Sorry, it wasn’t the fans who stopped the European Super League

Crass as the plan for a new competition was, Will Gore wonders whether football is any less of a closed shop now the proposal has been shelved

Fans respond to news of the proposed European Super League (Getty)

During the very short time it was a thing, the European Super League apparently unified even the most ardent of enemies in opposition to the project.

The city of Manchester was united; fans of Arsenal and Tottenham voiced common outrage and – noting their respective league positions – shared embarrassment. And the only person walking alone at Anfield was Liverpool’s dastardly owner, John W Henry.

But did the opponents of the plan really have a monopoly of opinion? According to a snap poll conducted by YouGov before the Super League was scuppered, 14 per cent of respondents were in favour of the idea. And we know of course – since it was obviously part of the clubs’ motivation for the whole shebang – that there were plenty of non-European fans who were keen.