FIFA threaten World Cup bans for players who join a breakaway European Super League with the governing body ‘strongly’ against the idea of the competition

  • Europe’s elite clubs to be offered huge windfall to join new Super League 
  • However, players who join the League would be barred from any World Cups
  • A statement was signed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his counterparts
  • UEFA’s position on the matter was later backed up by the European Commission   

By Mike Keegan For The Daily Mail

Published: | Updated:

Players who join a breakaway European Super League would be barred from World Cups and other international tournaments, FIFA have announced.

A joint statement from the game’s organising body and the six continental federations said they were ‘strongly emphasising’ they would reject such a competition.

Reports of such a tournament, which would take place between Europe’s top clubs in midweek, resurfaced last year, with US investment bank JP Morgan Chase named as a potential bankroller.

Manchester United and Liverpool are reportedly involved in plans to set up a European Premier League – but FIFA and UEFA have moved to block any such idea

Players who join a breakaway European Super League would be barred from World Cups and other international tournaments, FIFA have announced

Players who join a breakaway European Super League would be barred from World Cups and other international tournaments, FIFA have announced 

‘FIFA and the six confederations once again would like to reiterate and strongly emphasise that such a competition would not be recognised by either FIFA or the respective confederation,’ the statement read.

‘Any club or player involved in such a competition would as a consequence not be allowed to participate in any competition organised by FIFA or their respective confederation.’ The statement was signed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his counterparts at the six continental governing bodies.

The decision means players like Kylian Mbappe would not be able to play for France at the World Cup or the European Championship if he played in the European Super League

The decision means players like Kylian Mbappe would not be able to play for France at the World Cup or the European Championship if he played in the European Super League

A statement was signed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino (above) and his counterparts

A statement was signed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino (above) and his counterparts

It added: ‘The universal principles of sporting merit, solidarity, promotion and relegation, and subsidiarity are the foundation of the football pyramid that ensures football’s global success and are, as such, enshrined in the FIFA and confederation statutes.

‘Participation in global and continental competitions should always be won on the pitch.’

UEFA’s position was backed by the European Commission, whose vice-president Margaritis Schinas said: ‘There is no scope for the few to distort the universal and diverse nature of European football. The European way of life is not compatible with European football being reserved for the rich and the powerful.’  

FIFA statement in full 

In light of recent media speculation about the creation of a closed European ‘Super League’ by some European clubs, FIFA and the six confederations (AFC, CAF, Concacaf, CONMEBOL, OFC and UEFA) once again would like to reiterate and strongly emphasise that such a competition would not be recognised by either FIFA or the respective confederation. 

Any club or player involved in such a competition would as a consequence not be allowed to participate in any competition organised by FIFA or their respective confederation.

As per the FIFA and confederations statutes, all competitions should be organised or recognised by the relevant body at their respective level, by FIFA at the global level and by the confederations at the continental level. 

In this respect, the confederations recognise the FIFA Club World Cup, in its current and new format, as the only worldwide club competition while FIFA recognises the club competitions organised by the confederations as the only club continental competitions.

The universal principles of sporting merit, solidarity, promotion and relegation, and subsidiarity are the foundation of the football pyramid that ensures football’s global success and are, as such, enshrined in the FIFA and confederation statutes. 

Football has a long and successful history thanks to these principles. Participation in global and continental competitions should always be won on the pitch.