Football
Chris Wright, Toe Poke writer 3y

Super League fails as Premier League clubs pull out: How social media reacted

RIP the Super League. A group of 12 "elite" European clubs attempted to start a new breakaway competition only to have it crumble in less than 72 hours. If it seems like a chaotic blur, that's largely because that is what the lifespan of the doomed competition ultimately amounted to.

- Marcotti: Why clubs pulled out and what's next for them? 
- Ogden: Super League cabal have spectacularly misread the room

After being officially announced on Sunday night, by Tuesday the grand project began to implode as Premier League club after Premier League club started to withdraw in the face of the widespread public backlash. Indeed, Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea have all begun the process of pulling out, with the other six European clubs (Inter and Atletico are already on the way) not far behind.

With the Super League in tatters, it was inevitable that social media should be awash with reaction from fans around the world, most of whom were revelling in its demise.

The vast panoply of jokes and memes being made at the Super League's expense were as hilarious as they were brutal:

Russian club Spartak Moscow marked the sad passing of the Super League and its tragic existence.

The final Super League table was also calculated in order to be preserved for posterity. 

Some attempted to highlight the positives for certain clubs involved.

While others mocked the misfortune of prominent individuals whose careers would now forever be blighted by unwanted Super League trivia.

Plenty had fun at the expense of Florentino Perez, the Real Madrid president who was a key proponent of the Super League's formation.

Chelsea goalkeeping legend Petr Cech, who is now the club's technical/performance advisor, had to calm the masses outside Stamford Bridge and persuade the baying mob that it would all be sorted.

Many fans were left utterly bamboozled by the sheer speed at which the relentless football updates kept coming on Tuesday night...

While some likened the chaotic furore to another seismic news story that had been dominating the British cultural landscape this week.

A vocal critic from the outset, former Manchester United defender and now Sky pundit Gary Neville offered a toast to the dearly departed Super League.

Former Arsenal and Real Madrid star Mesut Ozil, a vocal opponent of the plans who is now playing for Fenerbahce in Turkey, had a little fun too.

Several other players had their say, with Man City forward Raheem Sterling perhaps the most concise.

Meanwhile, Barcelona defender Gerard Pique was simply relieved at seeing top-level football delivered from true evil...

Even NFL superstar JJ Watt joined in with the mockery, poking fun at the Super League implosion with a tried and true Grandpa Simpson gif.

Farewell Super League, we hardly knew you.

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