UEFA on Friday announced sanctions, including financial penalties, against nine of the 12 clubs behind the Super League project, with clubs “apologizing” and admitting “a mistake”. The governing body of European football said that “in the spirit of reconciliation”, nine clubs agreed to a “declaration of the club’s commitment” and accepted a five percent reduction in European revenue for a season. However, the three clubs, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Juventus, have not signed the declaration.
UEFA has stated that it has secured all rights to take appropriate action against all clubs that have refused to give up the so-called “Super League“. The statement concluded, “The matter will immediately be referred to the respective UEFA disciplinary bodies.”
The nine clubs that abandoned the project – Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Atlético Madrid, Inter Milan and AC Milan – have agreed to a series of “reinvestment measures”.
UEFA President Alexander Ceferin said, “These clubs quickly acknowledged their mistakes and demonstrated their commitment and future commitment to European football. The same cannot be said for clubs that participate in the so-called ‘Super League’, and UEFA will later look after those clubs.”
Nine clubs have agreed to drop five percent of its income from UEFA competitions for one season and donate € 15 million ($ 18.25 million) between them to support grassroots football and football in Europe.
They have also promised to participate in UEFA competitions, for which they qualify, and have agreed to pay a fine of € 100 million if they wish to play in the “unofficial” competition.
Ceferin said, “It takes a strong organization to admit that he made a mistake, especially in these days of testing by social media. These clubs did the same and by acknowledging their commitments and the desire to rectify the disruption they have caused, UEFA wants to leave this chapter behind and move forward in a positive spirit.”
