‘Earn it on the pitch’ - UEFA issues firm stance on European Super League alongside FSE after latest ruling as president Aleksander Ceferin insists ‘football is not for sale’

On Thursday the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that UEFA and FIFA acted unlawfully when it initially blocked the Super League in 2021. A22 has now relaunched the project, but UEFA and Football Supporters Europe (FSE) have come out in staunch opposition to the proposed new competition.

A statement signed by organisations including UEFA, FSE and Fifa said: "There is no place for any type of 'super league' in Europe. Sporting merit is what counts.

"Football is for everyone. Keep it open to all."

FSE released a separate statement that read: "Their [Super League] aim remains to ensure a few select clubs receive the relative certainty of playing European football each year as well as the revenue that would bring. Participation in European club competitions is and must always be based 100% on sporting merit each season, without exception."

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said: "Teams like Girona and Atalanta could not qualify in this championship. This format is more closed than that of 2021. To talk about open competition is wrong. Now it is clear that what we are being offered is a closed competition. Today we have had the confirmation of that.

"We have never tried to stop the project. They can do whatever they want, I hope they start as soon as possible with two clubs. I hope they know what they are doing, but I am not sure. Football is not for sale."

A22 wasted no time in relaunching their European Super League after the court ruling. However, clubs including Manchester City, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain have already ruled themselves out of taking part in the competition.

A22 claim that 64 clubs will take part in the Super League, but at present, only Real Madrid and Barcelona have expressed support for the project. More top clubs are expected to rule themselves out.