ZURICH: World football’s governing body, as well as the continental bodies affiliated to it, has thrown down the gauntlet to Europe’s “super clubs” that are actively working to create a closed “European Super League”: “Try it and the consequences will be dire” (paraphrasing of course).
And what will those consequences be? A total ban by FIFA and its continental affiliates on any player or club associating with any such breakaway league.
A statement issued by FIFA and six continental confederations reads:
“In light of recent media speculation about the creation of a closed European ‘Super League’ by some European clubs, FIFA and the six confederations (AFC, CAF, Concacaf, CONMEBOL, OFC and UEFA) once again would like to reiterate and strongly emphasise that such a competition would not be recognised by either FIFA or the respective confederation. Any club or player involved in such a competition would as a consequence not be allowed to participate in any competition organised by FIFA or their respective confederation.
“As per the FIFA and confederations statutes, all competitions should be organised or recognised by the relevant body at their respective level, by FIFA at the global level and by the confederations at the continental level. In this respect, the confederations recognise the FIFA Club World Cup, in its current and new format, as the only worldwide club competition while FIFA recognises the club competitions organised by the confederations as the only club continental competitions.
“The universal principles of sporting merit, solidarity, promotion and relegation, and subsidiarity are the foundation of the football pyramid that ensures football’s global success and are, as such, enshrined in the FIFA and confederation statutes. Football has a long and successful history thanks to these principles. Participation in global and continental competitions should always be won on the pitch.”
The statement has been signed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, CAF acting president Constant Omari, Concacaf president Vittorio Montagliani, CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez, OFC president Lambert Maltock and UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin.
As Goal reports, the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and many leading Premier League clubs are believed to favour a ring-fenced European league which would include some of the richest and most famous teams.
However, this has been vocally rejected by others, including Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, while UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and LaLiga chief Javier Tebas are among the most ardent critics of the breakaway plans.
