UEFA are ready to pursue severe disciplinary action European Super League rebels who have yet to sufficiently distance themselves from the project, which could lead to two-year bans from the Champions League and their other competitions, according to a report.
Liverpool were one of six English sides, along with Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur who initially signed up for the proposed tournament that threatened to be a closed shop private members’ club, rather than one qualified for on merit.
ESPN claim that UEFA have spent the past 10 days in conversation with the 12 clubs in an effort to agree a lesser sanction and extract a formal definitive commitment not to pursue the Super League effort.
They say that according to sources familiar with the situation, the Premier League half dozen plus Atletico Madrid had reached an understanding with European football’s governing body while newly-crowned Serie A champions Internazionale were close to an agreement as well.
However, Spain’s big two, Real Madrid and Barcelona plus Italian pair Juventus and AC Milan, have so far stuck to their positions.
And those sides could therefore face UEFA’s maximum punishment under the organisation’s disciplinary pathway, two-year exclusions from participation in the Champions League and Europa League.
The four clubs holding out believe they are in a strong position, as the original documents filed with UEFA and FIFA stated that the Super League was asking the body “for permission” to run their competition and for “recognition” rather than breaking away from the organisation.
According to sources close to the group, UEFA would be in violation of an injunction granted by a Madrid court if it were to begin disciplinary proceedings.
The article also states that an independent source familiar with UEFA statutes and the legal implications of the Madrid injunction confirmed that it would be difficult to punish the clubs holding out without a protracted and uncertain legal battle.
Last month, the ECHO reported that Liverpool had started to take the first steps towards withdrawing from their agreement with the ESL, which club insiders admit is a "complex situation" due to the unprecedented nature of events.
It has been claimed each Premier League will lose up to £8million having bought equity stakes in the Super League to help create the competition's infrastructure. Liverpool, though, have decided that taking such a financial hit is a small price to pay following such a fiercely adverse reaction to the proposals.
