The president of FIFA’s governing body has sent a small but strong message to a dozen wealthy and powerful European clubs whose planned Super League threatens to erect decades-old structures that form the basis of the strongest game in the world. FIFA threatens ESL clubs to stay in or out, else suffer consequences.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement to European football leaders at their conference in Montreux, Switzerland, “If some like to go their own way, they have to live with the results of their choice.” “In particular, it means that you are either inside or you are out. You cannot be half out and half in. It should be absolutely clear.”
Infantino intervened amid growing anger against a proposed European Super League, which turned the sports project into a national emergency in three countries – England, Spain, and Italy – that host its 12 founding members.
In Britain, which caters to half the members of the separatist group, Prime Minister Boris Johnson met with fans and Premier League leaders on Tuesday. Later, his office promised to do whatever it could to stop multi-billion-dollar competition, promising that nothing would be on the table. “We are exploring many options including legislation,” said Johnson spokesman Max Blaine.
Despite the backlash, Super League supporters continue and the lawyers have already petitioned courts across Europe to ensure that efforts cannot be thwarted. The English Prime Minister held a meeting on Tuesday without six teams in the Super League and ended it by threatening to sanction the rebels. “At the meeting, 14 clubs unanimously rejected plans for the competition,” the league said in a statement. “The Premier League takes into account all available actions to halt its progress, while also holding shareholders accountable according to its rules.”
In Italy, things have become even more complicated. The team owners and officials met with three members of the Italian Super League – AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Juventus officials, in a conference call late on Monday night.
In the conversation with UEFA over the revision of the Champions League, Torino president Urbano Cairo called Agnelli a “jude”. It is said that Agnelli used an explosive to say that he does not care if Juventus stays in Serie A, according to the person present at the meeting. “It’s a betrayal,” Cairo said. “That’s what Judas does.”
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