FIFA threatens clubs, players with bans for joining European Super League

The initiative is being strongly mooted by many of the continent's top clubs.

FIFA and all six of football’s continental confederations have jointly warned all the stakeholders who decide to participate in the European Super League. Whoever becomes a part of the competition will face bans from the governing bodies across the globe and the offenders will be considered as “football outlaws”. 

This strict statement comes on the backdrop of the conceptualisation of European Super League, which is theoretically a competition only reserved for elite clubs from the continent. FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, along with the representatives of the other five continental confederations have alerted the clubs and players of suspensions, since the ESL will not be recognised by any organisation. 

The statement reads, “In light of recent media speculation about the creation of a closed European ‘Super League’ by some European clubs, Fifa and the six confederations … once again would like to reiterate and strongly emphasise that such a competition would not be recognised by either Fifa or the respective confederation.”

“Any club or player involved in such a competition would as a consequence not be allowed to participate in any competition organised by Fifa or their respective confederation.”

The concept of the European Super League was initiated by Real Madrid CF from the Spanish La Liga and Premier League teams like Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC paid interest in being part of the competition. 

However, the controversy around the concept of such a tournament, which endangers UEFA’s Champions League and Europa League competitions, has made the English clubs distance themselves from the idea. 

The joint-statement has now declared the consequences of participating in such a competition. It will be interesting to see whether the idea of European Super League for elite clubs crashes even before taking off.

In October 2020, Josep Maria Bartomeu, the former president of FC Barcelona, also announced the club’s decision of “accepting the proposal of joining the European Super League”. This created a lot of controversy and uncertainty over the current UEFA competitions.

The joint-statement from FIFA and rest of the governing bodies gives a lot of clarity to the whole situation. They are opposed to the creation of such a competition and will not recognise it. The players and clubs will now be extra cautious to give this idea any further importance.