ROY KEANE slammed plans for a breakaway European Super League as ‘pure greed’ while fellow pundit Micah Richards labelled it a ‘disgrace’.
The Premier League’s Big Six have signed up to the rebel project less than 24 hours before Uefa were due to release its own planned revamp of the Champions League.
The plans, pushed by Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United and AC Milan, are backed by the financial muscle of US investment giant JP Morgan.
Clubs joining the proposed Super League could earn up to £310million as an initial ‘golden hello’ plus a minimum £130m each season from their share of a £3.1billion total pot.
Speaking on Sky Sports at half-time in Manchester United’s game against Burnley, Keane fumed: “t’s all about money.
“It doesn’t sound good and let’s hope it is stopped in it’s tracks because it’s greed, pure greed.”
Former Manchester City defender Richards was similarly unimpressed.
He added: “What happens about fans and the memories fans have had over the years?
“Does all that go away because of money? I think it’s a disgrace.”
Gary Neville let rip while on co-commentary duty labelling the move ‘a joke’ and called for teams to be deducted points for making the controversial move mid-season.
He said: “I can’t focus on the game. They should deduct points from all six teams that have signed up to it.
“Deduct points off them all.
“To do it during a season? It’s a joke.”
Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Spurs are understood to have signed up despite reservations as they do not want to be left behind by a breakaway.
On Sunday, Uefa, the FA, the Premier League, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), LaLiga, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Lega Serie A released a damning joint statement.
It reads: “UEFA, the English Football Association and the Premier League, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and LaLiga, and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Lega Serie A have learned that a few English, Spanish and Italian clubs may be planning to announce their creation of a closed, so-called Super League.
“If this were to happen, we wish to reiterate that we – UEFA, the English FA, RFEF, FIGC, the Premier League, LaLiga, Lega Serie A, but also FIFA and all our member associations – will remain united in our efforts to stop this cynical project, a project that is founded on the self-interest of a few clubs at a time when society needs solidarity more than ever.
“We will consider all measures available to us, at all levels, both judicial and sporting in order to prevent this happening. Football is based on open competitions and sporting merit; it cannot be any other way.
“As previously announced by FIFA and the six Federations, the clubs concerned will be banned from playing in any other competition at domestic, European or world level, and their players could be denied the opportunity to represent their national teams.
“We thank those clubs in other countries, especially the French and German clubs, who have refused to sign up to this.
“We call on all lovers of football, supporters and politicians, to join us in fighting against such a project if it were to be announced. This persistent self-interest of a few has been going on for too long. Enough is enough.”
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