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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Tom Doyle

European Super League teams must face ‘consequences’, warns ex-Premier League chief Richard Scudamore

The teams who attempted to form a breakway European Super League must face "consequences", according to former Premier League chief Richard Scudamore.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham sensationally backed out of their controversial decision to form the breakaway Super League earlier this month, as the proposals were left in tatters within 48 hours.

The traditional 'big six' agreed to join the lucrative European competition before bowing to an incredible backlash and strong public opinion - and Scudamore, who ran the Premier League for 19 years, says those clubs must work hard to build back trust.

"I don't believe life will ever be the same after last Sunday. I think the actions of the six have altered the dynamic forever. There has to be some consequences. Things have to change," Scudamore told Gary Neville's The Overlap YouTube channel.

"There is no switch you can turn that suddenly builds back trust with these people and the fan base. It is a long and difficult road back. After a period of some healing, we have to rebuild this thing.

"I cannot explain why any of them thought it was a good idea. I am the person who had been telling them for years it was a crazy idea and could not happen. What's happened in the last week is that it's been stopped and that's the right thing.

"Anyone who knows me would know I found this completely unacceptable.

"To actually suddenly break for the border and create any form of competition was a fraud in its concept. I knew the fan base would not let it happen.

"I don't need to name names, but even people in their apology said 'we spent a lot of time thinking about what our fans would want to do' but did not spend an iota talking to the fans.

"But an elastic band has been snapped in the last week. There has to be some consequences. I think something will have to be extracted by way of undertakings or attitude. I am not going to get involved about whether there should be punishments or sanctions."

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