FOOTBALL was thrust into an all-out Super League scrap last night.
Judges decided Uefa CANNOT punish any breakaway rebels.
The shock ruling opened up a second attempt to form a new competition.
Last night Arsenal and Liverpool were the only Big Six outfits yet to reject a second version of the scheme, which is loathed by fans.
And the Government warned they will try to ban clubs from joining it under new laws.
Nearly three years after the initial plot collapsed in 48 hours, European Court of Justice yesterday ruled that Uefa “abused a dominant position” when it threatened sanctions against the breakaway clubs.
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Judges in the Luxembourg court insisted it was not ruling on the merits of the Super League concept but only Uefa’s attempt to “unlawfully” block its development.
The shock decision opened the door to a second attempt to form a new competition — led by Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Within hours, Super League’s PR firm A22 unveiled a new 64-team competition split into three tiers and effectively ring-fencing Europe’s elite teams at the top of the pile.
It was met for anger and derision from fans — but is sure to tempt owners of European giants.
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A22 boss Bernd Reichart hailed: “Under our plan, clubs that almost never play each other would compete regularly on the European stage.
“It will guarantee fantastic, exciting matches through the entire year, not just part of the year.
“We are now talking about an open, accessible, meritocratic league system in Europe side by side with domestic leagues, late mid-week leaving the national leagues untouched.
“If we convince clubs and convince their fans, why wouldn’t fans not join?”
We will not try to stop them. They can create whatever they want. I hope they start their fantastic competition as soon as possible, with two clubs. Football is not for sale.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin
Fifa, Uefa, the Premier League and the influential European Club Association all joined the furious backlash, insisting that protecting the current system was essential for the good of the game.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin conceded he had lost the sanctions threat and could not ban rebel players from playing in the Euros or World Cup.
But he mocked: “I watched the so-called presentation and didn’t know whether to be shocked or amused.
“It’s close to Christmas, they saw a box under the tree and started to celebrate, but then when they opened the box they realised there was not much inside.
“We will not try to stop them. They can create whatever they want. I hope they start their fantastic competition as soon as possible, with two clubs. Football is not for sale.”
‘European Zombie League’
Fifa president Gianni Infantino appeared to agree with Ceferin but added: “With the greatest respect for the European Court of Justice, today’s judgement does not change anything, really.”
Manchester United, one of the Big Six to initially sign up to the £3bn scheme in 2021, came out in support of the status quo, joined by Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich.
United said: “Our position has not changed. We remain fully committed to participation in Uefa competitions, and to positive cooperation with Uefa, the Premier League, and fellow clubs through the ECA on the continued development of the European game.”
It took some five hours for Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham to follow suit with similar statements.
Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid were among those to rule themselves out of A22’s plan.
But none of Arsenal, Liverpool or Newcastle made ANY comment.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid and Barcelona were crowing at the victory and Napoli owner Aurelio de Laurentis — omitted from the original ‘Dirty Dozen’ rebels — signalled he was ready to sign up to any new plan.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said: “European club football is not and will never be a monopoly again.
“The Europe of freedoms has triumphed again and football and its fans have also triumphed.”
That feeling of “triumph” was not shared by the fans. The Football Supporters Federation blasted the “European Zombie League” and added: “There is no place for an ill-conceived breakaway.
“Supporters, players and clubs have already made clear they don’t want a stitched-up competition.”
In its response the Prem pointed out the judgement “does not endorse the so-called Super League” and promised to “continue to reject any such concept”.
The Government added its new Independent Regulator would have the power to block any English clubs from joining the rebels.
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It said: “The attempt to create a breakaway competition was a defining moment in English football and was universally condemned by fans, clubs and the Government.
“We will shortly be bringing forward legislation that will stop clubs from joining any similar breakaway competitions in the future.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
