Juventus ‘leave the European Club Association’ in the wake of Super League reveal with club chairman Andrea Agnelli ‘resigning’ from his role as president of the body
Juventus have reportedly left the European Club Association on the back of confirmation of a breakaway European Super League.
Having signed statements of intent to join the league, with Manchester City the last to agree, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal along with Pep Guardiola’s side are among a group of teams that have agreed to form a new competition which will spell the end of competition in football as we know it.
The Super League said in a statement released on Sunday night: ‘Twelve of Europe’s leading football clubs have today come together to announce they have agreed to establish a new mid-week competition, the Super League, governed by its Founding Clubs.’
Andrea Agnelli has reportedly resigned from his role as president of the European Club Association
In the wake of the shock announcement, it has been reported that Juventus have left the ECA.
It also means that the Italian giant’s chairman Andrea Agnelli has resigned as president of the ECA and is ‘walking away’ from the UEFA Executive Committee.
Agnelli who was believed until now to be an ally of UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin will occupy the fourth vice-chairman role as part of the European Super League.
It is believed Real Madrid president Florentino Perez will hold the chairman’s role in the new league’s structure, with Liverpool’s John W.Henry, Joel Glazer of Manchester United and Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke will also hold vice-chairmen roles.
Ceferin is understood to be furious at Agnelli’s betrayal, the news of which comes less than 24 hours before UEFA’s own proposals for a revamped Champions League.
A statement on Juventus’ official website said: ‘The clubs have agreed to join the Super League on a long-term basis. Additional top European clubs are expected to join the Super League project, reaching a core group of up to 15 permanent founding members that will be complemented each year by more clubs on the basis of an admission process, resulting in 20 clubs in the aggregate.’
It adds: ‘Juventus expects the Super League to create long-term value for the Company and for the football industry as a whole.’
The ECA, which represents UEFA’s clubs released a statement going against the Super League plans.
In addition they backed continued development on revamping the Champions League, despite their chairman being Juventus chief Agnelli.
Juventus are one of 12 clubs who have agreed to take part in a European Super League
Their statement said: ‘In light of today’s reports on the subject of a so-called breakaway league, ECA as the body representing 246 leading clubs across Europe, reiterates its stated commitment to working on developing the UEFA Club Competitions (UCCs) model with UEFA for the cycle beginning 2024 and that a ‘closed super league model’ to which media articles refer would be strongly opposed by ECA.
‘ECA would refer to the position adopted by its Executive Board at its meeting last Friday April 16, namely that it supports a commitment to work with UEFA on a renewed structure for European Club Football as a whole post 2024, including proposed changes to the UEFA Club Competitions post 2024.
‘With ECA’s support, UEFA’s Executive Committee is being asked to endorse these commitments at its meeting on April 19 along with pursing efforts to reach an agreement on the future relationship between ECA and UEFA.
‘The ECA Executive Board will be convening over the coming days to take appropriate decisions in light of any further developments.’
