnson and secretary of state Oliver Dowden to make clear the existential crisis facing football and the overwhelming support from fans for political action.

“The PM’s response was very positive as he committed to legislative action, if necessary, to support the football authorities. In addition he referred to yesterday’s announcement of the much-anticipated fan-led review into football governance, confirming that it would have a far-reaching remit.

“The FSA looks forward to working with the Government and all political parties in Westminster. As well as meeting the PM we have also met today with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Football Supporters and, separately, Keir Starmer and the Labour Party.

“Supporters will do everything in our power to stop the European Super League.”

On Monday night Sky Sports were the first broadcaster to distance themselves from the European Super League.

Amazon Prime Video have just released a statement saying they have "not been involved in any discussions for the proposed Super League".

They add "we believe part of the drama and beauty of European football comes from the ability of any club to achieve success through their performances on the pitch".

Leicester City

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has been speaking to the media ahead of his side's home game against West Brom on Thursday night.

He reiterated what most people have been saying since Sunday's announcement about the European Super League that football "is for the supporters".

The former Liverpool boss - who are one of the 12 clubs to sign up for the breakaway league - also spoke passionately about the Premier League and its quality.

UEFA

The Uefa congress is taking place today and they have just released the following statement about the European Super League:

The 55 member associations and participants in the Uefa Congress condemn the declaration of a so called “Super League.” The Uefa Congress is adamant that the closed “Super League” goes against the very concept of what it is to be European: unified, open, supportive, and principled on sporting values. Uefa and its member associations believe in a truly European model that is founded on open competitions, solidarity and redistribution to ensure the sustainability and development of the game for the benefit of all and the promotion of European values and social outcomes.

The conspirator clubs have obviously failed to see that their status today was not achieved in isolation, but rather was part of a dynamic European system where big, medium and small clubs have all contributed to the successes and losses of everyone. It is an affront to European values and sporting merit for them to assume they are entitled to “separate” and lay claim to the legacy that everyone built.

Uefa, its member associations and all those who love football stand firm and will strongly resist and fight against this move by these clubs’ owners and their backers to the fullest extent possible. We know, morally, what is at stake and will protect football from a selfish clan who care nothing for the game. We are European football. They are not.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport

There is a general feeling that women's football was an afterthought in the plans for a European Super League.

A solitary line in the statement lacked any detail on the implications it could have for women's football, and senior figures at a number of clubs are believed to have not been consulted on the plans.

In the assumption that the women's league equivalent would include the same 12 founding clubs, it would be a travesty without European giants Lyon - who picked up a fifth Champions League title in a row last year - and Wolfsburg, who have appeared in five of the last eight finals, winning two.

Liverpool, whose women's side currently compete in the domestic second tier, and Tottenham, who were only promoted to the Women's Super League in 2019, would look very out of place among Europe's supposed elite.

There would also likely be animosity towards Real Madrid, a women's team only formed last year; Manchester United, who were created in 2018; and the inclusion of two Italian sides despite the nation having never previously had any representation in a Women's Champions League final.

Aside from the obvious exclusion of those big European teams in the league, there is concern for the wider impact on grassroots football, domestic leagues which are not yet sustainable.

One of my colleagues Emma Sanders - who covers women's football extensively for the BBC - has also provided us with the following analysis, about what any European Super League might mean for the women's game.

A breakaway Women's European Super League would be "devastating" for the sport, says Uefa head of women's football Nadine Kessler.

Sunday's announcement of a new midweek competition featuring 12 confirmed clubs also included a women's version.

"The news comes without any consultation," Kessler, who used to play for Wolfsburg, said in an open letter on Twitter, external.

"It comes at a time when the Uefa Women's Champions League is about to see a transformative change."

She added: "In other words it is a direct threat to all the plans we have carefully crafted, together with the European Club Association (ECA), your clubs and the leagues for the new Women's Champions League."

Few details have emerged from the ESL's founders as to how a women's version would look.

In its initial statement it said: "As soon as practicable after the start of the men's competition, a corresponding women's league will also be launched, helping to advance and develop the women's game."

Read more from Kessler's letter here, external.

Image source, Getty Images

We're going to switch our attention back to the thing that everyone is talking about right... the European Super League.

We've had some reaction from the women's game today, with Uefa's head of women's football Nadine Kessler putting on open letter on Twitter.

The only mention in the initial statement from the ESL about the women's game was this: "As soon as practicable after the start of the men's competition, a corresponding women's league will also be launched, helping to advance and develop the women's game."

Andreas Christensen is likely to return for Chelsea following a three-match absence because of a muscle injury.

Thiago Silva could be rested, with head coach Thomas Tuchel concerned about the Brazilian's recent workload, while Mateo Kovacic remains out.

Brighton defenders Adam Webster and Dan Burn are in contention to start, having both returned to the matchday squad for last week's draw against Everton.

Aaron Connolly is fit after a foot injury and Percy Tau might be involved.

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea will play for the first time since Sunday's European Super League announcement, when they host Brighton this evening.

We'll have some of the early team news for you next...

Lauren: Comparisons to the formation of the Premier League are ludicrous. Anyone can be promoted to or relegated from the PL and it’s made both it and the EFL so competitive. The ESL would be an exclusive rich boys club and destroy the competitive nature of the PL with no top 4 race

The Premier League have released a statement...

The Premier League, alongside The FA, met with clubs today to discuss the immediate implications of the Super League proposal.

The 14 clubs at the meeting unanimously and vigorously rejected the plans for the competition. The Premier League is considering all actions available to prevent it from progressing, as well as holding those shareholders involved to account under its rules.

The League will continue to work with key stakeholders including fan groups, government, Uefa, The FA, EFL, PFA and LMA to protect the best interests of the game and call on those clubs involved in the proposed competition to cease their involvement immediately.

The Premier League would like to thank fans and all stakeholders for the support they have shown this week on this significant issue. The reaction proves just how much our open pyramid and football community means to people.

Watch this space...

Liverpool's James Milner was the first 'big six' Premier League player to reveal his disagreement with the notion of a European Super League.

Has Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, who is not afraid to challenge authority, just done the same..?

West Ham United

Here's an extract from a statement by West Ham, following the announcement for plans to set up a European Super League...

These proposals are an attack on sporting integrity, undermine competition, and ignore those supporters, and those of the thousands of clubs and millions of players, from the Premier League to Sunday League, who can aspire to reach the top of the game just like our 150-plus homegrown Academy of Football graduates who came from grassroots and were developed into first-team players.

Our supporters have been there throughout our 125-year journey, for our FA Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup wins, our promotions and many other memorable moments.

These proposals go totally against the ethos and values – the West Ham Way – that have inspired us to those unforgettable successes and will shape the next generation of Hammers, on and off the pitch.

You can read the full statement here, external.

TheTurboBear: I am extremely disappointed in the managers so far. Neither one of Klopp, Tuchel, Zizou or Pep have spoken strongly enough.

Steve: I honestly don't get all the outrage over the ESL. A new format based on huge revenues, inflated TV rights, merchandising, that's wildly unpopular with the fans, and the "death of the game" . Erm, that was the Premier League