UEFA, the Premier League and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson have condemned 12 major European clubs, including the “Big Six” in England, by signing a breakaway European League.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham are part of the group. Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid are from the Spanish League, Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus. UEFA said it would use “all possible measures” to stop the “satirical project”.
Prominent figures on the governing body of European football were angered by the proposals. None of the clubs involved have commented yet, but a statement is believed to likely be issued later on Sunday.
Johnson said the plans would be “extremely harmful to football” and that the UK government was supporting soccer officials “in taking action”. He added, “The clubs concerned must respond to their fans and the football community in general before taking any further action.”
UEFA is hoping to exit plans with a new UEFA Champions League appearance featuring 36 teams to be confirmed on Monday. UEFA has issued a joint statement with the English Football Association, the English Premier League, the Spanish Football Confederation (RFEF), the Spanish Football League, the Italian Football Association (FIGC), as well as the Italian Football League on Sunday.
It is understood that Liverpool and Chelsea are part of the group that entered the breakaway league – Photo: Getty Images
They said they would “remain united” in trying to end the dismissal with court and sporting measures if needed.
They also confirmed FIFA’s position that players participating in the Premier League will be banned from all other competitions at the national, European or global level and may be prevented from representing their national teams.
In a separate statement, the Premier League said it condemned the proposal because it “attacks the principles of open competition and sporting merit that are at the heart of” national and European football. Details on how the separatist league would work are few, but there were talks in October of a new £ 4.6 billion competition that would include replacing the Champions League.
It was likely the concept of “members only”, as many of the richest European clubs guaranteed entry without threatening to be demoted or potentially disqualified. The threat of the European Super League could be a useful tool for the major clubs to use in their negotiations with UEFA for a better deal.
Culture Minister Oliver Dowden said in a statement that the government is “concerned that this plan will lead to the creation of a closed store at the top of our national game.” “We have a football pyramid with money flowing from the world-successful English Premier League through the leagues and the local community,” he added.
“I would be bitterly disappointed to see any action eliminate this.” Juventus owners Andrea Agnelli, Manchester United Executive Vice President Ed Woodward and AC Milan CEO Evan Gazidis were to make a major contribution to the Champions League discussions on Friday.
However, these clubs are among those who broke their ranks, angering UEFA, whose president Alexander Ceferin wanted to avoid the threat of the Premier League. The Premier League said the European Premier League would “end” the fans’ dream that “your team can go to the top and play against the best”.
He added that such a league “would undermine the attractiveness of the entire game” and that he would work with the FA, the English Football League, the Professional Footballers Association (PFA), the League Managers Association (LMA) and the fans for the “defense. Integrity and future prospects of English football” .
The Football Association said it “will not grant permission for any competition harmful to English football” and “will take all necessary legal and / or regulatory measures” to stop it. Bundesliga teams are opposed to the plans because the German model means that commercial investors cannot own more than 49% of the shares in clubs, so fans hold the majority of their voting rights.
It is understood that Paris Saint-Germain, from Ligue 1, is not part of the group. UEFA said it thanked “clubs in other countries, especially French and German clubs, which refused to join” in the separatist league.
They added, “We invite all football fans, fans and politicians to join us in the struggle against such a project if it is announced.” “This constant self-interest for some has been going on for a long time. That’s enough.” It is not clear when the European Premier League will start.
However, FIFA has already said that it will not recognize such a competition and that any player who takes part in it will be denied the opportunity to play in the World Cup.
The Italian League called an emergency meeting of the Security Council to discuss the matter. The Football Supporters’ Union said it was “totally against” the plans, which it said were “only motivated by cynical greed”.
“This competition is being created behind us by billionaire club owners who do not care about the traditions of the game and continue to treat football as their personal fiefdom,” they added. The AFC said it had “major concerns” about the proposal, adding that it would “undermine the strength and joy of national football and reduce the game for the vast majority of fans across the continent”.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that he “welcomes the stance of French clubs refusing to participate” in the European Premier League, which threatens the principle of solidarity and sporting merit. “
A statement by the French presidency added: “The French state will support all measures taken by the French liberal party.” [órgão dirigente das ligas profissionais da França], FFF [associação de futebol da França]UEFA and FIFA to protect the integrity of federal, national or European competitions. “
It was agreed that the new Champions League would include a preliminary stage in which each team would play 10 matches for each team, instead of the current group stage. Additionally, there will be play-off matches, followed by a knockout phase.
The most controversial aspect of the proposals involves allocating four additional seats, with two allocation to top-ranked clubs on the UEFA transaction table that are unable to qualify for the Champions League through their domestic competition, but which include some kind of European football. . For now, Liverpool and Chelsea would be the two clubs that would benefit from this system if he were to exist this season.
Information from the BBC
Amelia Kensington is a contributor to Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, presenting complex topics in an accessible and engaging way while maintaining a strong commitment to accuracy and relevance.