LONDON (AP) - A group of 12 elite English, Spanish and Italian clubs dramatical ly split European soccer on Sunday by announcing the formation of a largely closed Super League. They are leav ing the existing UEFA run Champions League structure despite warnings they could be kicked out of their domes tic competitions and face legal action. The seismic move to shake up the world's biggest sport is partly engineered by the American owners of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United who also run U.S. franchises in closed leagues - a model they are trying to replicate in Europe. The power play came after the rebel clubs reneged on a promise on Friday to back the plan by UEFA - European football's govern ing body - to expand the Champions League beginning in 2024. The deal was designed to appease their wishes for more games, seemingly because they couldn't control the sale of rights to the existing compe tition. The Super League plan was first leaked in January but re emerged this week end. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez would be the founding chairman of the SL, which said it "intended to commence as soon as practi cable" as a 20 team competi tion playing in midweek like the current Champions League and Europa League. "We will help football at every level and take it to its rightful place in the world," Perez said in a statement. "Football is the only global sport in the world with more than four billion fans and our responsibility as big clubs is to respond to their desires." No evidence was present ed that supporters want a Super League. Fan groups across Europe last week crit icized even the current Champions League expan sion plan as a "power grab." Only 12 clubs have signed up for now - with none from France or Germany - but the SL hopes for three more as permanent members. Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are the other found ing members, along with Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan. Five slots would be left open to be determined each year based on the previous season's results. UEFA warned clubs that joining the "cynical project" based on self interest would see them banned from play ing in any other competition - domestic, European or global. It said their players could be denied the opportu nity to represent their national teams. England has the most clubs with the six including Chelsea and Manchester City, who are due to contest a Champions League semifi nals this month. Also includ ed is Tottenham, which is outside of the Premier League's top four to qualify for the Champions League next season, "By bringing together the world's greatest clubs and players to play each other throughout the season, the Super League will open a new chapter for European football, ensuring world class competition and facili ties, and increased financial support for the wider foot ball pyramid," said Joel Glazer, co owner of Manchester United and SL vice chairman. Another vice chairman of the new competition would be Andrea Agenlli who on Sunday night quit his role as chairman of the European Club Association, which was working with UEFA on enlarging the Champions League to 36 teams. Agenlli also resigned as a member of the executive committee of UEFA - rupturing his previ ously close friendship with the governing body's presi dent, Aleksander Ceferin. The UEFA leader has been determined not to grant more control of the sale of television and commercial rights to the clubs. "We have come together at this critical moment," Agnelli said, "enabling European competition to be transformed, putting the game we love on a sustain able footing for the long term future, substantially increas ing solidarity, and giving fans and amateur players a regu lar flow of headline fixtures." The rebel clubs are all members of the ECA which has a working agreement with UEFA, signed in 2019, which commits all its mem bers to take part in and respect the Champions League and other European competitions through the 2023 24 season. While FIFA issued a state ment in January warning that players in a Super League could be banned from the World Cup, the world govern ing body has not denied that its president, Gianni Infantino, has been involved in the breakaway talks with officials, including Real Madrid's Perez. "FIFA can only express its disapproval to a 'closed European breakaway league' outside of the international football structures," the world body said in a state ment on Sunday while not answering questions about any role by Infantino. The Premier League said the Super League would "undermine the appeal of the whole game" by going against the principles of open com petition. There was even an intervention by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who warned that a Super League would be "very damaging." The Super League con firmed on Sunday that each of the 15 founding members would get a share of at least 3.5 billion euros ($4.2 bil lion) in initial grants. The AP previously report ed that this money would be split among four tiers of clubs, with the top six each getting 350 million euros ($420 million). The competi tion would begin with two groups of 10 teams, with the top three from each group advancing to the quarterfi nals. The teams finishing fourth and fifth would be involved in a playoff to com plete the last eight lineup. The knockout phase would still feature two legged quar terfinals and semifinals before a single fixture final. The previously reported Super League proposal hoped to generate 4 billion euros ($4.86 billion) annual ly from broadcasters. CHICAGO (AP) - The Atlanta Braves say it's next man up when it comes to their rash of injuries so far this season. They might need a few men to step up if Ronald Acua Jr. has to go on the injured list. Acua's abdominal strain cast a shadow over Atlanta's 13 4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday night, even after the Braves bashed four homers in the first inning against Kyle Hendricks. Freddie Freeman, Travis d'Arnaud, Ehire Adrianza and Guillermo Heredia connected during Atlanta's fast start, and Heredia added his first career grand slam in the sixth for his first multihomer game. But the Braves' big concern after the win was the status of Acua, who