In the past week, the soccer world has erupted in protest over the introduction of the corrupt, unjust, and frankly maddening European Super League. After a few days of protesting and coming together as soccer fans around the world, the proposed league was shot down by the fans and managers who believe in the history and soul of football.

For the uninitiated, the European Super League is now a suspended league that would’ve been made up of 20, excessively rich teams, who would’ve left their current leagues — leagues that they have been a part of for longer than a hundred years — and join an elite group with no history whatsoever, for a massive influx of money.

These teams who joined would’ve not only forfeited the right of their players to suit up for their national teams in competitions like the World Cup, or Euro, but they’d also be forgoing their right to compete in any other game aside from a super league game.

It would’ve destroyed culture, history, and the heart and soul of cities all over Europe. While this all sounds terrible, the one reason that owners seemed to be attracted to this deal would be the gift of up to $4.2 billion dollars aggregate for each club, allowing all the teams collectively to practically take every single one of the top players around the world.

The 12 announced teams who would have joined included top teams from England, Italy, and Spain. Heavy hitters like Manchester United and Liverpool, Inter Milan and Juventus, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.

As of April 20, the Super League was suspended in response to every Premier League team dropping out after strong fan backlash. This was surprising, considering that Florentino Perez, the creator of the league, said that teams “cannot leave” and that “the contract is binding.”

As a fan of Nottingham Forest Football Club, the oldest league club in the world, I think the proposal by Perez and other owners was an absolute disgrace to the sport of soccer and the world.

Teams like Arsenal — started by British municipal workers in the 1880s — and Tottenham Hotspur — started by a group of schoolboys in London — were briefly stripped from their native leagues and put into a group of 20 clubs from three different countries in Europe for the pure motivation of profit.

For a few days, the sport built by regular, middle-class townspeople was stolen from them and was used as a tool to get the rich men who run these clubs, much richer.

Fans, rightfully upset, protested in the streets, as signs were put up all over stadiums in Europe insisting that the Super League should be abolished.

In response to the suspension, fans all over the world have rejoiced, with common messages including, “Football belongs to the fans” and “We saved football.” All this unity within the soccer community is unbelievably rare, and it is frankly beautiful to see rivaling fans coming together to take down such a corrupt and greedy decision made by a few rich owners.

There’s a reason why it’s called “the beautiful game.”