Juventus, Barcelona & Real Madrid confirm they remain committed to Super League
By Ross Jackson
Juventus have released a statement insisting they remain committed to modernising football and that their views are shared by La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The trio are the only clubs not to have withdrawn their commitment to the much-maligned Super League, a stance which has seen UEFA open disciplinary proceedings.
European football's governing body announced they would be investigating the three clubs with regards to a potential violation of UEFA's legal framework, and said clubs have now responded with a statement of their own.
Juventus announced via their official website that they reject the notion that they've done anything wrong in looking to modernise football and that both Barça and Real share their views.
"Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid remain committed to modernizing football through an open dialogue with UEFA," the statement read.
"Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid wish to express their absolute rejection of the insistent coercion that UEFA has been maintaining towards three of the most relevant institutions in the history of football.
"This alarming attitude constitutes a flagrant breach of the decision of the courts of justice, which have already made a clear statement warning UEFA to refrain from taking any action that could penalise the founding clubs of the Super League while the legal proceedings are ongoing.
"Therefore, the opening of disciplinary proceedings by UEFA is incomprehensible and is a direct attack against the rule of law that we, the citizens of the European Union, have democratically built up, while constituting a lack of respect toward the authority of the courts of justice themselves.
The statement went on to claim the Super League proposal was made purely to protect the future of European football and that they remain committed to seeking the solutions needed to aid the game's health.
"From the beginning, the Super League has been promoted with the aim of improving the situation of European football, through permanent dialogue with UEFA and with the objective to increase the interest in the sport and to offer fans the best possible show," the statement continued.
"This objective has to be achieved in a framework of sustainability and solidarity, especially in a precarious economic situation such as the one many clubs in Europe are currently experiencing.
"Instead of exploring ways of modernizing football through open dialogue, UEFA expects us to withdraw the ongoing court proceedings that question their monopoly over European football.
"Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid, all of them more than a century old, will not accept any form of coercion or intolerable pressure, while they remain strong in their willingness to debate, respectfully and through dialogue, the urgent solutions that football currently needs.
"Either we reform football or we will have to watch its inevitable downfall."