Alan Shearer: ‘I’m shocked, surprised and disgusted by the planned European Super League.’

‘But this announcement goes in the opposite direction to that hope. We’ve heard clubs say how important fans are to them, well now is their chance to prove that, as the fans have spoken, they do not want this.’

‘It’s been a while since some of these clubs were winning titles.’

‘There is nothing more to this than these clubs trying to make themselves richer, it really is that cynical.’

‘I mean let’s look at some of the clubs involved, yes, they have a rich history and tradition, but with some of them, it’s been a while since they were winning titles. Inter Milan, no title since 2010; AC Milan, 2011; Juventus, currently fourth in Serie A; Manchester United, no title since 2013; and as I say, Spurs and Arsenal, never mind winning the Premier League, both are outside the top four in the Premier League, and by some way.’

‘This is 100% about these clubs making more money, it’s nothing to do with what the fans want.’

‘Premier League should act fast against these clubs’

‘These twelve clubs dropped a huge grenade on the sport with this announcement, and the Premier League should respond with a grenade of their own, and say, OK, you’re going to be banned from the Premier League from next season, that’s how they should deal with this.’

‘These clubs want to have their cake and eat it, they think they can play these Super League games in midweek, and their domestic leagues at weekends, but I hope the leagues say no, that’s not happening.’

‘I also hope that clubs such as Bayern Munich and PSG – two clubs that are definitely in the elite right now – stick by their decision and remain out of this. Both are hugely successful and I admire their stance, I hope that doesn’t change.’

‘I do fear common sense will be ignored, this is about greed’

‘One of the greatest things about sport, about football, is that a team like Leicester, like the Blackburn team I played for, like West Ham this season, can achieve anything if they perform where and when it matters, on the pitch. If you take away that opportunity, that chance, you take away the dream, and that is not sport as we know it, it’s not football as I’d ever want to see it.’

‘Do I think this will happen? We’ve seen these clubs lobby UEFA for a while now, about getting a bigger slice of the European pie, and now they’ve done this, thrown the nuclear option at UEFA and the individual Leagues, it will be fascinating to see how these bodies react to this. I’d hope that common sense would prevail, but I’d be really worried that it doesn’t.’

‘These clubs can dress it up how they want, that it’s about protecting their interests to protect the wider game, but it’s simply about greed.’

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