The 12 European clubs pursuing a Super League have told FIFA and UEFA leaders that legal action is already being taken to stop them from actions intended to thwart the launch of the breakout league, according to a letter sent Monday. by the Associated Press.
The letter was sent by the group of English, Spanish and Italian clubs to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA counterpart Aleksander Ceferin, saying the Super League is already secured by a € 4 billion ($ 5 billion) grant. 5 billion) from JP Morgan.
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UEFA warned Super League clubs, including Barcelona, Juventus and Manchester United, after their plans leaked on Sunday that legal action would be taken against rebel clubs and said they would be banned from existing domestic competitions such as La Liga in Spain and the Premier League. in England.
“Your formal statement, however, forces us to take protective measures to protect ourselves from such a negative reaction, which would not only jeopardize the funding obligation under the Grant, but would be significantly illegal,” the Super League clubs wrote to Infantino. . and Ceferin. “For this reason, SLCo (Super League Company) has filed a motion in the relevant courts to ensure the seamless formation and operation of the League in accordance with applicable law.”
The courts were not mentioned.
“It is our duty, as board members of SLCo, to ensure that all reasonable measures available to protect the interests of competition and our stakeholders are properly taken, given the irreparable harm that would be suffered if we, for whatever reason, would be deprived of the ability to promptly form the match and distribute the proceeds from the grant, ”the Super League letter continued.
The breakout was launched just as UEFA, which leads European football, thought it had agreed to expand the Champions League from 2024. Now the same officials who backed the plans have decided to go it alone, while they claimed the existing leagues could continue – despite the loss of their most successful teams, including 13-time European champions Real Madrid.
“The competition will be played alongside existing national league and cup competitions, which are an important part of the competitive fabric of European football,” said the Super League’s letter to Infanatino and Ceferin. “We are not trying to replace the UEFA Champions League or the Europa League, but to compete with and coexist with those tournaments.”
UEFA announced on Monday a new 36-team format for the Champions League, designed to repel attempts by the game’s best clubs to break away.