MANCHESTER, England, (Reuters) – European football closed ranks yesterday, threatening to ban any clubs entering a distance competition after a European Super League scare reappeared on the eve of a vote on Champions League reforms.
UEFA said yesterday they had learned that a group of English, Spanish and Italian clubs could “be planning to announce the creation of a so-called closed Super League.”
Multiple media reports, which have not been denied by any of the clubs, which have remained silent, said that the Premier League ‘big six’ – Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham – had joined ‘ r plans.
Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid from Spain and Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan from Italy have also been linked to the competition plan but no clubs from Germany or France have been related to the separation again. The news came less than 24 hours before UEFA is to sign its own plans for an expanded and restructured Champions League today.
UEFA issued a strong statement in conjunction with the English, Spanish and Italian football leagues and federations, saying they were prepared to use “all measures” to tackle any separation and say that any clubs that participation is prohibited from domestic alliances, such as the Premier League.
“The clubs concerned will be banned from playing in any other competition at domestic, European or global level, and their players could be denied the opportunity to represent their national teams,” said UEFA.
“We thank those clubs in other countries, especially the French and German clubs, who have refused to join this. We call on all football lovers, supporters and politicians, to join us in fighting such a project should it be announced. This continued self-interest of a few has been going on for too long. Enough is enough. “
The moves were condemned by European football authorities and former players such as former Manchester United captain Gary Neville, who called it a “total disgrace” and said the club’s owners were motivated by “pure greed” .
France’s best club Paris St Germain was not reported to have joined the scheme and French President Emmanuel Macron raised his voice against the cut.
“The president of the republic welcomes the position of French clubs to refuse to take part in a European football Super League project that threatens the principle of unity and sporting merit,” the French presidency said in a statement sent to Reuters.
“The French state will support all actions taken by the LFP, FFF, UEFA and FIFA to protect the integrity of federal competitions, whether national or European,” added the Elysee, citing the national football governing bodies , European and worldwide.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson also opposed the move.
“Plans for a European Premier League would be extremely damaging to football and we support football authorities in taking action,” Johnson tweeted.
“They would strike at the heart of the domestic game, and upset supporters across the country. The clubs involved must answer to their supporters and the wider football community before taking any further action. “
Earlier yesterday, Italy’s Serie A league board held an emergency meeting on the threatened Super League.
A Serie A source told Reuters that the alliance had recently become aware of the plans for a separation project.
20-TEAM LEAGUE
There have been reports of distractions for a number of years and they returned in January with several media reporting that a document had been produced outlining the plans for a 20-team league including Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.
In October, then Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu said the club had accepted an offer to join a separatist league.
In January, Spanish league president Javier Tebas told Reuters that Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United and Liverpool have been the driving forces behind the project, adding that other clubs in Spain and around the world are oppose it mercilessly.
Those reports led FIFA and UEFA to warn that they would ban any players involved in relaxation from playing in the World Cup or European Championship. The move comes as a surprise after the European Clubs Association (ECA), which represents the continent’s 246 major clubs, gave their support to the UEFA Champions League reforms on the agenda for Monday’s executive meeting.
UEFA has offered an increase to 36 of 32 teams, and the overhaul of the group is stepping into one table instead of the existing groups of four clubs.
Teams would play 10 games each in the group stage rather than the six they are currently playing and a playoff round would also be introduced before the final 16.
But while there was broad consensus and those reforms, the ECA made a late attempt to bring about changes to the governance and management of competition.
Manchester United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward told investors last month that he expected such a result.
“We look forward to seeing the full final offer from UEFA which we anticipate will involve more club involvement in the governance and management of the competitions,” said Woodward.