European football united its ranks today, Sunday, and threatened to ban any club from joining a separatist competition after the specter of the European Super League reappeared on the eve of a vote on changes to the Champions League system.
UEFA said on Sunday that it had learned that a group of English, Spanish and Italian clubs "may be planning to announce the creation of a closed competition called the Super League."
Numerous media reports, which none of the silent clubs denied, stated that the "big six" in the Premier League - Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham - had agreed to the plans.
Speculation has also linked the Spanish poles Real Madrid and Barcelona, as well as Juventus, Milan and Inter, with the plan to create the new tournament, with which no club from Germany or France has so far been associated.
The news comes less than 24 hours before UEFA will vote on plans to expand and restructure the Champions League on Monday.
UEFA issued a strongly worded statement in conjunction with football federations in England, Spain and Italy, saying it was ready to use "all measures" to address any split, adding that any club participating would be banned from playing in domestic league competitions such as the English Premier League.
Uefa said, "The clubs concerned will be banned from playing in any other competition at the local, European or global level, and their players may be deprived of the opportunity to represent their national teams."
"We thank those clubs in other countries, especially French and German clubs, which have refused to join this. We invite all football fans, fans and politicians to join us in the fight against this project if it is announced. These few clubs have long been looking for their own sake." Just. That's enough. "
The moves were condemned by soccer authorities across Europe, and former players such as former Manchester United captain Gary Neville described them as "absolute disgrace" and said club owners were driven by "pure greed."
There are no reports that the most prominent French club, Paris Saint-Germain, has approved the plan, and French President Emmanuel Macron has also spoken of his opposition to secession.
"The president of the republic welcomes the stance of French clubs refusing to participate in the European Super League project that threatens the principle of solidarity and sporting merit," the French presidency said in a statement sent to Reuters.
The Elysee Palace added, "The French state will support all steps taken by the French Football Association, the French League, UEFA and FIFA to protect the integrity of federal competitions, whether national or European."
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also opposed the plans.
"The plans for a European Super League will be very damaging to football, and we support the football authorities in their actions," Johnson said on Twitter.
"They will strike the heart of local football, and worry fans all over the country. Joint clubs must speak to their fans and the wider football community before taking any additional steps."
Earlier on Sunday, the board of directors of the Italian League held an emergency meeting on the Super League.
A Serie A source told Reuters that the league had recently learned of plans to create a separate competition.
A league of 20 clubs
Numerous reports of a separatist competition surfaced for a number of years and reappeared in January after media reports revealed a document outlining plans to create a league of 20 clubs that would include Spain's poles Real Madrid and Barcelona.
In October, Barcelona's then president Josep Maria Bartomeu said the club had agreed to a proposal to join a separatist competition.
In January, La Liga president Javier Tebas told Reuters that Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United and Liverpool were leading the effort behind the project, adding that the plans were facing outright opposition from other clubs in Spain and the world.
Because of these reports, FIFA and UEFA issued a warning that they would prohibit any player participating in a breakaway competition from playing in the World Cup and European Championships.
The move came as a surprise after the European Club Association, which represents 246 major clubs on the continent, announced its support for UEFA reforms that were on the agenda of its executive committee meeting on Monday.
UEFA suggested increasing the number of clubs in the Champions League to 36 and making a comprehensive change to the group stage, to become from one table instead of the current system, which includes 8 groups consisting of 4 teams.
Each team plays 10 matches in the group stage instead of 6 in the current system, and a playoff round will also be created before the round of 16.
Although there was widespread consensus on these reforms, the European Club Association made a last-ditch attempt to push for changes to governance and competition management.
Ed Woodward, chief executive of Manchester United, told investors last month that he had expected such an outcome.
"We look forward to seeing the final, complete proposal from UEFA, which we expect will include greater participation by clubs in the management of competitions," Woodward said.