UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has warned Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus that they will still face punishment for continuing to form part of a proposed European Super League despite the organisation's disciplinary proceedings coming to a temporary halt.
The three rebel clubs are the only ones of the original 12 who still have not withdrawn from the failed breakaway league, and UEFA had been hoping to hand out big fines and potentially ban the teams from the Champions League.
But the three European giants won a ruling from a Madrid court in April that they could not be punished, and as a result UEFA have suspended their attempts to impose sanctions.
A statement released earlier this week read: "The UEFA Appeals Body has decided to stay the proceedings until further notice. UEFA understands why the disciplinary proceedings needed to be suspended for the time being, but remains confident in and will continue to defend its position in all the relevant jurisdictions."
Speaking to Italian outlet Rai Sport, however, Ceferin insisted that in the long-term the clubs still involved will still face the full force of the rules.
“I will just say that justice is sometimes slow, but it always comes,” Ceferin said.
“I didn’t enter into the disciplinary case, but the way I see it, this is not a definitive spot.
“First we clarify the legal things and then we go on. Sometimes I get the feeling these three clubs are like children who skip school for a while. They are not invited to a birthday party and then try to get in with the police."
Ceferin's comments come after UEFA's former president Michel Platini defended the Super League clubs, claiming it was their right to do as they wish.
But Ceferin simply said on the matter: “I am not surprised by anything in football. His comment does not deserve a response.”
The six English teams involved in the Super League this week discovered their own punishment from the Premier League.
Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham must all pay a combined sum of £22million for their part in the doomed venture, which was widely condemned for threatening the future of the English football pyramid.
The fine works out at £3.6m per club - and will end up being less than 1% of their income.
The money will go back into grassroots football and the wider footballing community, rather than to the 14 other teams in the top-flight.
However, if any of the six clubs sign up for a similar venture in the future then they could each be hit with a £20million fine and face a 30-point deduction.
