Ex-Sunderland star set to hold emergency meeting with Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles

The Reds skipper, whose club is one of 12 founding members, is set to represent the players’ views on the deeply controversial competition, which has already been strongly opposed by 14 top-flight English clubs.

FIFA, UEFA and the British government are among a number of high-profile bodies to condemn the plans pushed by Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus.

Indeed, as well as threatening to ban teams involved, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin says the players could also be banned from representing their countries at future World Cups and European Championships.

Ceferin said: “The players who will play in teams that might play in the closed league will be banned from playing in World Cup and Euros.

"They could not represent national team in any matches."

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford hinted on Twitter that he is against his own club’s movement by posting an image containing a powerful quote from Sir Matt Busby: ‘Football is nothing without fans’. James Milner also admitted he was not in favour of a breakaway league after Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at Leeds United.

And according to the Daily Mail, Sunderland-born Henderson will host a virtual meeting that will allow Premier League captains to discuss potential ways forward with the proposal coming under more and more scrutiny as the days progress.

Henderson played a key role in the players’ response to the NHS crisis last year during the coronavirus pandemic.

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