Everton legend Peter Reid has told football to be 'careful what it wishes for' after plans for a European Super League were confirmed on Sunday evening.
12 founding members - Manchester United, Man City, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus - made the shock announcement of their intention to leave UEFA competition.
The Super League would run midweek with 15 founding clubs - an additional three are expected to join the 12 - and five teams who would 'qualify annually' taking part.
But Reid, who lifted two league titles, an FA Cup and a European Cup Winners' Cup with Everton, believes the breakaway competition will 'devalue' the domestic game.
Reid, following a furious backlash from the majority of supporters across the globe, told Sky News: "Football is hopeless without fans. Some fans drive teams on, a lot of fans drive teams on, that is the nature of the game.
"I don't think it has been thought through. It's funny, UEFA coming out, trying to do a new format of the Champions League, with the timing of this yesterday. The elitism is driving me mad. You have to be careful what you wish for in football."
He continued: "Because they are midweek games I think [The Super League] are trying to devalue [domestic leagues].
"[Teams] have big squads and I think they will put the sort of elite players out in the so-called Super League and the Premier League will be devalued, and it shouldn't be.
"Some of the toughest games when I was playing for Everton and Manchester City were against teams who had come up and been promoted, and the atmosphere was great.
"There is a devaluing of the domestic league which I hate. There should always be an aspiration to get to the elite. Burnley were going out of business a few years ago and are now a Premier League side.
"You have to have that dream, the tradition, the heritage of these football clubs. To have an elite 12 or 20, it doesn't sit right with me.
"It's all money. Real Madrid have massive debt, Barcelona have massive debt, Florentino Perez, the president of Real Madrid, has driven this.
"I love the competition of football, and I love the fans being there. If you have an elitism? Nah. Not for me."
