European football’s governing body have handed financial sanctions to nine of the twelve European Super League clubs, including the top-six Premier League teams.
The clubs have accepted the punishment and confirmed their commitment to UEFA – renouncing their plans to create a breakaway league earlier last month. However, the three remaining sides, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, declined the reunion and would face “appropriate action” under UEFA’s disciplinary process.
48 hours after the competition was formally announced, nine of its members withdrew their names following mass protests and threats from multiple football associations.
And soon enough, the nine clubs in question, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, AC Milan, Inter and Atletico Madrid apologised for their involvement and promised to remain committed to the European governing body and all its tournaments.
“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,”
a statement released by the UEFA read.
The association also welcomed the clubs return to the European footballing body citing that the teams “will participate in any UEFA Club Competitions each season for which that club qualifies on sporting merit” and that they shall “terminate their involvement in the company established to form and operate the Super League and cease any existing related legal actions”.
The nine clubs have been asked to cough up a massive €100 million (£87m/$122m) as punishment should they participate in another illicit tournament.
Meanwhile, the clubs have agreed to donate a combined €15m as a goodwill contribution to benefit children’s and grassroots football development across the continent. They would also reportedly hand over the allocated 5% of UEFA’s competition revenue for a single season.
“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,”
said UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.
