As many as nine of the 12 founding clubs of the proposed European Super League have pulled out of the competition.
The Super League crashed just days after its announcement after heavy backlash from fans, football bodies and other clubs.
Founding clubs of the super league
The founding members of the proposed European Super League are:
- Arsenal
- Chelsea
- Liverpool
- Manchester United
- Manchester City
- Tottenham
- Atletico Madrid
- Barcelona
- Real Madrid
- Inter Milan
- AC Milan
- Juventus
Nine of the founders have pulled out, remaining three clubs; Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid who still maintain their belief in the project.
UEFA have accepted to reintegrate the clubs that have renounced their participation in the proposed league but not without sanctions.
The nine clubs will lose five per cent of the revenue they would have received from UEFA for one season.
“Those nine clubs acknowledge and accept that the Super League project was a mistake and apologise to fans, national associations, national leagues, fellow European clubs and UEFA,” according to the statement from UEFA.
“They have also recognised that the project would not have been authorised under UEFA Statutes and Regulations.”
UEFA added that the clubs have “committed to and will participate in any UEFA Club Competitions each season for which that club qualifies on sporting merit” and will “terminate their involvement in the company established to form and operate the Super League and cease any existing related legal actions”.
The clubs will also face €100 million (£87m/$122m) in fines if they attempt to play in any other unauthorised tournament such as the Super League in the future.
“In addition, and moving forward, UEFA has reserved all rights to take whatever action it deems appropriate against those clubs that have so far refused to renounce the so-called ‘Super League’. The matter will promptly be referred to the competent UEFA disciplinary bodies,” the statement concluded. Read the full statement here.
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Reacting to the sanctions, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, the clubs left in the initiative, released a statement attacking UEFA.
“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,” the clubs announced.
“This is intolerable under the rule of law and Tribunals have already ruled in favour of the Super League proposal, ordering FIFA and UEFA to either directly or through their affiliated bodies, refrain from taking any action which may hinder this initiative in any way while court proceedings are pending.
“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.”
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