What has been said?
FIFPRO said in a statement on Monday: “Threats of a breakaway competition and subsequent concessions to reform European football competitions have shaped decision-making for years.
“This dynamic has replaced transparent and inclusive discussions on the opportunities of competition reforms for all players, fans, clubs, leagues and federations.
“Players continue to be used as assets and leverage in these negotiations. This is unacceptable for FIFPRO, our 64 national player associations and the 60,000 players we represent.
“We will vigorously oppose measures by either side that would impede the rights of players, such as exclusion from their national teams.”
What has been threatened?
On Sunday, clubs were warned that any club who joins the Super League will be banned from the Premier League, the FA Cup, Serie A, La Liga and UEFA competitions.
A statement said: “UEFA, the English Football Association and the Premier League, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and LaLiga, and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Lega Serie A have learned that a few English, Spanish and Italian clubs may be planning to announce their creation of a closed, so-called Super League.
“If this were to happen, we wish to reiterate that we – UEFA, the English FA, RFEF, FIGC, the Premier League, LaLiga, Lega Serie A, but also FIFA and all our member associations – will remain united in our efforts to stop this cynical project, a project that is founded on the self-interest of a few clubs at a time when society needs solidarity more than ever.
“We will consider all measures available to us, at all levels, both judicial and sporting in order to prevent this happening. Football is based on open competitions and sporting merit; it cannot be any other way.
“As previously announced by FIFA and the six Federations, the clubs concerned will be banned from playing in any other competition at domestic, European or world level, and their players could be denied the opportunity to represent their national teams.
“We thank those clubs in other countries, especially the French and German clubs, who have refused to sign up to this. We call on all lovers of football, supporters and politicians, to join us in fighting against such a project if it were to be announced. This persistent self-interest of a few has been going on for too long. Enough is enough.”
What’s happened?
Twelve European clubs announced their intention to form a breakaway competition on Sunday night.
The teams, who made a joint statement to confirm plans of forming a new European Super League, consist of the following clubs: AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur.
How will the Super League work?
The clubs say that 15 founding clubs – the 12 who have reached the agreement plus three who they expect to join – will be joined by five other teams who qualify each season.
They say the games will be played in midweek, starting in August, with teams playing home and away fixtures in two groups of ten, with the top three in each group automatically qualifying for the quarter-finals.
Teams finishing fourth and fifth will then compete in a two-legged play-off for the remaining quarter-final positions. A two-leg knockout format will be used to reach the final at the end of May, which will be staged as a single fixture at a neutral venue.
The clubs said that a women’s league will also be launched “as soon as practicable” after the start of the men’s competition, but provided no further details.
(Photo: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
