European Super League: Liverpool's involvement is a 'BETRAYAL', by Carragher

Liverpool's desire to be a founding member of the controversial new European Super League is a 'betrayal of the club's heritage' in the eyes of ex-Reds defender Jamie Carragher.

It was confirmed late on Sunday night that the Anfield club are one of six Premier League teams that have signed up to be part of a breakaway competition that threatens the UEFA Champions League.

Carragher, who saw Sky Sports colleague Gary Neville condemn proposals as an 'absolute disgrace' during commentary of Manchester United against Burnley, has turned the focus onto his old club's involvement and why it is the 'antithesis' of what the city stands for.

'The more I read about the European Super League proposals, the more it seems Liverpool's owners must like empty stadiums because all they have done is raise the likelihood of another mass walkout,' Carragher wrote in his Telegraph column.

'As a former Liverpool player, it sickens me that my club's reputation is being damaged by the arrogance of an ownership group that wants to remove such peril, creating a culture where we no longer need to fight to earn our success.

'That is the antithesis of everything I understand football – especially in my city – to stand for.

'To be tainted by association with the European Super League is bad enough, but Liverpool's apparent leading role in threatening football's competitive ideals – the very ideals which allowed the club to emerge from England's second division to become six-time European champions – is a betrayal of a heritage they are seeking to cash in on.'

Along with Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham, Spanish sides Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, along with Italian trio Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan create a near closed-shop.

Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are understood to have rejected the idea, although the plan is to expand the league to 15 founding members.

Major US bank JP Morgan, a former employer of Manchester United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward, are debt financing the new league which will see founding clubs receive £3.03billion, which is set against future broadcast revenue.

Liverpool owner John W Henry would be one of four vice-chairman as part of the league's creation but unlike Manchester United's Joel Glazer, Henry has yet to make public comment since plans were revealed.

In a rare public comment, United co-chairman Glazer brazenly claimed that the closed shop would provide 'increased financial support for the wider football pyramid'.

Carragher said he is not surprised by United's 'shameless capitalism' but felt Liverpool's role in helping devise this 'radical scheme' is based solely on 'greed'.

In a statement from the European Super League organisers on Sunday night, confirming earlier reports, they explained plans for their inaugural season for a 'new mid-week competition'.

'Twelve of Europe's leading football clubs have today [Sunday] come together to announce they have agreed to establish a new mid-week competition, the Super League, governed by its Founding Clubs,' the statement began.

'AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur have all joined as Founding Clubs.

'It is anticipated that a further three clubs will join ahead of the inaugural season, which is intended to commence as soon as practicable.

'Going forward, the Founding Clubs look forward to holding discussions with UEFA and FIFA to work together in partnership to deliver the best outcomes for the new League and for football as a whole.'

It goes on to say that while there is immense criticism at the timing of the announcement with many clubs across Europe's lower leagues crippled financially by the Covid-19 pandemic, the formation of a breakaway league has been 'accelerated' by increasing 'instability'.

'For a number of years, the Founding Clubs have had the objective of improving the quality and intensity of existing European competitions throughout each season, and of creating a format for top clubs and players to compete on a regular basis.

'The pandemic has shown that a strategic vision and a sustainable commercial approach are required to enhance value and support for the benefit of the entire European football pyramid.'