UEFA on
Friday announced sanctions, including financial punishments, against nine of
the 12 clubs behind the aborted Super League project, after the clubs
“apologised” and acknowledged “a mistake”.
The
governing body of European football said that “in a spirit of
reconciliation” the nine clubs had agreed to a “Club Commitment
Declaration” and accepted a five percent cut in their European revenue for one
season.
However,
three clubs, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus, did not sign the declaration.
UEFA
said it “reserved all rights to take whatever action it deems appropriate
against those clubs that have so far refused to renounce the so-called ‘Super
League’.
“The
matter will promptly be referred to the competent UEFA disciplinary bodies,”
the statement concluded.
The
nine clubs that opted out of the project — Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester City,
Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and AC
Milan — have agreed to a series of “reintegration measures”.
“These
clubs recognised their mistakes quickly and have taken action to demonstrate
their contrition and future commitment to European football,” said UEFA
president Aleksander Ceferin.
“The
same cannot be said for the clubs that remain involved in the so-called ‘Super
League’ and UEFA will deal with those clubs subsequently.”
The
nine have agreed to forego five percent of their revenue from UEFA competitions
for one season and pay, between them, a 15-million-euro ($18.25 million)
donation to support grassroots and youth football in Europe.
They
also committed to participating in UEFA competitions for which they qualify and
agreed to pay fines of 100m euros if they ever seek to play in an
“unauthorised” competition.
“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,” said Ceferin.
“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.”
0 Comments