EUROPEAN soccer governing body UEFA abandoned its disciplinary case against the three rebel Super League clubs, declaring Monday the proceedings “null and void.” UEFA announced in May it was opening a case against Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus for a “potential violation” of its legal framework amid their continued support for the Super League project. The case was paused in June until further notice following a ruling from a Madrid court and has now been closed by UEFA’s independent appeals body. UEFA also said it would not request payments from the nine other clubs that withdrew from the project. “UEFA understands why the disciplinary proceedings are declared null and void,” a UEFA statement read. “UEFA has always acted in good faith and reasonably understood that the decision by its independent disciplinary body, the UEFA Appeals Body, to suspend the disciplinary proceedings was in full compliance with the Court Orders of the Madrid Commercial Court No. 17, and given that the three mentioned clubs have since been admitted to UEFA club competitions. “UEFA maintains its view that it has always acted in accordance with not only its statutes and regulations, but also with EU law, the European Convention on Human Rights and Swiss law in connection with the so-called Super League project. “In relation with the Club Commitment Declarations UEFA received in May 2021 from nine of the 12 clubs that acted as founders of the so-called European Super League project, and with which such nine clubs had informed UEFA of their unilateral decisions to withdraw from the so-called Super League project, UEFA has informed the nine clubs that in view of the pending Court proceedings in Madrid, and to avoid any unnecessary complication, UEFA will not request payment of any of the amounts offered in the May Declarations of the clubs, as long as the Court proceedings in Madrid involving, among others, UEFA are pending.” Barca, Madrid and Juve have refused to renounce the Super League despite the intense backlash from the soccer world. The Super League argued it would increase revenue for the top soccer clubs in Europe and allow them to distribute more money to the rest of the game. However, the sport’s governing bodies, other teams and fan organizations said the league would only boost the power and wealth of elite clubs, and that the partially closed structure went against European soccer’s long-standing model. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has continued to say the plan remains a viable way forward for Europe’s top clubs. On Monday, Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli explained his club’s backing for the plans. “This is a new meritocratic paradigm and a return to the fundamentals of cost control and transparency,” Agnelli said. (SD-Agencies) | 