FIFA confirms players involved in European Super League would be banned from World Cup

FIFA and the six confederations have confirmed that any player or club involved in a European Super League would be banned from playing from tournaments like the World Cup or the Euros.

Talk of a Super League stepped up towards the end of 2020, with a handful of top sides from across Europe understood to be considering forming their own competition - something FIFA and UEFA have often publicly condemned.

Up until this point, there has not been much to stop those elite clubs from forming their own breakaway league, but FIFA have now confirmed that anybody who chooses to participate will be banned from competing on the biggest international stages.

"In light of recent media speculation about the creation of a closed European 'Super League' by some European clubs, FIFA and the six confederations (AFC, CAF, Concacaf, CONMEBOL, OFC and UEFA) once again would like to reiterate and strongly emphasise that such a competition would not be recognised by either FIFA or the respective confederation," a statement on FIFA's official website 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.

"As per the FIFA and confederations statutes, all competitions should be organised or recognised by the relevant body at their respective level, by FIFA at the global level and by the confederations at the continental level. In this respect, the confederations recognise the FIFA Club World Cup, in its current and new format, as the only worldwide club competition while FIFA recognises the club competitions organised by the confederations as the only club continental competitions.

"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. Football has a long and successful history thanks to these principles. Participation in global and continental competitions should always be won on the pitch."

It's one of the biggest threats FIFA could offer up, and there's a good chance it could well derail any plans for this Super League.

The likes of Real Madrid, Juventus and Barcelona are all thought to be in favour of forming the new competition, with outgoing Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu sending the world into a frenzy by admitting he had signed the club up to participate in the Super League.

However, clubs may well be forced to hesitate on their plans as players may not appreciate the idea of being banned from international competitions.

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