UEFA expects next week’s Champions League semi-finals involving the rebel clubs of the European Super League, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City to continue as planned, sources told ESPN , despite the threat of escapist teams being expelled from the competition.
Real, Chelsea and City are part of the group of twelve teams that have signed plans to form a competition that would replace the Champions League, and UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin on Monday described those involved as “snakes and liars”. and dismissed the project as “shameful and self-serving.”
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Ceferin also raised the possibility that the 12 pro-independence clubs, which also include Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Barcelona, among others, would be banned from UEFA competition as a result of their attempts to form their own. lucrative tournament.
Danish FA president Jesper Moller, a member of UEFA’s executive committee, said on Monday that those clubs still participating in European competitions could be expelled from the Champions League and Europa League as early as this Friday.
This move would also see United and Arsenal relegated from the Europa League before next week’s first-leg semi-finals against Roma and Villarreal, respectively.
Ceferin appeared to offer an olive branch to rebel club owners on Tuesday, however, saying, “Gentlemen, you have made a mistake. There is still time to change your mind.”
And sources have told ESPN that UEFA is not considering expelling clubs from their competitions this week and that next week’s matches will go on.
Real will play Chelsea in Madrid on April 27 and City will travel to France to face Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg 24 hours later.