UEFA Reintegrate Nine Clubs Involved In The ‘Super League’
The matter of the other clubs involved in the so-called “Super League” will be referred to the competent UEFA disciplinary bodies.
In a spirit of reconciliation, and for the good of European football, nine of the 12 clubs involved in the so-called ‘Super League’ project submitted to UEFA a ‘Club Commitment Declaration’ setting out the position of the Clubs, including their commitment to UEFA Club Competitions as well as national club competitions.
UEFA convened an Emergency Panel of its Executive Committee, which took into due consideration the spirit and the content of the Club Commitment Declaration and decided to approve various actions, measures and commitments made by the clubs. A formal confirmation of the commitments and the manner of the clubs’ reintegration and participation in UEFA Club Competitions has been agreed between and signed by UEFA and those nine clubs. The approved reintegration measures are full and final.
Those nine clubs acknowledge and accept that the Super League project was a mistake and apologise to fans, national associations, national leagues, fellow European clubs and UEFA. They have also recognised that the project would not have been authorised under UEFA Statutes and Regulations.
In particular, each club:
1. unreservedly acknowledges and accepts the binding nature of the UEFA Statutes
2. remains committed to and will participate in any UEFA Club Competitions each season for which that club qualifies on sporting merit
3. will rejoin the European Club Association, which is the only representative body for clubs that UEFA recognises
4. will take all steps within their power with a view to terminate their involvement in the company established to form and operate the Super League and cease any existing related legal actions
5. as a gesture of goodwill, and together with the other clubs, will make a donation totalling an aggregate of €15 million, to be used for the benefit of children, youth and grassroots football in local communities across Europe, including the UK
6. will be subject to the withholding of 5% of the revenues they would have received from UEFA club competitions for one season, which will be redistributed
7. agree to have substantial fines imposed if they seek to play in such an unauthorised competition (€100 million) or if they breach any other commitment they have entered into in the Club Commitment Declaration (€50 million)
8. will provide individual commitments to UEFA in which all the principles and values set out in the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding between UEFA and the European Club Association are accepted
Going forward, the clubs are fully committed to the new post-2024 Horizon reforms. At the clubs’ request, UEFA will ask and support that due consideration be given by their respective National Associations and National Leagues to the spirit, content and purpose of the commitments given by the clubs to UEFA.
The UEFA President, Aleksander Čeferin said:
“I said at the UEFA Congress two weeks ago that it takes a strong organisation to admit making a mistake especially in these days of trial by social media. These clubs have done just that.
In accepting their commitments and willingness to repair the disruption they caused, UEFA wants to put this chapter behind it and move forward in a positive spirit.
The measures announced are significant, but none of the financial penalties will be retained by UEFA. They will all be reinvested into youth and grassroots football in local communities across Europe, including the UK.
These clubs recognised their mistakes quickly and have taken action to demonstrate their contrition and future commitment to European football. The same cannot be said for the clubs that remain involved in the so-called ‘Super League’ and UEFA will deal with those clubs subsequently.”
The following clubs are covered by and have accepted these measures:
Arsenal FC
AC Milan
Chelsea FC
Club Atlético de Madrid
FC Internazionale Milano
Liverpool FC
Manchester City FC
Manchester United FC
Tottenham Hotspur FC
In addition, and moving forward, UEFA has reserved all rights to take whatever action it deems appropriate against those clubs that have so far refused to renounce the so-called ‘Super League’. The matter will promptly be referred to the competent UEFA disciplinary bodies.
