Watford teens joined Super League protest at Stamford Bridge

Manchester City fan Zac Bookbinder and his Chelsea-supporting friend Gabriel McManus vented their fury to the European competition, which was dubbed a "closed shop" by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

They protested outside Chelsea's home ground before the west London side took on Brighton in the Premier League later that evening.

While the protests were ongoing at Stamford Bridge, reports emerged that Chelsea were quitting - throughout the rest of the evening, all six English sides which signed up to the Super League issued statements announcing that they were leaving the competition - just two days after it had formally been announced.

There was a lack of social distancing as protests took place outside Stamford Bridge. Credit: PA

But the Super League idea was still alive when fans protested at Stamford Bridge last night, including Zac and Gabriel, who both live in Watford.

Both teenagers held homemade banners which read 'RIP Football 1863-2021', 'Players Managers Speak Out' and 'Cancel Super League'.

Speaking outside the ground before the clubs issued statements, Zac, 16, and the nephew of a youth cup winner John Bookbinder, said: "Manchester City is in my blood, my uncle played for City and everyone in my family is a City fan.

"I don’t want us to be in this elite league, I would rather us be in League Two. It is a shambles. It is elitist."

Zac added he used to "love Man City, but now I am feel like I am turning on them because they are ruining our legacy".

Gabriel and Zac. Credit: PA

Gabriel said: "It is just the top six (club) owners who are trying to take football away and put it into one big Super League.

"The fans who work hard every single week to try and support their teams are being taken out of this.

"The history of every single club in the top flight, which has had years and years of players who have served them, is being taken away. It is all being taken away for money. It is just pure greed and nothing else. It is disgusting."

The Chelsea fan said of his club: "I woke up this morning (Tuesday) and thought 'this just cannot be real'. For them to do this to the fans just does not feel real."

Fans protest against Chelsea's involvement in the European Super League. The club has since withdrawn along with the five other English sides involved. Credit: PA

Following the abandonment of the Super League after the backlash from fans, footballing authorities, and the Government, Boris Johnson promised a "root-and-branch" review into the way football is run, which will consider how to boost the role of fans.

Plans under consideration also include an Ofcom-style regulator for the sport, ministers have indicated.