Crisis Looms In European Football As 12 Big Clubs Form European Super League, FIFA, UEFA Kick Against It [SEE FULL LIST]
▶ AC Milan
▶ Arsenal
▶ Atletico Madrid
▶ Chelsea
▶ Barcelona
▶ Inter Milan
▶ Juventus
▶ Liverpool
▶ Manchester City
▶ Manchester United
▶ Real Madrid
▶ Tottenham
12 big football clubs in Europe on Sunday announced the formation of a new competition that will rival the popular UEFA Champions League. The new Competition is christened European Super League.
A statement from those behind the new football competition reads: “Twelve of Europe’s leading football clubs have today come together to announce they have agreed to establish a new mid-week competition, the Super League, governed by its Founding Clubs”.
The new format has been put forward as a rival to the UEFA Champions League, but not as a replacement to domestic leagues.
As well as the six Premier League clubs, three La Liga teams and three Serie A clubs have agreed to join the new Super League.
The statement adds:
“AC Milan, Arsenal FC, Atlético de Madrid, Chelsea FC, FC Barcelona, FC Internazionale Milano, Juventus FC, Liverpool FC, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid CF and Tottenham Hotspur have all joined as Founding Clubs.
“It is anticipated that a further three clubs will join ahead of the inaugural season, which is intended to commence as soon as practicable.”
The agreement between the soccer heavyweights comes on the eve of plans to introduce a new format for the Champions League. UEFA has put forward changes to increase the number of competing teams in Europe’s top club knockout competition from 32 to 36.
However, both the world and European football governing bodies, FIFA and UEFA have rejected the newly formed Super League.
In its official statement, FIFA disapproves of the new competition.
“FIFA can only express its DISAPPROVAL to a ‘closed European breakaway league’ outside of the international football structures and not respecting the aforementioned principles”, FIFA writes.
UEFA, in its own reaction, threatened to sanction clubs and players that participate in the newly established Competition.
“Every club and player participating in the Super League could be banned from all UEFA and FIFA competitions, European or International levels”, UEFA said.
With the FIFA and UEFA’s rejection of the newly created competition and adamance of its founders, the world of football, still grappling with the devastating effects of Covid-19 pandemic, is set to witness another big crisis.
