The breakaway European Super League project is in tatters after the six English Premier League clubs involved quit, 48 hours after agreeing to join Italian and Spanish teams in the new elite soccer competition.
Manchester City were the first to back out of the venture and then Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur announced they were following suit.
Chelsea are expected to complete the departure of the 'Big Six' when they submit withdrawal papers to the Super League company.
The league, which was announced on Monday (NZ time) with 12 founding members, is now left with three Italian clubs -- AC Milan, Juventus and Inter Milan, plus Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid from Spain.
Just two days removed from announcing their participation in the rebel league, the six English clubs have wavered in the face of opposition within the game and among fans, including the highest levels of government.
"Manchester City Football Club can confirm that it has formally enacted the procedures to withdraw from the group developing plans for a European Super League," the club has posted on its website.
Earlier, Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson used social media to express his stance on the Super League.
Speaking for his entire squad, the England international wrote: "We don't like it and we don't want it. This is our collective position.
"Our commitment to this football club and its supporters is absolute and unconditional.
"You'll never walk alone."
There has been no confirmation from the other clubs over whether they will also withdraw.
The sport's governing bodies, other teams and fan organisations said the rebel venture would increase the power and wealth of the elite clubs and the partially closed structure of the league goes against European football's long-standing model.
Super League organisers, headed by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, hoped to add three more founding clubs, before launching their competition "as soon as practicable". They argue it would increase revenue to the top clubs and allow them to distribute more money to the rest of the game.
Unlike Europe's current elite Champions League, where teams qualify through their domestic league, founding Super League teams are guaranteed a place in the new competition every year.
Reuters
