The Italian Football Federation has vowed to kick teams out of Serie A if they try to join a breakaway European Super League.
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Super League not dead in the waterSerie A clubs face league ban if they joinFIGC against Italian teams joining ESLGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
The European Super League won its court case against UEFA and FIFA earlier this month, boosting the chances of the competition returning. The European Court of Justice decided that blocking the breakaway project was against EU law but according to Fabrizio Romano, this move by Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC) means no Italian teams are going to sign up to a new ESL. If they do, they will be excluded from Serie A from 2024/25.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The European Court of Justice's ruling led Barcelona – one of the initial 12 clubs to agree to join the ESL – to say the verdict "paved the way for a new competition". However, this move by FIGC is significant as Italian giants Juventus were previously one of the last teams holding out for the Super League competition – which seemed dead and buried in 2021. Barcelona and Real Madrid are still in favour of the tournament but they may now lose a key ally.
Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?
The ESL saga began in April 2021 when 12 teams, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham, signed up to the breakaway competition. But within a matter of days, the plans collapsed off the back of widespread fury from fans, other European leagues and even governments.
WHAT NEXT?
It may just be a matter of time before a new European Super League is proposed as clubs across the world struggle financially. A second version of the ESL spoke of up to 80 European teams involved in a multi-divisional format and this time there was no permanent members and qualification was meritocratic.
