Aerials of Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham stadiums on the morning after London's top English Premier League clubs joined the controversial European Super League.

A group of 12 elite English, Spanish and Italian clubs dramatically split European football on Sunday by announcing the formation of a largely-closed Super League.

They are leaving the existing UEFA-run Champions League structure despite warnings they could be kicked out of their domestic 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.