Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti thought the European Super League was a joke when the news first broke.
Reports emerged last Sunday about top European clubs forming a breakaway league to replace the Champions League.
The plans were revealed on Sunday night, but the proposal was dead in the water two days later after fan, government, UEFA and FIFA backlash.
"My immediate reaction was they are joking, 'Is it a joke?'," Ancelotti told reporters when asked about the matter.
"They wanted to build a competition without sporting merit.
"This is not acceptable because in our culture, we were brought up to have sporting merit.
"They were wrong - full stop."
