Premier League clubs will be required to sign up to a new Owners’ Charter with “significant sanctions” for breaches of rules in the wake of the proposed breakaway European Super League.

Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham sparked outrage with their plans to join the breakaway competition.

In a statement, the Premier League said it was taking several measures to “protect our game, our clubs and their fans from further disruption and uncertainty”.

They include a new charter that all owners will be required to sign up to, “committing them to the core principles of the Premier League”.

“Breaches of these rules and the Charter will be subject to significant sanctions,” the Premier League said.

It added that is “enlisting the support of government to bring in appropriate legislation to protect football’s open pyramid, principles of sporting merit and the integrity of the football community”.

A spokesperson for the FA said: “Since we became aware of the European Super League our priority and focus has been on preventing it from happening, both now and in the future.

“Throughout this period, we have been in ongoing discussions with the government, the Premier League and UEFA.

“In particular, we have been discussing legislation with government that would allow us to prevent any similar threat in the future so that we can protect the English football pyramid.

“Last week, we started an official inquiry into the formation of the European Super League and the involvement of the six English clubs.

“We wrote to all of the clubs to formally request all relevant information and evidence regarding their participation.

“Once we have the required information, we will consider what appropriate steps to take. Clearly what happened was unacceptable and could have caused great harm to clubs at every level of English football.”

The 14 other Premier League clubs have been campaigning hard for action against the clubs involved in the proposed league – and to have those teams’ representatives removed from influential positions in the game.

Manchester United’s outgoing executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and Liverpool chairman Tom Werner have already stood down from the Premier League’s Club Broadcast Advisory Group.

Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano have left the Club Strategic Advisory Group and Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck has left the league’s Audit and Remuneration Committee.

Following the breakaway proposals, there have been a number of protests from fans across the footballing world and sharp criticism from within the game and from politicians.

In the latest protest, several hundred fans stormed Manchester United’s Old Trafford pitch to demonstrate against the club’s American owners before their scheduled game against Liverpool on Sunday, which eventually had to be postponed for safety reasons.

The six English clubs had planned to set up the Super League with Spanish sides Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid and Italy’s AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus in a group which some have dubbed the “dirty dozen”.

Source: Read Full Article