With 12 clubs announcing their participation in the breakaway competition referred to as the European Super League, Manchester United legend Gary Neville has slammed the idea and called for the Premier League-based teams included to be deducted points.
On Sunday, it was confirmed that 12 clubs have agreed to take part in the controversial tournament, despite widespread condemnation from football fans and pundits around the world.
One of those aggrieved by the idea of the Super League is former United right-back and captain Neville, who launched a stunning attack on those with intentions to participate, saying the Premier League-based clubs set to play in the competition should face harsh punishment.
"It's been damned, and rightly so. I'm a Manchester United fan and I have been for 40 years of my life but I'm absolutely disgusted. I'm disgusted with Manchester United and Liverpool most," he said on Sky Sports.
"Liverpool, they pretend 'You'll Never Walk Alone', the people's club, the fans' club. Manchester United, 100 years borne out of workers round here, and they're breaking away into a league without competition, that they can't be relegated from?
"It's an absolute disgrace and we have to wrestle back power in this country from the clubs at the top of this league, and that includes my club. I've been calling for 12 months as part of another group for an independent regulator to bring checks and balances in place to stop this happening. It's pure greed, they're impostors.
"The owners of this club, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City are nothing to do with football in this country. There are 100-odd years of history in this country of fans who have lived and loved these clubs, and the fans need protecting.
"I benefited from football hugely, I've made money out of football, I invest money into a football club, I'm not against money in football. But the principles and ethos of fair competition, the rights to play the game so that Leicester (City) can win the league and go into the Champions League.
"Manchester United aren't even in the Champions League! Arsenal aren't even in the Champions League! I watched them earlier, they're an absolute shambles of a football club at the moment. Tottenham (Hotspur) aren't in the Champions League!
"And they want a God-given right to be in there? They're an absolute joke and the time has come now for independent regulators, stop these clubs having this independent power base. Enough is enough. It's greed.
"My reaction earlier on wasn't an emotional reaction. Deduct them all points tomorrow, put them at the bottom of the league and take the money off them. Seriously, you have got to stamp on this. It's criminal.
"It's a criminal act against the football fans in this country, make no mistake. This is the biggest sport in the world, it's the biggest sport in this country and it's a criminal act against the fans, simple as that. Deduct points, deduct their money and punish them."
