"Serious repercussions" for the withdrawal of major clubs from the Champions League


The UEFA Champions League said on Tuesday that if Super League was launched, it would leave "serious and persistent repercussions" on the continent's professional football.
The German magazine Der Spiegel and the European Research Consortium, a network of international media, said last Friday that the talk was back on plans for a "super-European league" involving giants such as Real Madrid and Manchester United, rather than the Champions League.

The German magazine, quoting leaked documents, said that Spanish company Kakapital Partners has submitted a recent plan to Real Madrid predicted that 11 European clubs will establish a major Super League in 2021.

Real Madrid and Capital Partners did not want a request to comment on the report, while the European Clubs Association, which represents more than 200 clubs, said it was not fully aware of any talks between the clubs for a separate league.

The European League League (EPA), representing 25 local league competitions, including the Premier League, the Primera Liga and the German first division, has "strongly opposed" such a plan on Tuesday.

"It has always expressed its strong opposition to the development of Super League," it said.

"The league competitions support the European sports model based on the hierarchical system where the reliance on the ups and downs and the merit of sports clubs as the basis for any competition."

The statement stressed that local football comes "at the heart of the game throughout Europe" whether it is for players, clubs or fans.

"The proposals for a super-closed league will have serious and long-term consequences for professional football in Europe," he said.