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Arsenal director Josh Kroenke breaks family's silence on Super League

The Kroenke family have broken their silence on Arsenal's involvement in the botched Super League...
Richie McCormack
Richie McCormack

18.07 22 Apr 2021


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Arsenal director Josh Kroenke...

Arsenal director Josh Kroenke breaks family's silence on Super League

Richie McCormack
Richie McCormack

18.07 22 Apr 2021


Share this article


The Kroenke family have broken their silence on Arsenal's involvement in the botched Super League project. 

The North London club were one of six from the Premier League included among the founding dozen when plans were revealed on Sunday night.

The project went down like a lead balloon in England, and by Tuesday night all six Premier League clubs had withdrawn their interest.

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Despite this, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and his Barcelona counterpart Joan Laporta appear determined to push on with the Super League in some way, shape or form.

Josh Kroenke - son of Stan - along with club chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and technical director Edu appeared before an Arsenal fans' forum on Thursday evening to face supporters' anger at the proposals.

Kroenke told the fans, "We asked ourselves, what is worse: European Super League, or a European Super League without Arsenal?

"Also asked ourselves what do the fans want? The global fan wants Arsenal v Barcelona as often as possible.

"English fans want to see more big matches, but you still want your cold nights in Stoke. We got it wrong."

"The train was leaving the station," Venkatesham told the fans, "If it was to happen without us, what would that mean to us?"

Akhil Vyas of the Arsenal Supporters Trust directly addressed Kroenke, asking, "Do you not understand English football?

"You do not interact with fans, you have no clue, English football is clearly not for you, you should leave."

Kroenke blamed the pandemic for he and his father's lack of interaction with the Arsenal supporters. He told the forum he wants to set up a base in London, adding, "I am aware we never had trust, we need to build a bridge, we will."

Addressing the costs of the failed Super League project, Kroenke said Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) will be paying the full amount, but Venkatesham insisted it was nowhere near the £8million quoted elsewhere.

"We made a terrible decision," Kroenke added, "Now we need to make good ones.

"I have been in touch with all other 14 Premier League clubs to apologise for our part in this. We are working hard to rebuild our reputation.

Barcelona president Laporta says Super League is “absolutely necessary”


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