June 3 – Juventus are to rejoin the European Club Association (ECA), the body’s chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi told a meeting of its executive committee before the Champions league final at the weekend.
The 36-time Italian champions were dropped from the ECA after pursuing the proposed but ill-fated European Super League proposal in 2021 alongside 11 other of Europe’s biggest clubs. The proposal was met with widespread backlash from club fan bases and threats of sanctions by UEFA, leading nine clubs to pull out within days of the announcement.
With Juventus having announced their resignation from the remaining three Super League proponents, only Real Madrid and Barcelona remain on the roster of the controversial project.
Al-Khelaïfi, said: “I start the meeting with very significant news – after having several meetings recently with their management and owners, I am pleased to report that Juventus has requested to re-join ECA, which will be formalised shortly.
“ECA’s door is always open to clubs who believe in collective interests, progressive reform and working constructively with all stakeholders – we are delighted Juventus will rejoin the European football family.”
The Serie A side started the process of withdrawing from the ESL in 2023, but required authorisation from Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Juventus’ request to rejoin the ECA follows a decision from a Spanish court in May that ruled Uefa and Fifa were wrong to ban clubs from joining the European Super League.
Juventus will be rejoining the ECA at a time of unprecedented growth for the organisation which has seen it grow the current number of member clubs to 658, up from 266 clubs at the beginning of this season. The ECA said it now has 100% membership of clubs in top tier leagues in 20 countries.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1734948824labto1734948824ofdlr1734948824owedi1734948824sni@g1734948824niwe.1734948824yrrah1734948824