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Players have been warned they will be barred from future World Cups and other international competitions if they are involved in any breakaway European Super League.<\/p>\nPlayers have been warned they will be barred from future World Cups and other international competitions if they are involved in any breakaway European Super League.<\/p>\n
Reports of such a tournament involving Europe\u2019s top clubs resurfaced last year, and it was said that American banking giant JP Morgan was planning to bankroll it.<\/p>\n
However, the idea has been emphatically rejected by world governing body FIFA and the game\u2019s six continental confederations.<\/p>\n
A joint statement read: \u201cIn light of recent media speculation about the creation of a closed European \u2018Super League\u2019 by some European clubs, FIFA and the six confederations once again would like to reiterate and strongly emphasize that such a competition would not be recognized by either FIFA or the respective confederation.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny club or player involved in such a competition would as a consequence not be allowed to participate in any competition organized by FIFA or their respective confederation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The statement added: \u201cThe universal principles of sporting merit, solidarity, promotion and relegation, and subsidiarity are the foundation of the football pyramid that ensures football\u2019s global success and are, as such, enshrined in the FIFA and confederation statutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cFootball has a long and successful history thanks to these principles. Participation in global and continental competitions should always be won on the pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n
FIFA president Gianni Infantino put his name to the statement, as did his counterparts at European football\u2019s governing body UEFA, the Confederation of African Football, the Asian Football Confederation, CONCACAF (which represents nations in North and Central America and the Caribbean), the Oceania Football Confederation and South America\u2019s CONMEBOL.<\/p>\n
FIFA has given its backing to an expanded Club World Cup format. The first such tournament was due to take place in China this summer but has been indefinitely postponed as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic, to enable the delayed Euro 2020 and Copa America to take place.<\/p>\n
Speaking about the proposed Super League in the Swiss media last October, Infantino said: \u201cFor me, I\u2019m not interested in Bayern versus Liverpool, but Bayern versus Boca Juniors from Buenos Aires.\u201d<\/p>\n
The president of the European Leagues umbrella body, Lars-Christer Olsson, said its board had \u201cdiscussed the initiative of some European football clubs to create a closed European Super League for a limited number of clubs similar to those franchise models operating in north America\u201d.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cWe are determined to protect the existing model and how football is organized in Europe and the way the industry works for professional football.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll football associations and professional leagues in Europe are recognizing and following FIFA and confederation statutes, and this will guide us in our actions to stop this initiative.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the initiative is put in motion, we will coordinate our measures with UEFA, FIFA and the confederations.\u201d<\/p>\n