Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani delivers damning verdict on European Super League plans

Reports emerged on Sunday that the Premier League’s so-called ‘big six’ of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur intended to join a rebel competition.

Those plans were confirmed later that evening, with AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid joining as founding clubs with three more clubs expected to follow before the inaugural season.

Backlash to the plans has been fierce from supporters and pundits alike for the tournament which has been set up to rival the Champions League.

Leeds majority owner Radrizzani hit out at the idea on social media, replying to an Italian journalist on Twitter over the plans.

"[It's] absolutely against the sporting spirit, the dream of millions of fans to conquer the championships on the field, with planning, vision, work," Radrizzani said.

"[It] kills dreams of club players and fans. The teams are fans and WE are the keepers of the club."

Radrizzani had also earlier tweeted his agreement with former Manchester United defender and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville over his scathing assessment.

“It is an absolute disgrace," Neville said.

"Honestly, we have to wrestle back power in this country from the clubs at the top of this league, and that includes my club.

“The motivation is greed. 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 is criminal. It is a criminal act against football fans in this country. Deduct points, deduct money and punish them.

“Enough is enough. There isn’t a football fan in this country that won’t be seething listening to this conversation and these announcements. This is disowning-your-own-club stuff, this.

“Let them break away but punish them straight away. If they announce a letter of intent has been signed, those six clubs, they should be punished heavily. Massive fines, points deductions, take the titles off them.

“Give the title to Burnley, let Fulham stay up. Relegate Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal. Those three clubs, with their history in this country, are the ones that should suffer the most.

“The history and traditions that run through those three clubs is absolutely enormous and I value it, but they leave a lot to be desired at this moment in time.”