UEFA announced on Tuesday to take action against Juventus, Real Madrid, and Barcelona, who will compete in European Super League (ESL).
“Following an investigation conducted by Uefa ethics and disciplinary inspectors in connection with the so-called ‘Super League’ project, disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus for a potential violation of Uefa’s legal framework. Further information will be made available in due course.” UEFA said in a statement.
Nine of the 12 clubs involved withdrew after threats from UEFA and massive protests from supporters. But Barcelona, Juventus and Madrid have refused to do so. As a result UEFA has threatened to ban them from Champions League for next season.
Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid were mildly punished by UEFA after the clubs pulled out.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has indicated that Barcelona, Madrid and Juventus would be punished more severely.
The ESL was announced on 18 April but within 48 hours the plans had fallen apart, with the English clubs withdrawing after fan protests and UK government pressure.
Earlier this May, Juve, Madrid, and Barcelona slammed the ‘unacceptable’ threats from UEFA despite the withdrawal of the other 9 founding clubs from the ESL.
“The founding clubs have suffered, and continue to suffer, unacceptable third-party pressures, threats and offenses to abandon the project.” they said in a joint statement.
T:his is intolerable under the rule of law and Tribunals have already ruled in favor of the Super League proposal, ordering FIFA and UEFA to, either directly or through their affiliated bodies, refrain from taking any action which may hinder this initiative in any way while court proceedings are pending.” they added.
