Prince William shares 'concerns' for the future of football following controversial Super League proposal

Prince William has spoken out against proposals for a new sports tournament, which would permanently change football culture in Europe. 

• Prince William has shared his concerns about the proposed European Super League, a controversial breakaway football tournament.
• As President of the Football Association, the Duke of Cambridge has long been a passionate footie fan.
• In other royal news, fans think that Meghan Markle will name her baby ‘Lily’ in tribute to the Queen.
  

The Duke of Cambridge voiced his thoughts on the controversial European Super League, which has been met with widespread criticism from both players and supporters. 

"I share the concerns of fans about the proposed Super League and the damage it risks causing to the game we love," he wrote on Twitter. 

Prince William's response comes amidst huge backlash towards the announcement of the new football competition. Twelve major clubs have signed up to the European Super League (ESL), including Liverpool and Manchester United. The competition will also feature hotshot Italian teams like AC Milan and Juventus, as well as Spanish heavyweights like Real Madrid and Barcelona. 

The clubs want to continue competing in national leagues but also play one another in a new midweek match. This extra game would only be between ESL teams, resulting in more matches between big-name clubs. 

It would therefore directly rival the Champions League, one of the world's most popular football competitions. Unlike in the Champions League, where teams can be relegated based on their performance, ESL's founding teams would be granted permanent membership. 

Critics of the idea have called it inherently unfair, as teams in the ESL will never face relegation no matter how poorly they play. Prince William, who is currently the President of the Football Association, echoed these sentiments in his statement. 

"Now, more than ever, we must protect the entire football community – from the top level to the grassroots – and the values of competition and fairness at its core," he wrote. 

Proponents of the ESL believe that the tournament is in the best interest of football, arguing that the sport desperately needs a makeover. Several clubs are in debt right now, as a result of disrupted fixtures and low match attendance due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The ESL believes that more people will tune into the matches if they are guaranteed to see high-profile teams compete against one another.