The European Super League project has been dropped following severe backlash from fans, which could have destroyed the integrity of European football. Meanwhile, the Union of European Football Associations had sanctioned nine of the clubs involved.
Following chaotic protests across Europe against the controversial project of the European Super League, the idea has eventually been dropped. While protests still continue to occur against the owners of the clubs involved, the Union of European Football Associations had decided to sanction none of the 12 founding member clubs involved in the project, i.e. Arsenal, AC Milan, Chelsea, Atlético Madrid, Internazionale Milano, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Meanwhile, a couple of days after being sanctioned, UEFA has decided to reintegrate all the nine clubs after they reportedly accepted the charges and apologised unreservedly for their involvement in the dubious ESL plan. According to UEFA, the clubs agreed to "have substantial fines imposed if they seek to play in unauthorised competitions (100m Euros) or if they breach any other commitment they have entered into in the Club Commitment Declaration (50m Euros)".
"A formal confirmation of the commitments and the manner of the clubs' reintegration and participation in UEFA Club Competitions has been agreed between and signed by UEFA and those nine clubs. The approved reintegration measures are full and final. Those nine clubs acknowledge and accept that the Super League project was a mistake and apologise to fans, national associations, national leagues, fellow European clubs and UEFA. They have also recognised that the project would not have been authorised under UEFA Statutes and Regulations," read the UEFA statement.
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"I said at the UEFA Congress two weeks ago that it takes a strong organisation to admit making a mistake, especially in these days of trial by social media. These clubs have done just that. In accepting their commitments and willingness to repair the disruption they caused, UEFA wants to put this chapter behind it and move forward in a positive spirit," said Aleksander Čeferin (UEFA President) in a statement.
With this apology, the clubs are "fully committed to the new post-2024 Horizon reforms". As a result, they would not be associated with any other football project outside the ones approved by their national associations and UEFA. Furthermore, the remaining three founding members (Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid) who are yet to renounce the ESL project could be sanctioned by the UEFA, with the decision to be taken by UEFA disciplinary bodies.
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