Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus have released a joint statement praising a court decision to end UEFA’s disciplinary proceedings against them.
The three teams have maintained that a Super League is best for football, even though the other founders – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, AC Milan, Inter, Juventus and Atletico Madrid – are all pulling behind huge fan reaction.
Real President Florentino Perez Leads the Plans / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
UEFA has warned the three remaining sides that they will face severe penalties if they continue to try to form their own league, including financial sanctions and a ban on competing in other competitions, but a court has now ruled in favor of Real, Barcelona and Juventus, and they could not be happier.
FC Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid CF welcome today’s court decision to enforce, with immediate effect, UEFA’s obligation to phase out all measures taken against all European Super League founding clubs, including terminating disciplinary proceedings against the three signed clubs “Remove the penalties and restrictions imposed on the remaining nine founding clubs in order to avoid UEFA’s disciplinary action,” the Juventus official said in a statement.
“The Court endorses the request of the initiators of the European Super League, rejects UEFA’s appeal and confirms its warning to UEFA that failure to comply with its decision will result in fines and potential criminal liability. The case will be judged by the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, which will examine UEFA’s monopolistic position on European football.
“We have a duty to address the very serious issues facing football: UEFA has established itself as the sole regulator, the exclusive operator and the sole owner of the rights to European football competitions. This monopoly position, in conflict of interest, damages football and competitive balance.
“As evidenced by good evidence, the financial controls are insufficient and they have been carried out incorrectly. Clubs participating in European competitions have the right to manage their own competitions.
“We are happy that in the future we will no longer be the subject of ongoing UEFA threats. Our goal is to continue to develop the Super League project in a constructive and cooperative way, always with all football stakeholders: fans, players, coaches, clubs, leagues and national and international associations.
“We are aware that there are parts of our proposal that should be examined and, of course, can be improved through dialogue and consensus. We are confident of the success of a project that will always comply with EU law.”
Statement from Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid.
– JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) July 30, 2021
The three teams have always insisted that the Super League was never intended to be a rebel, breaking league, but rather a new format that could work with UEFA’s existing structures – something that the European governing body excludes almost immediately.
They seem determined to keep the pitch alive, even though no other club on the planet wants anything to do with it.
