Former Manchester City and FA chief David Bernstein has admitted that he is “ashamed” of Man City after they agreed to the proposal of the European Super League.
The Premier League leaders have agreed to the breakaway league along with five other English clubs, three Spanish and three Italian giants, despite disapproval from the Premier League, the FA and UEFA.
Supporters Trusts of each of the English clubs involved have produced statements revealing they also condemn the proposal of the Super League and Bernstein is no different.
Speaking to BBC Sport, the former chief executive said: “I’m ashamed. I’ve supported Manchester City all my life. It’s a club I love. But I’m really ashamed, as I know Gary Neville has said he is about his old club Manchester United, and I think Jamie Carragher and Liverpool.
“I’m ashamed as clubs with that history should have great responsibility to the rest of the game. It’s a lifeline that I think’s only going to end, if it happens at all, very badly.
“Because a closed league, as they’re proposing, without promotion and relegation, without recognition of the rest of the game, is potentially a dead league. It won’t have the life of football as we understand it. I think the arrogance of these half a dozen English clubs is something to behold.”
Beinstein gave his reasoning as to why he thinks the clubs have agreed to the Super League proposal, with financial factors at the heart of it.
“I think there are two things in play here: one is greed and the other is desperation. And it’s because some of these clubs have incurred enormous debt. I believe certainly Barcelona and Real Madrid, and I think at least one of the English clubs, are approaching £1bn of debt,” he added.
“I think they’re in a desperate situation. One of the things they haven’t done during the pandemic is to impose some sort of wages control. They’ve got themselves into a bit of a predicament.”
The 12 clubs involved so far are Man City, Man United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus.
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