June 10 – In an unexpected blow to its pride, UEFA has been forced to suspend disciplinary proceedings against Super League rebel clubs Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid.
UEFA opened a probe against the three clubs on May 25 but announced it had to halt the case after being notified by the Swiss authorities of a court order from the commercial court in Madrid.
“The UEFA Appeals Body has decided to stay the proceedings until further notice,” read a statement on UEFA’s disciplinary website
The Madrid court last month asked the European Court of Justice to establish if FIFA and UEFA were breaching EU competition law by preventing the clubs from creating a breakaway European Super League.
The commercial court also asked Europe’s top court if FIFA and UEFA are able to impose restrictions or penalties on clubs who remain part of the planned competition. The court also passed a holding order that FIFA, UEFA and all its associated federations must not adopt “any measure that prohibits, restricts, limits or conditions in any way” the Super League.
“In reliance on the Court Order, the mentioned three clubs have sought to shield themselves from potential disciplinary consequences related to this so-called ‘Super League’ project,” UEFA said, adding that the suspension of disciplinary proceedings was temporary.
“UEFA understands why the disciplinary proceedings needed to be suspended for the time being, but remains confident in and will continue to defend its position in all the relevant jurisdictions.”
Meanwhile, the English Premier League fined the six English clubs who were among the 12 founder European Super League members before pulling out a combined 22 million pounds and warned they would face a 30-point deduction if they attempt a similar move in future,.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will also each also be fined £25m pounds if they attempt another breakaway, the league added.
The fines amount to around £3.6m pounds each, with the cash being invested in support for fans, grassroots leagues and community programmes. The league called the clubs’ acceptance of the fines a “gesture of goodwill.”
“They have wholeheartedly apologized to their fans, fellow clubs, the Premier League and the FA (Football Association),” the league said in a statement.
Last month the same six clubs plus AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atlético Madrid were handed a settlement deal by UEFA under which they would forfeit 5% of their prize money from European competitions in the 2022-23 season and pay a combined €15 million, also as a “gesture of goodwill”, to benefit children, youth and grassroots football.
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