Barcelona, Real Madrid & Juventus make European Super League vow

The three remaining founders of the European Super League spoke upon winning a court ruling against UEFA on Friday.

Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus have vowed to ‘keep developing the Super League project in a constructive and cooperative manner’.

On Friday, a European court in Madrid ruled UEFA’s charges against the original 12 founding members of the breakaway competition must be scrapped. It means the other nine founders – Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, and AC Milan – won’t pay UEFA’s £7 million (€8.2m) fine or hand over 5% of their prize money.

The court also ruled disciplinary proceedings against the remaining founders – Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus – must be terminated.

The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg will next review the case.

☑ [FCB] | Statement on the European Super League

FC Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid express their satisfaction with the judicial decision adopted today, ordering UEFA to revoke, with immediate effect, all its actions against the founding clubs of the Super League pic.twitter.com/yXyjbBPfjr

— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) July 30, 2021

What did the remaining founders say?

A joint-statement from each of the three founders’ websites read: “FC Barcelona, Juventus, and Real Madrid CF welcome today’s Court’s decision enforcing, with immediate effect, UEFA’s obligation to unwind the actions taken against all European Super League founding clubs, including terminating the disciplinary proceedings against the undersigning three clubs and removing the penalties and restrictions imposed on the remaining nine founding clubs for them to avoid UEFA’s disciplinary action.

“The Court backs the request made by the promoters of the European Super League, dismisses UEFA’s appeal, and confirms its warning to UEFA that failure to comply with its ruling shall result in fines and potential criminal liability. The case will be assessed by the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, which shall review UEFA’s monopolistic position over European football.”

The European Super League project will continue

“We have the duty to address the very serious issues facing football: UEFA has established itself as the sole regulator, exclusive operator, and unique owner of rights of European football competitions. This monopolistic position, in conflict of interest, is damaging football and its competitive balance. As shown by ample evidence, financial controls are inadequate, and they have been improperly enforced. Clubs participating in European competitions have the right to govern their own competitions.

“We are pleased that going forward we will no longer be subject to ongoing UEFA’s threats. Our aim is to keep developing the Super League project in a constructive and cooperative manner, always counting on all football stakeholders: fans, players, coaches, clubs, leagues, and national and international associations. We are aware that there are elements of our proposal that should be reviewed and, of course, can be improved through dialogue and consensus. We remain confident in the success of a project that will be always compliant with European Union laws.”