Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, has warned the 12 clubs involved in European Super League (ESL) breakaway plans to expect “consequences” for their actions.
On Sunday, UEFA had threatened sanctions after 12 top European clubs agreed to join the controversial league.
The “founding clubs” include English Premier League’s ‘big six’: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan, and AC Milan complete the list of teams that have agreed to participate in the competition.
Advertisement
JP Morgan, an American bank, also confirmed it will be bankrolling the league with $6 billion, with Fiorentino Perez, president of Real Madrid, appointed to chair the competition.
The project, which has thrown the football world into tumult, has continued to provoke widespread criticisms, with a huge number of footballers and fans expressing their disapproval.
Speaking on Tuesday at a UEFA congress in Switzerland, Infantino said the football body “strongly disapproves” the formation of the competition while also criticising its “short-term financial gain.”
Advertisement
In the strong-worded speech, the FIFA boss also warned clubs who elect to leave that they should be ready to face the consequences of such action.
“At FIFA we can only, and strongly disapprove, the creation of the Super League. A Super League which is closed shop, which is a breakaway from the current institutions, from the leagues, from the associations, from UEFA and from FIFA, which is outside of the system,” he said.
FIFA President on super league: “If some elect to go their own way, then they must live with the consequences. But I don’t want to think about that, because FIFA is a democratic and open organisation. Everyone can bring proposals, but always with respect of the institutions.” pic.twitter.com/Hs2mrpt2WO
— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) April 20, 2021
Advertisement
“There is no doubt whatsoever of FIFA’s disapproval for this. If some elect to go their own way, then they must live with the consequences of their choice. They are responsible for their choice.
“Concretely, this means either you are in or you are out. You cannot be half in or half out. Think about it, everyone has to think about it, and this has to be absolutely clear.”
Perez had earlier said that the European Super League (ESL) was created to “save football at this critical moment”.
Advertisement
Add a comment
