Real Madrid, UEFA reach 'agreement' over Super League dispute / Photo: Fabrice COFFRINI, BENJAMIN CREMEL - AFP
-
US warships transit Strait of Hormuz in mine clearance op
-
Playoff seedings on line as grueling NBA regular-season comes to close
-
Ngumoha's 'special' impact no surprise to Slot
-
Arsenal suffer major title blow as Liverpool earn vital win
-
US, Iran hold high-level peace talks in Pakistan
-
Over 200 arrested at pro-Palestinian rally in London
-
McIlroy tees off with six-stroke Masters lead
-
Record-breaking Bayern march closer to Bundesliga title
-
World champions England make winning start to Women's Six Nations
-
Yamal shines as Barca thrash Espanyol to extend Liga lead
-
Drean double sets Toulon up for Champions Cup semi against Leinster
-
Salah, Ngumoha ease Liverpool crisis with Fulham win
-
Arsenal suffer huge title blow as Liverpool earn vital win
-
Samson smashes hundred as Chennai notch first win of IPL season
-
Bayern Munich set Bundesliga record with 102nd goal of season
-
Milan's Serie A title hopes in tatters after shock Udinese defeat
-
Alcaraz and Sinner battle for No.1 spot in Monte Carlo final
-
In fiery speech, Pope Leo says 'Enough to war!'
-
Andreeva to face Potapova in Linz WTA final
-
Holders Italy, Britain into BJK Cup finals, USA knocked out
-
Arsenal suffer title 'punch' by Bournemouth, Everton hold Brentford
-
Drean double breaks Glasgow hearts as Toulon reach Champions Cup semis
-
Teen star Seixas seals Basque Tour triumph, August wins sixth stage
-
Scores arrested at pro-Palestinian rally in London
-
I Am Maximus emulates Red Rum to regain Grand National crown
-
Leverkusen sink Dortmund to bring Bayern closer to title
-
Planes fly from Beirut airport despite Israeli bombing
-
Pogacar dreaming of Monument clean-sweep
-
Arteta urges Arsenal to stand up after 'punch in the face'
-
Iyer leads Punjab's chase of 220 to down Hyderabad
-
Arsenal defeat blows Premier League title race wide open
-
Buffets, baristas, but no briefings: journalists frozen out of Iran talks
-
McIlroy's Masterpiece remains the buzz at Augusta
-
Sinner brushes past Zverev to reach Monte Carlo final
-
Arsenal suffer major blow in Premier League title charge
-
UK puts Chagos handover deal in 'deep freeze' after Trump criticism
-
In Europe first, Netherlands to allow Teslas to self-drive
-
Sabrina Carpenter transforms Coachella into her own 'Sabrinawood'
-
Iran, Lebanon bore brunt of missiles and drones launched during war
-
Iran envoys meet Pakistani PM ahead of US talks
-
UK to shelve Chagos handover after Trump criticism
-
Somalia president congratulates World Cup-bound referee Omar Artan
-
Vance in Islamabad for Iran talks overshadowed by mutual mistrust
-
After Artemis II, NASA looks to SpaceX, Blue Origin for Moon landings
-
Benin leans into painful past to attract tourists
-
Britain storm into Billie Jean King Cup finals with Australia thumping
-
Russia and Ukraine set to begin Easter truce
-
Hawks clinch NBA playoff berth with win over Cavs
-
Trump administration reveals plans for massive Washington arch
-
Carney poised to win Canada majority but affordability pressure looms
Real Madrid, UEFA reach 'agreement' over Super League dispute
The European Super League saga drew towards an end as Real Madrid, the last club still involved in the failed breakaway project, and UEFA announced on Wednesday an agreement to help resolve their legal dispute.
Spanish giants Madrid, whose president Florentino Perez has relentlessly championed the idea of a Super League, and promoters A22 Sports Management, were seeking $4 billion in damages from European football governing body UEFA after the project collapsed.
"UEFA, the European Football Clubs (EFC, the sole, independent body representing football clubs within Europe) and Real Madrid CF reach an agreement for the good of European club football," read a statement published by Real Madrid and UEFA.
"This agreement of principles will also serve to resolve their legal disputes related to the European Super League, once such principles are executed and implemented."
In the statement Real Madrid and UEFA said their agreement was over "respecting the principle of sporting merit with emphasis on long-term club sustainability" and "the enhancement of fan experience through the use of technology".
Last week, Spanish champions Barcelona confirmed their withdrawal from the Super League, which was launched by 12 clubs in 2021 but quickly folded under the weight of immense fan and institutional pressure.
Shortly after the semi-closed Super League project was announced, the six English clubs involved -- Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea -- all withdrew.
Four other clubs, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus, followed suit by 2024, leaving only Barca and Real Madrid still involved.
After a Spanish court ruled that opposition to the Super League from world and European football governing bodies FIFA and UEFA "prevented free competition", Madrid and A22 plotted legal action against UEFA.
A source close to the matter told AFP that Wednesday's announcement was "a historic agreement" and the beginning "of a period of peace" which would benefit all parties.
In 2022, UEFA decided to expand the Champions League to 36 teams and introduce the league phase, grouping all sides in the same table and increasing the number of matches from six to eight, for the 2024/25 season onwards.
T.Ward--AMWN