European giants end pursuit of controversial European Super League

WorldFootball
11 Feb 2026 • 11:12 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • The controversial European Super League project has been definitively ended after UEFA and Real Madrid reached a landmark agreement.
  • This agreement resolves a nearly five-year dispute that began with the league's sensational launch in April 2021.
  • Real Madrid, a primary architect of the breakaway competition, had remained committed despite widespread condemnation and protracted legal battles.
  • The Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ clubs withdrew from the initial proposal within days of its launch due to immense fan and government pressure.
  • Barcelona announced its withdrawal recently, and Real Madrid's agreement, largely facilitated by discussions between Florentino Perez and Nasser Al Khelaifi, now finalises the project's demise.

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