Uefa calls project “cynical” and threatens to exclude dissident clubs



Aleksander Ceferin, the boss of Uefa. – Harold Cunningham / UEFA / AFP

Uefa was quick to react. In the wake of the imminent announcement, by a dozen top European clubs, of the upcoming creation of a European Superleague, a direct competitor of the traditional Champions League, the European body came out of silence this Sunday. In an official statement, Uefa has indeed announced that it will purely and simply exclude the clubs which participate in this separatist project.

“Uefa, the English football association and the Premier League, the Spanish Federation and La Liga, the Italian Federation and Serie A have learned that a few English, Spanish and Italian clubs appear to be about to announce the creation of a closed league called “Superleague”. If this happens, we would like to repeat that we, UEFA, English, Spanish and Italian Federations, Premier League, Liga, Serie A but also Fifa and all the members of our associations, will remain united in our efforts to stop this cynical project, founded on the personal interest of some clubs, at a time when society needs solidarity more than ever, ”warned the body in the introduction of its press release.

Fifa supports Uefa

This then goes on to say that it will consider “all the measures to be [sa] provision, at all levels, both judicial and sporting, to prevent this from happening ”. “As previously announced by Fifa (…), continues Uefa, the clubs concerned will be prohibited from participating in any other competition at national, European or world level, and their players could be refused the possibility of representing their national teams. . ”

Already brandished last January by Uefa and Fifa in the face of a similar rumor, the threat of exclusion of dissident clubs would have serious consequences, since it would result in depriving the players concerned of any career in selection, even though the formations anticipated for a “Superleague” are full of internationals.

It remains to be seen whether it complies with European competition law, which suggests a possible legal battle. This threat comes as UEFA meets on Monday its Executive Committee to endorse a reform of its Champions League, supposed to cut the rug from under the feet of supporters of a private Superleague.



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