FIFA THREATEN WORLD CUP BANS FOR BREAKAWAY STARS

PLAYERS who join a breakaway European Super League would be barred from World Cups and other international tournaments, FIFA have announced. A joint statement from the game’s organising body and the six continental federations said they were ‘strongly emphasising’ they would reject such a competition. Reports of such a tournament, which would take place between Europe’s top clubs in midweek, resurfaced last year, with US investment bank JP Morgan Chase named as a potential bankroller. ‘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,’ the statement read. ‘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 statement was signed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his counterparts at the six continental governing bodies. It added: ‘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. ‘Participation in global and continental competitions should always be won on the pitch.’ UEFA’s position was backed by the European Commission, whose vice-president Margaritis Schinas said: ‘There is no scope for the few to distort the universal and diverse nature of European football. The European way of life is not compatible with European football being reserved for the rich and the powerful.’