'Thank God I support a proper club!': Hartlepool United fan Jeff Stelling hits out at European Super League proposals

Arsenal Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City have all signalled their intent to becoming founding members of the Super League, which would effectively replace the Champions League.

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Juventus and Inter Milan are also involved in the proposals.

The Super League would see 20 teams compete in two ten-team leagues before a knockout stage decided the ultimate winners.

But the plans have been met with outrage within the footballing community, with UEFA, the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A all opposing the new competition.

Indeed, they have warned the teams involved that they could be disqualified from all other competitions if they join the new league.

And Stelling – a lifelong Pools fan and the club’s honorary president – said he felt sorry for the fans of the clubs who have supported the plans.

Posting on Twitter on Sunday evening, the Sky Sports presenter said: “Thank god I support a proper club.

“And not just mine, but all those clubs who treat their fans with respect, whose players still speak to their supporters , whose fans respect each other.

“Feel sorry for the fans of those six clubs who are viewed as worthless by their owners.

“Bed now. By the time I wake up to expect at least a couple of the six to be already backing down . But their fans should not forget how their owners were trying to betray them.”

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