Everton slates the breakaway clubs over Super League ‘abomination’

"This preposterous arrogance is not wanted anywhere in football"

The backlash which has greeted the plans for a breakaway Super League involving 12 of Europe's richest leagues has been swift and widespread, with everyone from Tory politicians to James Corden coming out against the idea. Critics have accused the architects of the new league of greed with regard to their motives, with many claiming that the clubs involved should either be docked points or kicked out of domestic competition. On Tuesday morning, Everton released a powerful statement on the matter, in which they lay out in no uncertain terms their true feelings behind the decision. In the statement, Everton accuse the six clubs of "acting entirely in their own interests", "tarnishing the reputation of our league and the game", "choosing to disrespect every other club with whom they sit around the Premier League table" and "taking for granted and even betraying the majority of football supporters across our country and beyond". The club also criticise the clubs involved for the timing of their decision, saying that at a time of "national and international crisis", all clubs "should be working together collaboratively" it improve things, rather than splintering off. It remains to be seen whether the opposition to the Super League, combined with the pathetic response from the club's involved, has any actual impact on proceedings going forward. But, if nothing else, it is heartening to see major figures and institutions within the game stand up for competitive football. Read the statement in full below:

Everton is saddened and disappointed to see proposals of a breakaway league pushed forward by six clubs.

Six clubs acting entirely in their own interests.

Six clubs tarnishing the reputation of our league and the game.

Six clubs choosing to disrespect every other club with whom they sit around the Premier League table.

Six clubs taking for granted and even betraying the majority of football supporters across our country and beyond.

At this time of national and international crisis - and a defining period for our game - clubs should be working together collaboratively with the ideals of our game and its supporters uppermost.

Instead, these clubs have been secretly conspiring to break away from a football pyramid that has served them so well.

And in that Pyramid Everton salutes EVERY club, be it Leicester City, Accrington Stanley, Gillingham, Lincoln City, Morecambe, Southend United, Notts County and the rest who have, with their very being, enriched the lives of their supporters throughout the game's history. And vice versa.

The self-proclaimed Super Six appear intent on disenfranchising supporters across the game - including their own - by putting the very structure that underpins the game we love under threat.

The backlash is understandable and deserved – and has to be listened to.

This preposterous arrogance is not wanted anywhere in football outside of the clubs that have drafted this plan.

On behalf of everyone associated with Everton, we respectfully ask that the proposals are immediately withdrawn and that the private meetings and subversive practises that have brought our beautiful game to possibly its lowest ever position in terms of trust end now.

Finally we would ask the owners, chairmen, and Board members of the six clubs to remember the privileged position they hold – not only as custodians of their clubs but also custodians of the game. The responsibility they carry should be taken seriously.

We urge them all to consider what they wish their legacy to be.

Everton FC Board of Directors