UEFA, the football associations of England (FA), Spain (RFEF) and Italy (FIGC) and the league organizers in those countries (the Premier League, LaLiga and the Lega Serie A) published a joint statement on Sunday about the possible arrival of the Super League. They turn against the competition and announced that they want to thwart the plans. Clubs wishing to participate will be banned from any other competition, according to the statement. Wrote earlier on Sunday The New York Times that major European clubs have reached an agreement in principle on the Super League, which would be organized by the clubs themselves.
“If this were to happen, we – UEFA, FA, RFEF, FIGC, the Premier League, LaLiga, Lega Serie A, as well as FIFA and all of our unions, will remain united in our efforts to stop this cynical project. is a project based on the self-interest of a few clubs, especially at a time when society needs more solidarity than ever, “the joint statement reads. “We will consider all possible means, both sporting and legal, to prevent this from happening. Football is based on open competitions and sporting merits. It cannot be any other way.”
“As announced by FIFA and the six federations, the affected clubs will be banned from all other competitions, both at national and international level. Their players may be deprived of the opportunity to play for their national team. We thank the clubs in this area. other countries, particularly those in France and Germany, that have refused to be part of this. We call on all football fans, supporters and politicians, to support us in our fight against such a project, should it be announced. The focus on the self-interest of a small group has been going on for too long. Enough is enough. “
The KNVB fully supports this statement from UEFA, the Super League is not in the interest of Dutch football. https://t.co/DSH90HagJs
– KNVB (@KNVB) April 18, 2021
The KNVB says in a response that it ‘fully’ supports UEFA’s statement. “A Super League is not in the interest of Dutch football,” said the union. In recent months, clubs have been secretly talking about the Super League. At least twelve clubs have agreed or expressed an interest in the arrival of the competition: six English clubs (Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur), three Spanish clubs (Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid) and three Italian clubs (Juventus, AC Milan and Internazionale). The initiative goes directly against the plans that UEFA wants to present on Monday about the new format of the Champions League.
The group is also trying to get other clubs, such as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, to commit to the plans, but those clubs do not want to say goodbye to the current system. Paris Saint-Germain has also rejected invitations to join the group of top clubs for the time being. PSG Chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi is also a delegate to the UEFA Executive Committee on behalf of the European Club Association, the body that represents European club teams.