Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid have been admitted to next season’s Champions League despite their involvement in the proposed breakaway European Super League project.
Admission letters have been sent to all Champions League participants, European football’s governing body UEFA has said.
Disciplinary proceedings against Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid over their involvement in the proposed Super League have been suspended by UEFA’s independent appeals body.
UEFA opened a probe against the three clubs but last week it suspended proceedings after being notified by the Swiss authorities of a court order from the commercial court in Madrid obtained by the legal entity European Super League Company SL.
‘Admission letters have been sent to all clubs participating in next season’s UEFA club competitions today,’ UEFA said on Tuesday.
However, UEFA insists it sees the suspension in proceedings against the clubs as temporary.
The governing body claims there is extensive legal precedent that allows it to discipline clubs in these circumstances with parties having a right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration of Sport.
But it will take time for both the legal wrangle between UEFA and the clubs, as well as any subsequent disciplinary process to be resolved.
‘In reliance on the Court Order, the mentioned three clubs have sought to shield themselves from potential disciplinary consequences related to this so-called ‘Super League’ project,’ said UEFA’s statement.
‘UEFA understands why the disciplinary proceedings needed to be suspended for the time being, but remains confident in and will continue to defend its position in all the relevant jurisdictions.’
Juve, Barca and Real are the last of the 12 clubs who signed up to the Super League in April not to have distanced themselves from the breakaway project which unravelled when all six English clubs plus Inter Milan, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid withdrew.
Super League founder and Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli said earlier this month that the plan to create a breakaway league was not a coup but a way to save the football industry, which has been hit by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
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