What the papers say: 'Shameless six declare war'

The back pages - and front pages - of Britain's leading newspapers make plain their opposition to plans for a 20-club European Super League...

Under a headline of 'Only someone who truly hates football can be behind a European super league', The Guardian's Jonathan Liew continues: 'Because make no mistake: this is an idea that could only have been devised by someone who truly hates football to its bones. Who hates football so much that they want to prune it, gut it, dismember it, from the grassroots game to the World Cup. Who finds the very idea of competitive sport offensive.'

In The Times, Henry Winter writes: 'What is staggering about their approach of these rebels without a conscience is their sheer naivety. Does anybody of sound mind and proper understanding of football actually advise these sheikhs, oligarchs and billionaire businessmen?

'Clearly not. Because the first hint of a closed shop was always going to anger supporters, including those of the shameless six. Even in such a tribal club world, these fans can see the dangers of a European Super League, how it stifles competition, and kills dreams.

'There is an arrogance bordering on the laughable, particularly, of Arsenal and Spurs to consider themselves part of a European elite.'

In The Daily Mail, Martin Samuel scorns: 'A plastic competition, watched by plastic fans, of plastic clubs. Forget the past, forget the Busby Babes, or the treble, forget Istanbul, or the doubles. These might as well be new clubs, in a new league, and newly moulded, in plastic.

'A league that no one else can get into; a league that you can't get out of no matter how useless you are. The end of meritocracy. That's plastic. A plastic closed shop that only the shallowest glory hunters would find distracting.'

Labelling the proposal a 'cowardly move', The Sun's Dave Kidd calls on fans to lead the opposition: 'True supporters of those clubs will appreciate the importance of the English footballing pyramid as well as those who follow less wealthy clubs - and they will be appalled by these proposals.

'Now these, along with supporters of Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham, must make their voices heard. Loud and clear.'

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In The Daily Telegraph, Jason Burt states starkly: 'The desire for a closed-shop European Super League is purely driven by greed' and describes the proposal as a 'declaration of war'.

And on Twitter, the Telegraph's chief football writer Sam Wallace concludes: 'The greed is, sadly, not surprising. More remarkable is these 12 clubs really think they can 'win the argument', with fans, govts. They truly believe this is 'better for the game'. I can't think of a more universal condemnation of a football proposal. Even Var has its supporters.'

And how the condemnation continued on social media...

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