depart ed in the fourth after he got banged up during a tough trip around the bases. "He's got an abdominal strain, and we'll know more tomorrow," manager Brian Snitker said. Snitker said he isn't sure if Acua is going to need a stint on the IL. "It was so late here that they couldn't get the test that they wanted, so they'll get it tomorrow in New York and, like I said, we'll know more then," he said. The loss of Acua for any significant chunk of time would be a tough blow for Atlanta, which has been hit hard by injuries. The dynam ic outfielder began the day with a .433 batting average, seven homers, 16 RBIs and 20 runs scored. Heredia finished with a career high six RBIs, and d'Arnaud drove in three runs. Bryse Wilson (1 0) pitched five innings of three run ball in his first appearance of the season. Anthony Rizzo hit two solo drives for Chicago, which lost for the sixth time in eight games. It was Rizzo's first multihomer game since Aug. 29 at Cincinnati and No. 19 for his career. "Their lineup is deep with a lot of thump," Rizzo said, "and just tonight wasn't Kyle's night in the first." The Cubs bashed six homers during Saturday's 13 4 victory, but it was the Braves showing off their power in the rubber game of the weekend set. "As far as the result yester day, you know obviously it wasn't ideal. It wasn't what we wanted," Heredia said through a translator. "But it's one of those things where you kind of put it behind you and you come out looking to the next day to kind of have the game that we put togeth er." Freeman kicked it off with a one out solo drive that cleared the bleachers in right for his fifth homer, traveling an estimated 421 feet. D'Arnaud connected for a two run shot, Adrianza belt ed a solo homer and Heredia capped Atlanta's six run first with another two run drive. The Braves hit four homers in the first inning for the first time since May 28, 2003, against Cincinnati. The Cubs allowed four homers in an inning for the first time since the seventh on July 4, 2010, against the Reds. Hendricks (0 2) was tagged for seven runs and seven hits in four innings in his first start since April 7. The right hander was slated to pitch Tuesday at Milwaukee, but he was scratched because of an ill ness. "Just not very good overall from the start," Hendricks said. "Not aggressive, falling behind guys and then just everything was flat." Heredia was 0 for 7 in three games this season before busting out against the Cubs. According to STATS, he became the first player to drive in at least six runs in a game from the No. 8 spot in the Braves' lineup since RBIs became an official stat in 1920. Braves 2B Ozzie Albies was held out for the second straight game. He was hit on the right calf by a pitch in the ninth inning of Friday's 5 2 win in the series opener. The Braves are off Monday, and Snitker said he thinks Albies will be ready to play Tuesday night against the New York Yankees. Snitker is hoping LHP Max Fried (right ham string) just misses one start, but he said he "can't say for sure that it won't be longer." Fried was placed on the 10 day injured list after he got hurt running the bases dur ing Tuesday's 14 8 loss to Miami. Following a day off, Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (2 1, 3.18 ERA) starts Tuesday night in the opener of a three game series against the New York Mets. RHP Taijuan Walker (0 0, 2.61 ERA) goes for the vis iting Mets. BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) - Indiana and Notre Dame will end a nearly a 40 year series hiatus after school offi cials announced Monday they would open the next decade with a two game foot ball series. Notre Dame will host Indiana on Aug. 31, 2030, the first contest between the in state programs since September 1991. On Sept. 27, 2031, the Fighting Irish will visit Bloomington, Indiana, for the first time since October 1950. "I'm looking forward to facing one of the most storied programs in the history of college football," Hoosiers coach Tom Allen said in a statement released by the athletic department. "It's tremendous for the state of Indiana and for our fans, and it will be a great opportunity for our players." From 1946 2014 Notre Dame faced Purdue, the state's other Big Ten school, annually for the Shillelagh trophy. The series was halted in 2015, in part because of Notre Dame's ACC scheduling obligations. But in 2017, offi cials from both schools announced that series would resume Sept. 18 of this year when the Boilermakers visit South Bend - the first of six games scheduled between next season and 2028. It's unclear whether the Indiana games could impact future contests between Notre Dame and Purdue. The announcement comes less than five months after the Hoosiers went 6 2, fin ished second in the Big Ten East Division and were ranked No. 12 in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll - their highest finish and most successful season since 1967 when Indiana played in the Rose Bowl. The Irish opened the sea son with 10 straight wins but finished with back to back losses to Clemson in the ACC championship game and eventual national champion Alabama in the CFP semifi nal. Notre Dame finished No. 5 in the rankings. Notre Dame holds a 23 5 1 advantage in the Indiana series, going 13 1 1 at home and 6 3 in Bloomington. The Hoosiers have lost six straight to the Irish dating to a 20 7 victory on Oct. 21, 1950.
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Grace Men's Soccer Team Earns Berth In National Championships
Hoosiers, Irish Agree To 2-Game Series In '30-31
Cubs Give Up 4 Homers In First Inning, Lose to ATL
BY JAY COHEN
Associated Press Sports Writer
BY DAVE CAMPBELL
Associated Press Sports Writer
Nam Y. Huh/As ociated Pres
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks wipes his face after Atlanta Braves' Ehire Adrianza hit a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, April 18, 2021.
Major Drama In European Soccer With New Super League
BY ROB HARRIS
Associated Press Sports Writer
Jon Super/As ociated Pres
The Official UEFA Champions League match balls are on display ahead of the Champions League quarter final second leg soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, April 14, 2021.
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