The European Super League has filed injunctions against football’s biggest governing bodies – FIFA and UEFA – in an attempt to try and stop them from banning clubs and players involved in the breakaway plan from other competitions.
On Sunday evening it was announced that 12 clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, had come together to form the European Super League in an attempt to see the best clubs in Europe pit themselves up against each other more often.
However, unsurprisingly, the plan has been met with a wave of disgust, anger and outrage by clubs, supporters and pundits alike, all of whom have blasted the idea.
Now, the BBC have reported that they have seen a letter from European Super League lawyers to both FIFA and UEFA, saying that they are concerned the footballing bodies could take “punitive measures.”
The letter from the Super League’s lawyers said: “We are concerned that FIFA and UEFA may respond to this invitation letter by seeking to take punitive measures to exclude any participating club or player from the respective competitions.”
They have said that they would consider that “adverse reaction” to be “unlawful” and that they had filed papers with “the relevant courts” to prevent the “seamless establishment and operation of the competition in accordance with applicable laws.”
This news comes just 24 hours after UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin announced that any player who participated in the Super League would not be allowed to play for their countries, including at both European Championships and World Cups.
Ceferin said: “The players that will play in the Super League will be banned from playing in the World Cup and Euros.
“They will not be allowed play for their national teams.”
According to the BBC’s report, ‘an insider at the Super League said they had prepared themselves for a huge backlash,’ but believed they stood solidly in terms of legal ramifications.
The source, according to the BBC, is quoted as saying: “I think in the cold light of day, they are looking at this and the reality is dawning that this happened it’s perfectly legal.”
A number of former players and current managers have blasted the idea to see clubs form a new-look breakaway, including former Arsenal chief Unai Emery.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Villarreal’s clash with Alaves tomorrow evening, the former Gunners manager said: “This is a war for the control of football. The clubs have rebelled against control of UEFA.
“My position, in principle, is (that I’m) against it. It’s very risky for football and its essence.”