European super league: Top clubs reportedly planning breakout competition; UEFA opposes 'cynical project'

Juventus, Barcelona, Manchester United and others are set to announce plans for a separate league

UEFA has slammed reports this weekend that a breakaway super league is on the verge of being announced with the participation of big-name English, Spanish and Italian teams. European soccer's governing body issued a statement on the matter calling out the proposal and reiterating that the English (FA), Spanish (RFEF) and Italian (FIGC) associations are against the "cynical project" and thanked "French and German clubs" for their "refusal" to join the breakaway league. "If this were to happen, we wish to reiterate that we – UEFA, the English FA, RFEF, FIGC, the Premier League, LaLiga, Lega Serie A, but also FIFA and all our member associations – will remain united in our efforts to stop this cynical project, a project that is founded on the self-interest of a few clubs at a time when society needs solidarity more than ever, UEFA said in a statement.  Some top European soccer clubs agreed to create the European club competition that would be separate to UEFA's Champions and Europa Leagues, per the New York Times. Top sides, including Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Liverpool, Juventus and AC Milan, are said to be among the teams planning to break away from European soccer as UEFA was due to meet on Monday to finalize plans for a redesign of the Champions League. "We will consider all measures available to us, at all levels, both judicial and sporting in order to prevent this happening. Football is based on open competitions and sporting merit; it cannot be any other way. On top of United and Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur would reportedly be the Premier League teams involved with Atletico Madrid another Spanish outfit and Inter Milan an additional Italian side. "As previously announced by FIFA and the six Federations, the clubs concerned will be banned from playing in any other competition at domestic, European or world level, and their players could be denied the opportunity to represent their national teams.