TThe breakaway European Super League, shaken by the departure of its six English clubs on Tuesday, said it would focus on efforts to ‘reshape the project’ without deciding on outright defeat.

After triggering a huge backlash from football players, supporters and authorities, the league was reduced to three teams each from Spain and Italy within 48 hours of launching on Sunday.

Inter Milan are expected to be the next to leave with a source close to the club telling Reuters they are no longer interested in the league “in light of the latest developments”.

As the Super League beat a hasty retreat on Tuesday night, it offered no apologies.

“Despite the announced departure of the English clubs, forced to take such decisions due to the pressure placed on them, we are convinced that our proposal is fully aligned with European laws and regulations,” the league said in a statement.

“Under the current circumstances, we will reconsider the most appropriate steps to reshape the project, always keeping in mind our goals to provide supporters with the best possible experience while improving solidarity payments for the entire community. soccer”.

Pundits have declared the league dead in the water, with its clubs’ hopes of sharing a greater share of global football’s revenue dashed by their own greed and pride, as well as the combination of fan power and self-esteem. threat of sanctions.

But the shockwave of the Super League’s implosion is now set to spill over into football, with recriminations and settling of scores expected in clubs and conference halls across the continent.

Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward announced his resignation shortly before his club gave up on a project he had helped make it happen.

Others are expected to follow, including Juventus president Andrea Agnelli, who UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin called “the biggest disappointment”.

Ceferin handed an olive branch to clubs that have turned away from the Super League, but he might find it hard to forgive his former ally Agnelli, who was the head of the Association of European Clubs and a board member UEFA executive until Sunday.

After painstakingly negotiating a new 36-team format for the Champions League, UEFA was humbled by the Super League push, with Ceferin saying the governing body now knew who the ‘snakes’ were.

Remaining Super League clubs are nonetheless likely to be welcome in established competitions in Europe, as UEFA can hardly afford to forgo the income they earn.

Amid cheering fans as the Super League rolled out on Tuesday, anger remains. Experts said the owners of the British teams would not be forgiven despite their U-turns and urged them to give up their interests.

Owners can simply take a break and regroup before putting more pressure on UEFA, which has avoided several threats from separatist leagues over the decades.

“The European Super League is convinced that the current status quo in European football must change,” ESL said.

“We are proposing a new European competition because the existing system is not working.”

Reutrs