UEFA DROP legal action against Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus

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UEFA has reportedly warned the European Super League still poses an ‘ongoing existential threat to the foundations and future of European football’, despite dropping legal action against the three teams committed to the failed project.

European football’s authority confirmed on Monday that it has declared court proceedings ‘null and void’ against Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus.

It is understood the six Premier League clubs involved in the furore also no longer need to pay UEFA fines which were handed to them. Real, Juventus and Barcelona refuse to back down on intentions to form the ESL, even after the other nine teams involved pulled out after public outrage over the plans.

But the Guardian have reported that UEFA’s warning comes while court action originally brought by all 12 breakaway clubs continues to challenge its structure.

It said that although the other nine clubs including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, both Manchester clubs and Tottenham pulled out, they are still said to be shareholders of the Super League company that is maintaining the legal challenge.

The agreement they signed originally committing to the breakaway is also said to be still in place.

The Guardian report that Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham are ‘willing to dissolve the company’ or ‘end the legal action’.

They add that despite suspicion Liverpool and United are ‘privately still supportive’ of the breakaway, both clubs have denied that.

The six Premier League teams as well as Atletico Madrid, AC Milan and Inter Milan made donations to UEFA foundations but will now be contacted by UEFA to be told they won’t be pursued for any further payments associated with the ESL.

In May, the nine clubs who pulled out agreed to pay a combined fine of €15m and to have five per cent of their UEFA competitions revenues withheld for one season.

They also accepted a suspended £25 million fine and a 30-point deduction if they join another breakaway.

A Madrid court ruled last week that UEFA had to stop legal proceedings against Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus and after initially suspending them, UEFA has now stopped them altogether.

A statement from UEFA has now read: ‘Following the stay of proceedings against FC Barcelona, Juventus FC and Real Madrid CF, in the matter related to a potential violation of UEFA’s legal framework in connection with the so called ‘Super League’, the UEFA Appeals Body has declared today the proceedings null and void, as if the proceedings had never been opened.’

The Press Association have reported that it is believed the European football governing body believes the pursuit of legal proceedings does not serve their best interests.

UEFA though have not altered their stance on the Super League and preventing a similar breakout in the future.

It is understood UEFA would also restart a legal case should there be any attempts to reignite the plans.

source: dailymail.co.uk