Vox Sentences - How high is too high?

• The European Super League collapsed in its first week after an immediate backlash from players, fans, managers, and television pundits all over Europe. The league would have included 12 of Europe's largest teams, such as Arsenal and FC Barcelona. [CNN / Matias Gretz]
• One particular outrage for fans: the possibility of the new league replacing the Champions League, with permanent teams and little chance for other groups to qualify. [Vox / Alex Ward]
• The Super League was pitched as a way to help the sport's struggles in the pandemic, but it would have widened an already disconcerting gap between Europe’s wealthiest clubs and everyone else, while enriching soccer's owners. [Vox / Alex Ward]
• Rumors quickly swirled that Super League members could lose access to world tournaments. Even some prominent politicians were quick to denounce the Super League: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was exploring legal and political avenues to protect soccer's current leagues. [Yahoo Sports / Andrew Reid]
• A YouGov poll found that 68 percent of UK fans strongly opposed the Super League, as did 79 percent of UK fans of clubs outside the top six teams. [YouGov / Connor Ibbetson]
• The UK teams soon all exited the new pact. Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, and A.C. Milan followed suit, bowing to international pressure and rejoining a soccer community that’s lost respect for club owners and the institution leaders. The next few months will be rocky. [The Athletic]

[Associated Press / Raf Casert]

• Queen Elizabeth celebrated her 95th birthday Wednesday, her first in over seven decades without her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, who died last week. She spent the day in mourning at Windsor Castle. [CNN / Lianne Kolirin]
• As Covid-19 surges continue in Europe, Italy has begun distributing the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to every citizen over the age of 60, a key development in the country’s bid to vaccinate its population. Only 2.2% of Italians over 70 have received shots, failing to curb deaths among the most vulnerable population. [Washington Post / Chico Harlan and Rick Noack]
• A South Korean court rejected a claim against Japan by South Korean victims of sexual slavery from Japanese soldiers in World War II. The court cited the international sovereignty of Japan in its ruling. [Al Jazeera]
• As the verdict was set to be read at Derek Chauvin’s trial Tuesday, Ma’Khia Bryant, 16, was killed by police responding to a 911 call about an attempted stabbing in Southeastern Columbus. Her killing cast a pall over a day filled with displays of relief at Chauvin’s conviction in George Floyd's murder. [New York Times / Neil Vigdor and Brian Pietsch]