FIFA, world football’s governing body, have issued a statement to condemn the rumoured European Super League, and say they will ban players involved in a breakaway league from participating in any of their competitions.
These of course include the World Cup and the European Championship, meaning if a player plays in a European Super League, they can’t go to the World Cup or the Euros.
The pinnacle of international football would be denied for anyone involved, and with many players dreaming of guiding their country to glory, it may put a halt in any plans to launch a league involving elite European clubs.
Barcelona, Real Madrid and several Premier League clubs had been reportedly keen on establishing a league spread across the continent with the richest and most famous clubs invited, but the letter published by FIFA may scupper these plans.
The letter has been signed by all six of FIFA’s continental confederations and states: “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.
“As per the FIFA and confederations statutes, all competitions should be organised or recognised by the relevant body at their respective level, by FIFA at the global level and by the confederations at the continental level.
“In this respect, the confederations recognise the FIFA Club World Cup, in its current and new format, as the only worldwide club competition while FIFA recognises the club competitions organised by the confederations as the only club continental competitions.
The universal principles of sporting merit, solidarity, promotion and relegation, and subsidiarity are the foundation of the football pyramid that ensures football’s global success and are, as such, enshrined in the FIFA and confederation statutes.
“Football has a long and successful history thanks to these principles. Participation in global and continental competitions should always be won on the pitch.”
The letter was signed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, and will throw the mooted idea of a European Super League into serious doubt.
France are the current reigning world champions, but with many of their players, such as Kylian Mbappe, Raphael Varane, and Paul Pogba, plying their trade for European superpowers, they may face the prospect of a severely weakened squad if their players are involved in a European Super League.