Manchester United ‘committed to UEFA competitions’ after ECJ ruling; Barcelona, Real Madrid renew support for ESL
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Published 21/12/2023 at 16:40 GMT
Manchester United state their “position has not changed” following the news of revamped European Super League plans. Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Inter have also distanced themselves from the proposals, but La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid have maintained their interest in the creation of a new European competition. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said "football is not for sale".
European Court of Justice rules that blocking Super League project was unlawful
Manchester United have reaffirmed their commitment to “participation in UEFA competitions” following the news of revamped European Super League plans.
On Thursday, the European Court of Justice ruled that UEFA and FIFA’s intervention in a proposed Super League for European clubs in April 2021 was unlawful.
Soon after, the backers of the breakaway league, A22, issued a revised plan for a new tournament, featuring three leagues and 64 teams taking part, with inclusion based on “sporting merit” rather than a “closed shop.”
Following the news, United stated that their position on a new tournament had not changed.
The club wrote on their official website: “Manchester United has issued the following statement in reaction to today's judgement by the European Court of Justice on the European Super League:
“Our position has not changed. We remain fully committed to participation in UEFA competitions, and to positive cooperation with UEFA, the Premier League, and fellow clubs through the ECA on the continued development of the European game.”
United were one of six Premier League clubs, along with Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City and Arsenal, to sign up to the original Super League proposal before pulling out amid a huge fan backlash.
There were 12 clubs involved in the plan in total, with three from Spain - Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid - and Juventus, AC Milan and Inter from Italy.
Barcelona responded to the judgement by writing: “FC Barcelona wishes to express its satisfaction with the sentence of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) assessing the Super League project as proposed by A22 Sports.
"As one of the clubs driving the Super League project, FC Barcelona feels that the sentence paves the way for a new elite level football competition in Europe by opposing the monopoly over the football world, and wishes to initiate new discussions as to the path that European competitions should take in the future.”
Fellow La Liga side Real Madrid said in their statement: "This day marks a turning point. It is a great day in the history of football and sport in general."
Atletico Madrid distanced themselves from the proposals.
A statement read: “Atletico de Madrid, after analysing the ruling of the European Court of Justice, would like to express the following:
“1. The resolution regarding the framework for prior authorisation of other competitions refers to outdated UEFA statutes that were already amended in June 2022.
“2. The European Club Association (ECA) and UEFA have established a partnership that renders the consideration of UEFA as a monopoly meaningless. Through agreements within this joint venture, clubs decide 50 per cent on the sale of sponsorship and television rights, revenue distribution, and competition formats.
"3. The European football community does not support the European Super League. Germany, France, England, Italy, Spain (except for Real Madrid and Barcelona), etc oppose the Super League. We advocate for protecting the broader European football family, preserving domestic leagues, and securing qualification for European competitions through on-field performance each season.”
Jan Christian Dreesen, FC Bayern CEO and Vice-Chairman of the European Club Association (ECA), said: “We have taken note of the judgement of the European Court of Justice. However, this does not change FC Bayern's and the ECA's position that such a competition would be an attack on the importance of the national leagues and the structure of European football.
"The Bundesliga is the foundation of FC Bayern, just as all national leagues are the foundation of other European football clubs. It is therefore our duty and our deep conviction to strengthen them, not to weaken them. We are also committed to the European club competitions under the umbrella of UEFA. So let me make it very clear once again that the door for the Super League remains closed at FC Bayern.”
In a statement on their website, Internazionale wrote: "FC Internazionale Milano reiterates its position that European football’s future well-being can only be secured by clubs working together through the ECA, in partnership and collaboration with UEFA and FIFA.
"As a Club, we remain committed to the values that underpin the European Sports Model and to working through the ECA alongside our fellow clubs to uphold those values."
Meanwhile, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said "football is not for sale" amid A22's new proposals of a revamped European Super League.
"I hope they know what they are doing but I am not so sure," Ceferin said.
"We will not try to stop them. They can create whatever they want."
"I hope they start their fantastic competition as soon as possible, with two clubs," he added.
"I watched the so-called presentation of A22. It's hard to decide if you should be shocked or amused by the show. It's even more closed than 2021 and that was rejected by everyone."
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