Brighton 'completely opposed' to plans for European Super League
The Premier League club are due to face one of the breakaways on Tuesday night (April 20th)
Brighton and Hove Albion has warned that plans to create a European Super League 'would destroy the dreams of clubs at every level of the domestic game'.
The club has issued a statement in response to the plans for a 12-team league featuring the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham alongside teams from Spain and Italy.
Albion are among the other 14 Premier League clubs who will meet on Tuesday (April 20th) to work out which steps to take next.
The move has been met with condemnation from governing bodies, fans, supporters' groups and politicians, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino warning clubs which break away that they would have to 'face up to their actions'
The statement was issued on behalf of chairman Tony Bloom, chief executive Paul Barber, technical director Dan Ashworth and head coach Graham Potter.
In it, the club said it was 'completely opposed to the plans', which it said would 'totally disregard fans, the lifeblood of our sport at professional levels'.
It goes on to read:
"The ups and downs of football – promotion, relegation, winning titles and cups, challenging for, or missing out on, a European place – are all part and parcel of the drama, jeopardy, joy and heartbreak that makes our game the most watched and most loved in the world.
"These key attributes create significant value from which we feed a financial support structure which helps to sustain football at every level in our country and well beyond.
"By contrast, a European Super League would concentrate value for the benefit of a small number of clubs.
"The efforts to create a closed-shop for all but the largest clubs demonstrate a clear lack of respect for the contributions of all clubs within the domestic leagues in this country and across Europe."
The club has said it will work with groups, including the Government, MPs of all political parties and colleagues across football to 'oppose and defeat these plans'.
"We are fully committed to a thriving domestic league and pyramid with the ultimate reward of European competition for achievements and success on the field.
"We remain open to a transparent, calm and rationale dialogue with all clubs to achieve this."
Brighton are due to play Chelsea, one of the six sides set to break away to form the Super League, at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.
Graham Potter's side currently sit in 16th in the Premier League table, six points clear of the relegation places with seven games left to play in the 2020/21 season.