World football governing body FIFA has threatened to ban any player or club that participates in breakaway competitions.
This comes as talk of a European Super League which will involve the world’s biggest teams gathers steam.
Barcelona, Real Madrid and many top Premier League clubs are believed to favour a ring-fenced European league. However, others like Bayern Munich are against it.
Now, FIFA has made its stance clear, saying that players will be banned from playing in any of their competitions, including the World Cup and European Championship, should they take part in any unauthorised events.
The letter has been signed by the six heads of FIFA’s continental confederations and reads in part:
“In light of recent media speculation about the creation of a closed European ‘Super League’ by some European clubs, 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.
“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.”
