Tottenham Hotspur punished, along with eight other clubs.
Nine of the original European Super League clubs, including the Premier League’s ‘big six’, have been given a financial punishment by Uefa. The nine clubs are Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and us, plus AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid – have also committed to the European governing body and its competitions. Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus will face “appropriate action” under Uefa’s disciplinary process; this is because the three clubs have refused to renounce the breakaway league.
The ESL was announced on 18 April, but within 48 hours, the plans had fallen apart, with the English clubs withdrawing after protests and UK government pressure.
Tottenham and the other eight clubs have agreed to make a combined 15m euros (£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.
Manchester United co-chairman Joel Glazer will pay his club’s portion of the goodwill contribution and the competition revenue, which will not come out of club funds. Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (who own the Gooners) are committed to meeting all costs incurred by the ESL. At the same time, a Tottenham statement said: “Any fines will be the responsibility of the owners.”
Future punishment if such breakaways are tried again.
Tottenham and the other eight clubs face fines of 100m euros (£86.9m) each if they seek to join an unauthorised competition in the future, and a penalty of half that if they breach any other terms of the declaration, Uefa said in a statement. They will also rejoin the influential lobbying group, the European Club Association.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said: “I said at the Uefa Congress two weeks ago that it takes a strong organisation to admit making a mistake, especially in these days of trial by social media. These clubs have done just that. In accepting their commitments and willingness to repair the disruption they caused, Uefa wants to put this chapter behind it and move forward in a positive spirit. These clubs recognised their mistakes quickly and have taken action to demonstrate their contrition and future commitment to European football. The same cannot be said for the clubs that remain involved in the so-called Super League, and Uefa will deal with those clubs subsequently.”
My thoughts
So, knuckles wrapped, but they got off lightly. This is understandable as any severe punishment could have backfired and resulted in years of legal challenges. And might have precipitated an actual breakaway.
It is finally here, a new super book about the greats, Glories and all you want to know about the Tottenham great players (we are not worthy!) who have graced White Hart Lane and beyond. Sixty years ago this month, the Greatest Football club in the world won the double with probably the most outstanding team on this planet.
Has your eye’s seen the Glory? If yes (or even no) click HERE and follow the link, then they/ you will, and for those that are longer in the tooth (in other words, old like me)…. be prepared to be dazzled all over again!
COYS!
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1950s. In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
I go to all home, away and abroad matches.
I was born in 1955, Edgware, London (it was in the late 50s – as a baby – that my dad took me to Spurs to initiate me). I currently live in Berkshire.
I also collect all Spurs books (and have everyone printed), Spurs handbooks (from 1920s onwards, Spurs programmes (since the 40s).
Previously, I wrote for Spurs Fanzines: The Spur, Spur of the Moment, My Eyes have seen the Glory and various other Spurs fanzines’. I also wrote for the SpursWeb app & its website.
I currently write and work for spursnetwork.com and its website. I write its Reviews & Match reports and a lot more.
My other interests are; reading, history, social history, Politics, going to the gym, wine, going out for a meal, music (all sorts), writing, theatre, concerts, holidays, socialising etc.
I have been writing blogs/ articles since 1989
If you wish to read more of my blog, please click “here”
