Edwin van der Sar fears that a 'very uncertain period threatens the horizon of European football' following the announcement of the European Super League.
Supporters, pundits, former players and politicians alike have been left outraged after 12 of Europe's 'leading clubs' - including Manchester United and Manchester City - announced their intent to join a breakaway competition.
United great Van der Sar is the current CEO of Ajax, a team who are not involved with the ESL, and the Dutchman has spoken out against the proposal.
"Ajax is completely taken aback and disappointed by the announcement of a possible Super League," the former goalkeeper said in a statement. "We support the new set-up proposed by UEFA, as confirmed on Monday.
"Through my work for the ECA, I have been involved for a number of years in discussions about a new format for the UEFA club competitions. In the past, Ajax has worked together with the ECV and the KNVB to make a number of changes happen, for example to make participation in the UEFA Champions League more accessible for clubs.
"We thought we had found the solution with the so-called Swiss model, with more international fixtures for more clubs. We are very disappointed in the sudden and late turnaround that fellow directors of some top international clubs have made this weekend, with the result that a very uncertain period threatens the horizon of European football."
