Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus are facing two years Champions League bans after Uefa launched a formal disciplinary probe into the failed European Super League plot.
Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin is determined to make the three club leaders pay heavy wages unless they dissolve the breakaway competition.
That means two-season bans from playing in any European competitions is on the Uefa agenda.
In a statement, Euro chiefs in Nyon announced: “In accordance with Article 31(4) of the Uefa Disciplinary Regulations, Uefa Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors have today been appointed to conduct a disciplinary investigation regarding a potential violation of Uefa’s legal framework by Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona and Juventus FC in connection with the European Super League project.
“Further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course.”
The confirmation of action is proof of Ceferin’s desire to make the three clubs publicly recant and apologise for their attempts to broker the elite ESL competition.
Ceferin publicly welcomed the withdrawal and apologies by the Premier League Big Six, along with Atletico Madrid, AC Milan and Inter Milan.
Uefa says its disciplinary inspectors will look at a “potential violation” of its legal framework by the trio.
The other nine clubs involved – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid – have been punished by European football’s governing body for their participation.
They have agreed to make a combined £13.4m goodwill contribution to benefit children’s and grassroots football across Europe.
They will also have 5% of Uefa competition revenues withheld for one season, starting in 2023-24, and this money will be redistributed, including in the UK.
Each has also committed to Uefa and its competitions, with the clubs facing fines of £86.9m if they seek to join an unauthorised competition in the future. They will be fined half that if they breach any other terms of the declaration.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, chairman of the European Super League, recently said that the 12 clubs that agreed to join the project have binding contracts and cannot leave.
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