The plan wasn't to forgoe the PL it was to have it in place of the UCL.
Either way both those competitions are SL's in all but name btw, the latter becoming even more of one soon with the two top ranked teams failing to qualify through the league getting an automatic place (even though it will likely protect my teams place for a long time I think the idea is disgusting).
I mean don't get me wrong I thought the idea of the ESL was shit and didn't want it but the selective outrage was hilarious. Based purely on fairness, how is it fair the 4th place team in any league get a CHAMPIONS league spot over actual Champions of any top flight European league? Likewise how is it fair the likes of Norwich and Fulham can continuously bag £180m reward money for failing in the PL? which effectively helps close up the top end of the Champ to the point the PL may aswell be a no relegation league.
The greed of Uefa, Fifa and Gary's employers amongst others is what played a big role in this idea picking up such steam in the first place.