The 12 sides involved in the erupting Super League have confirmed that they have already started legal proceedings to prevent plans by FIFA or UEFA to block their participation in the new competition.
UEFA recently warned all sides planning to join the Super League that they are prepared to take legal action to ensure that they cannot leave the current pyramid, adding that teams and players involved in the Super League may be expelled from domestic leagues and international competitions.
UEFA, the English Football Association, the Premier League, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), LaLiga, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Lega Serie A have today released a statement.
Read it completely here:?
– UEFA (@UEFA) 18 April 2021
It seems that the Super League clubs are not exactly happy with it (apparently they have feelings after all), and the Associated Press notes that club officials have written to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA counterpart Alexander Ceferin to threaten their own legal action. .
“We are concerned that FIFA and UEFA may respond to this invitation letter by seeking sanctions to exclude all participating clubs or players from their respective competitions,” the Super League clubs wrote in their letter.
“However, your formal statement compels us to take precautionary measures to safeguard against such a negative reaction, which would not only jeopardize the funding commitment under the grant but, in essence, be illegal. For this reason, SLCo (Super League Company) has filed an action before the relevant courts to ensure the seamless establishment and operation of the competition in accordance with applicable law.
Infantino has become aware of the Marc Atkins / Getty Images plans
“It is our duty as SLCo’s board members to ensure that all reasonable measures available to protect competition and our stakeholders are properly taken, given the irreparable damage that would be suffered if for any reason we were deprived of the opportunity to quickly form the competition and distribute the income from the grant. “
The letter also urged FIFA and UEFA not to see the Super League as a rival to the current format, but instead just a happy new addition.
? The official statement from ‘ESL’ (European Super League) … pic.twitter.com/wIaHSFiShG
– 90min (@ 90min_Football) 19 April 2021
“The competition will be played together with existing domestic league and cup competitions, which are an important part of the competitive structure of European football,” the letter continued. “We are not trying to replace UEFA’s Champions League or Europa League without competing with and existing alongside these tournaments.”
The Super League plans to start a 20-team competition with 15 founding members, but so far only 12 have signed up. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Juventus and Inter have all said yes, but giants such as Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain both reached the chance to participate. .
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