Lausanne (AFP)

UEFA announced Wednesday to suspend "until further notice" the disciplinary proceedings against Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Juventus Turin, the last three mutineers who still refuse to deny the ephemeral project of private "Super League" .

The European body had launched this investigation on May 25, threatening with sanctions the three clubs for a "potential violation of the legal framework of the UEFA", while the nine other promoters of the "Super League" escaped these prosecutions by exchange of light financial penalties.

But on Monday, UEFA was notified of an injunction pronounced at the end of April by a court in Madrid, which had banned the organization as well as Fifa from cracking down on this potential competing project of the Champions League as long as the the conflict would not have been resolved on the merits.

The organization based in Nyon (Switzerland) has therefore put this disciplinary component on hold pending the outcome of the legal proceedings, all the more complex as the Madrid court has in the meantime referred the matter to the European Court of Justice (CJEU). .

"After the opening of disciplinary proceedings against FC Barcelona, ​​Juventus and Real Madrid for a potential violation of the legal framework of UEFA in connection with the so-called + Super League +, the appeal committee of the 'UEFA has decided to suspend the proceedings until further notice, "read a statement.

The issue, crucial for the governance of European sport and the monopoly claimed by the authorities, is whether UEFA "abuses its dominant position" and therefore infringes competition law, thus protecting its competitions.

The body chaired by Aleksander Ceferin threatened Real, Barça and Juventus to be excluded from European competitions.

- 48 hours of controversy -

These three clubs are the latest to defend the "Super League" project, a private competition that rocked European football in April.

After 48 hours of controversy, which aroused opposition from supporters, authorities and players, nine of the twelve mutineers withdrew, including Chelsea and Manchester City, finalists of the last C1, admitting to having made "a mistake".

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UEFA sanctioned them with a light fine, with the rebels agreeing to pay together 15 million euros and give up 5% of their European windfall for one season.

The six English clubs involved have also reached a financial deal with their home league, the powerful Premier League, totaling € 25m, British media reported on Wednesday.

But for the last three European clubs involved in the project, UEFA, which is playing its credibility, if not its financial survival around its flagship event, reserved itself to take stronger measures.

For their part, Real, Barça and Juventus had deemed "incomprehensible" the threats of sanction from UEFA and declared in a joint statement to remain "committed to modernizing football".

© 2021 AFP