Super League: UEFA announces disciplinary proceedings against Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus
European football's governing body says the three clubs yet to pull out of the breakaway Super League are to face disciplinary proceedings.
UEFA says it has opened a disciplinary investigation into Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus over their part in the attempted creation of a breakaway European Super League.
Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus could be banned from Europe for up to two years
Madrid, Barça and Juve are the only teams who have not stated their intention to walk away from the project, which was announced last month and quickly saw nine of its 12 'founding members' pull out amid fierce criticism and widespread fan protests.
In a statement released on Wednesday, UEFA said: "In accordance with Article 31(4) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors have today been appointed to conduct a disciplinary investigation regarding a potential violation of UEFA’s legal framework by Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona and Juventus FC in connection with the so-called ‘Super League’ project."
They face bans of up to two years from European club competitions, ESPN has reported.
Three clubs denounce "pressures" and "threats" over Super League
UEFA's move to open disciplinary proceedings sees it ratchet up the pressure on the rebel trio, who for their part point to a ruling by a Madrid court that they say prevents football’s governing bodies from taking action against them.
In a joint statement on Saturday, Madrid, Barça and Juve continued to stand their ground over their Super League plans, declaring: "The founding clubs have suffered, and continue to suffer, unacceptable third-party pressures, threats, and offenses to abandon the project and therefore desist from their right and duty to provide solutions to the football ecosystem via concrete proposals and constructive dialogue.
"This is intolerable under the rule of law and Tribunals have already ruled in favour of the Super League proposal, ordering FIFA and UEFA to, either directly or through their affiliated bodies, refrain from taking any action which may hinder this initiative in any way while court proceedings are pending."
UEFA reaches deal with nine other Super League clubs
On Friday, UEFA announced it had reached a “reintegration” agreement with the other nine clubs involved in the Super League - AC Milan, Arsenal, Atlético Madrid, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.