Manchester United were willing to join the European Super League when it was first announced (Picture: Getty)
Manchester United insists they remain fully committed to UEFA and the Premier League following Thursday’s European Super League judgement.
The prospects of a future breakaway competition were boosted after judges said UEFA rules blocking the formation of such a competition were contrary to EU law.
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Justice had been asked to decide whether UEFA and FIFA acted against competition law by blocking the formation of the European Super League in 2021 and then seeking to sanction the clubs involved.
The court has ruled that UEFA and FIFA rules granting prior approval for new competitions are contrary to EU law.
United were among a clutch of heavyweight European clubs who threatened to join a rebel competition back in 2021, before a furious supporter-led backlash prompted a major U-turn.
Three years on, and United insist they have no intention of looking to capitalise on the European Court of Justice’s ruling.
A statement read: ‘Our position has not changed. We remain fully committed to participation in UEFA competitions, and to positive cooperation with UEFA, the Premier League, and fellow clubs through the ECA on the continued development of the European game.’
Manchester United fans caused the abandonment of a game against Liverpool as they protested against the idea of the European Super League back in 2021 (Picture: Getty)
Manchester City fans were also against their club joining the European Super League(Getty)
United were joined by the likes of Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich in immediately distancing themselves from the idea of reviving the Super League idea, while the Football Supporters Association also said ‘there is no place for an ill-conceived breakaway super league’.
SA chief executive Kevin Miles said: ‘As our friends at Football Supporters Europe point out – there is no place for an ill-conceived breakaway super league.
‘Supporters, players and clubs have already made clear they don’t want a stitched-up competition – we all want to see the trigger pulled on the walking dead monstrosity that is the European Zombie League.
‘While the corpse might continue to twitch in the European courts, no English side will be joining. The incoming independent regulator will block any club from competing in domestic competition if they join a breakaway super league.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
‘Success must be earned on the pitch, not stitched-up in boardrooms.’
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who has remained an avid supporter of a European Super League, insists football clubs will be the ‘masters of their destiny’, saying ‘law, reason and freedom’ have prevailed after the hearing.
‘At Real Madrid, we welcome the decision taken by the Court of Justice of the European Union, which is responsible for guaranteeing our principles, values and freedoms,” he said in a statement.
‘In the coming days we will study the scope of this resolution in detail, but I do anticipate two conclusions of great historical significance.
More: Trending
‘Firstly, that European club football is not and will never again be a monopoly. And secondly, that from today the clubs will be the masters of their destiny.
‘We, the clubs, see our right to propose and promote European competitions that modernise our sport and attract fans from all over the world fully recognised. In short, today the Europe of freedoms has triumphed again and today so have football and its fans.
‘In the face of the pressures we have been under for more than two years, law, reason and freedom prevail today. And that’s why Real Madrid will continue to work for the good of football.’
MORE : European Super League gets major boost as EU court rules against FIFA and UEFA
MORE : Government confirms new regulator for football capable of blocking European Super League
MORE : Fans hit back at new plans for 80-club European Super League
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.