UEFA have dropped their legal action against those involved in the hugely controversial European Super League following a court ruling in Madrid.
Football was rocked to its very core back in April as 12 of Europe’s biggest clubs – including the so-called Premier League six – announced their intentions to form a breakaway division that was set to rival the Champions League, a plan that essentially would have seen the formation of a super-rich, closed shop of elite football, and send tidal waves through the entire footballing pyramid.
The announcement saw a huge groundswell of anger and disgust from fans, pundits and players past and present alike, a reaction so strong that within 48 hours of it’s announcement, all six English sides as well as Inter Milan, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid all pulled out with their tails seemingly between their legs.
Despite being the only being three teams remaining in the controversial project, however, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus have all steadfast in their commitment to it.
In the wake of the whole debacle, UEFA imposed fines on the nine clubs who had pulled out, while pursued legal action against the three remainers, threatening them with expulsion from the Champions League.
However, the Super League sides opened their own legal proceedings, with a court in Madrid consistently ruling in favour of the ESL clubs, and this week have deemed it illegal for UEFA to take any disciplinary action against any of the clubs.
UEFA have subsequently dropped their disciplinary proceedings against the three clubs as they say they ‘respect judicial prosesses’, but insist they will do ‘whatever it takes’ to prevent the Super League or any other form of breakaway division from coming to fruition.
“UEFA will inform the Madrid court of the decision not to pursue its current legal proceedings against the three clubs still involved in the Super League (Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, FC Juventus),” a statement reads.
“UEFA respects judicial processes and, after reviewing it, the view is that the prosecution of these ongoing proceedings does not serve the best interests of UEFA or its member associations at this time.
“UEFA firmly maintains its position on the Super League and the actions of the clubs involved. UEFA’s decision not to pursue these ongoing legal proceedings has no impact on this in any way.
“UEFA will continue to fight to do whatever it takes to stop the Super League and any form of breakaway league, including any attempt to call into question the Super League’s own plans. This includes the potential restart of legal proceedings.”
The decision also means that UEFA can no longer impose sanctions on the clubs that have pulled out, including those in the Premier League.
“As a result of UEFA’s choice not to pursue the current legal proceeding, it will contact the nine other clubs who had signalled their intention to split to inform them that, at this time, UEFA will not require any payment for their initial participation in the plans to split the Super League.”
