FIFA threatens World Cup ban for Super League players

PLAYERS have been warned they will be barred from future World Cups and other international competitions if they are involved in any breakaway European Super League.

Reports of such a tournament involving Europe’s top clubs resurfaced last year, and it was said that American banking giant JP Morgan was planning to bankroll it.

However, the idea has been emphatically rejected by world governing body FIFA and the game’s six continental confederations.

A joint statement read: “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.

“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.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino put his name to the statement, as did his counterparts at UEFA, the Confederation of African Football, the Asian Football Confederation, CONCACAF, the Oceania Football Confederation and South America’s CONMEBOL.