Fans gather outside of Stamford Bridge in West London ahead of the Premier League game between Chelsea and Brighton to demonstrate against plans for a European Super League. Ben Cawthra

European Super League to be disbanded after teams plan to pull out?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 4/20/21

Premier League club Chelsea are one of the 12 founding teams of the controversial European Super League that was announced on Sunday night. It appears the Blues and at least several others are having second thoughts about the project.

Dan Roan of BBC Sport and others report that Chelsea are preparing to request their withdrawal from the ESL. Insider Martin Lipton adds that Manchester City are also out.

Manchester City pulling out of Super League. City have told organisers they no longer want to be part of the £4.6billion scheme. Chelsea preparing documentation to also withdraw. Full details coming #BallsToTheSuperLeague @SunSport
@TheSunFootball
@TheSun
— Martin Lipton (@MartinLipton) April 20, 2021

News of the breakaway Super League has been met with worldwide criticism from supporters, managers and players who have hit out at the closed nature of the competition that includes no threat of relegation for founding clubs. As noted by The Athletic , Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are the four Premier League teams still linked with the Super League as of early Tuesday.

Real Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus are also still involved as of the posting of this piece.

News of Chelsea's change of heart was met with delight among supporters who gathered outside the club's ground to protest its involvement in the Super League.

The scene at Stamford Bridge as it’s reported Chelsea preparing to withdraw pic.twitter.com/meZpntKiBc
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) April 20, 2021

Former player and insider Stan Collymore tweeted that Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are also dropping out:

BREAKING

Barcelona drop out of the Super League.
— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) April 20, 2021

BREAKING

Atletico Madrid drop out of Super League.
— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) April 20, 2021

Meanwhile, talkSPORT reports the Super League may soon be disbanded before it ever kicks off:

BREAKING: All 12 clubs are meeting tonight to discuss disbanding the Super League.

- talkSPORT sources understand.

Listen → https://t.co/VJgUHnHODz pic.twitter.com/72d2cqaAea
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) April 20, 2021

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