[ad_1]
The governing body of European football has reached a peace deal with most of the clubs behind it failed attempt to launch a pro-independence Superliga last month, an action that reaffirms its authority over some of the continent’s most powerful teams.
On Friday night, Uefa reached a “reintegration” agreement with the nine clubs, which paved the way for them to continue playing in existing European competitions with minimal punishment.
The clubs include the six English Premier League teams that had joined the Superliga (Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United), as well as AC Milan, Inter Milan and London. ‘Atlético de Madrid.
But the three main defenders of the Superliga – Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Juventus, have refused to accept the agreement, which led Uefa to threaten disciplinary action.
The most severe penalty for Uefa is a two-year ban from the Champions League, Europe’s top football competition, where 2 billion euros are shared between participating clubs each season.
The peace deal, in which compliant clubs agreed to “end their involvement” with Super League organizers, comes after intense discussions between football’s power runners to repair the schism created last month when a a dozen large parties announced they would join a new continental competition in which they would be granted permanent places.
The concept represented a fundamental break with the “pyramidal” structure of the world’s favorite sport. But the collapsed plane in a few days in the face of fierce opposition from fans, players and politicians.
In the following weeks, Uefa and others football governing bodies they have sought assurances from rebel teams that the Superliga would not be resurrected at a later stage.
“These clubs quickly acknowledged their mistakes and have taken steps to demonstrate their contrition and future commitment to European football,” said Aleksander Ceferin, president of Uefa. “The same cannot be said for clubs that remain involved in the so-called Superliga and Uefa will take care of those clubs later.”
Weekly newsletter
Marker is the Financial Times ’must-see new weekly report on the sports business, where you’ll find the best analysis of financial issues affecting clubs, franchises, owners, investors and global industry media groups. Sign up here.
The agreement requires clubs to “take every step they can” to end ties with “the company created to form and operate the Superliga” and leave all legal cases related to the creation of the league.
This move is designed to liquidate a Spanish company created to lead the Superliga, with which they had signed the clubs binding agreements. Uefa is also trying to avoid legal action related to a ban obtained by Superliga clubs in a Spanish court, which was designed to prevent authorities from blocking the new competition.
The Uefa peace deal includes minor punishments for the nine clubs, including withholding 5% of the income they would have earned from a season in European competitions.
The clubs have also agreed to pay individual fines totaling 100 million euros if they want to take part in an unauthorized competition and a donation of 15 million euros for the benefit of youth and grassroots football.
[ad_2]
Source link
