Aston Villa chief executive Christian Purslow: European Super League a 'grotesque concept'

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Spurs are among 12 clubs who have agreed to join a new ESL.

"These proposals do away with sporting merit," said the Villa CEO.

"It would enable a small number of clubs to be in this competition come what may and, for millions of people in football, that goes against everything the sport means and stands for.

"The idea is that the uncertainty that comes with sport, that makes it so compelling, that we all love, is actually damaging to the business models of these huge clubs.

"So the scheme is designed to take away that uncertainty, to give predictability to their businesses so that, if they're badly managed or have a poor year, they're still in the premier tournament.

"Does that sound like sport or football to you? To me it sounds a grotesque concept."