In April, twelve European elite clubs declared themselves as the ‘founding members’ of the controversial breakaway tournament – supposed to rival the Champions League, but mass protests and condemnation from multiple footballing bodies led to the postponement of the competition just 48 hours after its announcement.
The six Premier League clubs were the first ones to walk out amid the backlash, while AC Milan, Inter and Atletico Madrid soon followed suit. A few weeks later, UEFA reintegrated these nine clubs but handed financial sanctions for their participation.
The clubs have since accepted the punishment and confirmed their commitment to UEFA – renouncing further plans to create a breakaway league. However, the three remaining clubs, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus had stood firm and declined all possibilities of a reunion – resulting in a probe by UEFA’s disciplinary process.
“In accordance with Article 31(4) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors have today been appointed to conduct a disciplinary investigation regarding a potential violation of UEFA’s legal framework by Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona and Juventus FC in connection with the so-called ‘Super League’ project. Further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course.”
a statement released by UEFA read.
The three accused clubs still maintain their status as the founders of the Super League and have voiced their dissent for UEFA and FIFA’s role over the collapse of the breakaway league and also pledged to continue fighting for a change. According to the joint statement released by these clubs,
“The founding clubs have suffered, and continue to suffer, unacceptable third-party pressures, threats, and offences to abandon the project and therefore desist from their right and duty to provide solutions to the football ecosystem via concrete proposals and constructive dialogue,”
“Furthermore, we reiterate to FIFA, UEFA and all football stakeholders, as we have done on several occasions since the announcement of the Super League, our commitment and determination to discuss, with respect and without intolerable pressure and in accordance with the rule of law, the most appropriate solutions for the sustainability of the whole football family.”
In a recent interview, the UEFA President, Alexander Ceferin, claimed that the association would proceed with legal actions and impose sanctions on the clubs refusing to withdraw their name from the Super League.
“We are all united against this nonsense of a project,”
“Cynical plan, completely against what football should be. We cannot and will not allow that to change.”
he said.
Meanwhile, Juventus have been threatened with expulsion from Serie A should they continue vouching for the European Super League.
“The rules are clear. If Juventus is still part of the Super League when it enters next season, it can’t participate in Serie A.
“I would be sorry for the fans but rules are rules and they apply to everyone. I hope this holdout ends soon.”
“We are all a bit tired of this tug-of-war between UEFA and these three clubs. I hope to be able to mediate between Juventus and UEFA.
“It’s not good for international football, Italian football, Juventus. We have already said that the football association respects the rules.”
said Gabriele Gravina, the head of the Italian Football Association.
The other nine ‘founding members’ signed a ‘Club Commitment Declaration’ with UEFA earlier last week, which saw them agree to a massive €100 million fine if they plan a similar breakaway project in the future. The clubs also agreed to hand over the allocated 5% of their revenues generated from UEFA’s club competitions for one season.
