AGI – In a spirit of reconciliation and for the good of European football, nine of the 12 clubs involved in the so-called ‘Super League’ project have submitted a “club declaration of commitment” to UEFA which defines the position of clubs, including their commitment to UEFA club competitions and national club competitions. It communicates it in one notes UEFA itself informing that it has convened an emergency panel of its Executive Committee, who has given due consideration to the spirit and content of the “Club Statement of Commitment” e has decided to approve various actions, measures and commitments made by clubs.
A formal confirmation of the commitments and modalities of reintegration and participation of clubs in UEFA club competitions has been agreed and signed by UEFA and those nine clubs. The approved reintegration measures are complete and final.
Those nine clubs they acknowledge and accept that the Super League project was a mistake and apologize to the fans, national associations, national leagues, European clubs and UEFA. They also acknowledged that the project would not be authorized by the UEFA Statutes and Regulations. The clubs that have signed the document are Arsenal, Milan, Chelsea, Atlético Madrid, Inter, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United e Tottenham. Furthermore, the note still reads, and moving forward, UEFA reserves all rights to undertake any action it deems appropriate against those clubs which have so far refused to give up to the so-called ‘Super League’ (Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona). The matter will be promptly referred to the relevant UEFA disciplinary bodies.
In particular, according to the UEFA note, each club makes the following commitments:
- fully acknowledges and accepts the binding nature of the UEFA Statutes
- remains committed and will participate in any UEFA club competition every season for which that club qualifies on sporting merit
- it will be part of the European Club Association, which is the only representative body for clubs recognized by UEFA
- will take all measures in their power to end their involvement in the company established to form and manage the Super League and cease any existing related lawsuits
- as a gesture of goodwill, and together with other clubs, will make a donation totaling € 15 million, to be used for the benefit of children, youth and grassroots football in local communities across Europe, including the UK
- will be subject to the withholding of 5% of the revenues they would have received from UEFA club competitions for one season, which will be redistributed
- accept that substantial fines will be imposed if they try to play in such an unauthorized competition (€ 100 million) or if they violate any other commitments they have made in the club’s Statement of Commitment (€ 50 million)
- provide individual commitments to UEFA in which all principles and values set out in the Memorandum of Understanding 2019 between UEFA and the European Club Association are accepted
Going forward, clubs are fully committed to the new post-2024 Horizon reforms. At the request of the clubs, UEFA will ask and support that the respective National Federations and National Leagues give due consideration the spirit, content and purpose of the club’s commitments to UEFA.
Čeferin: they recognized their mistakes
“I told the UEFA Congress two weeks ago that it takes a strong organization to admit making a mistake especially in these days of social media rehearsal. These clubs have done just that. “This is what Uefa president Aleksander Čeferin said, commenting on the ‘Declaration of the club’s commitment of the nine companies that had decided to join the project of the Super League and who have given up and apologized.
“By accepting their commitments and willingness to repair the inconvenience they have caused, Uefa wants to leave this chapter behind and move forward with a positive spirit – continues Čeferin -. The announced measures are significant, but none of the financial sanctions will be withheld by UEFA. They will all be reinvested in youth and grassroots football in local communities across Europe, including the UK. These clubs quickly recognized their mistakes and took action to demonstrate their contrition and future commitment to European football. The same cannot be said for clubs that remain involved in the so-called ‘Super League’ and Uefa will deal with those clubs later. “
In fact, in the press release, Uefa writes that “reserves all rights to take any action it deems appropriate against those clubs which have so far refused to withdraw ” to the Super League project, namely Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona. The matter will be promptly referred to the competent UEFA disciplinary bodies.
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