European Super League row headed to court as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus insist UEFA and FIFA have no right to get in their way
- Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus still want a European Super League
- The three clubs are the only teams still signed up to the breakaway project
- UEFA could impose sanctions on the trio, including a Champions League ban
The row over the European Super League is heading to court.
Despite the rapid collapse of the breakaway competition following the withdrawal of the six English clubs, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus remain behind it.
They have insisted that they are within their rights to form a new competition and claim that UEFA and FIFA have no right to get in their way.
Barcelona and Real have said that they will not accept Super League sanctions with Juventus
Papers originally filed in Madrid have now reached the European Court of Justice, which will attempt to establish whether both organisations have the right to exclusive organisation of competitions.
UEFA and FIFA opposed the new league and said players who took part would be banned from international competition, with clubs removed from their domestic leagues.
FIFA have already begun disciplinary proceedings against the three clubs. The other nine, including England’s big six, signed a letter of apology to UEFA and pledged to give £12.9m to grassroots football.
A UEFA spokesperson said: ‘UEFA takes note of the announcement by the European Court of Justice of the referral from a Madrid court on the so-called European Super League, notwithstanding the withdrawal of nine of its founding member clubs. UEFA is confident in its position and will defend it robustly.’
Juventus and the two Spanish clubs have yet to pull out of the Super League project
