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UEFA President issues warning to Barcelona and Real Madrid over future Champions League ban

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has issued a fresh warning to La Liga joint perpetrators Real Madrid and Barcelona over their continued participation in the European Super League (ESL).

Both clubs have indicated their inclination and intentions to remain in the breakaway league despite the withdrawal of eight other clubs with two Serie A sides now on the verge of exiting.

Club presidents Florentino Perez and Joan Laporta have been obdurate in refusing to budge on the issue despite the potential of harsh future sanctions from UEFA in the coming months.

Although UEFA have confirmed that there’s likely to be no action taken against any of the breakaway 12 clubs in this season’s European competitions, including Real Madrid’s Champions League participation, he did have a future warning for the recalcitrant duo.

“We are still waiting for a legal evaluation of what has happened and we will offer that at a later date,” as per an interview on Slovenian television reported via Marca.

“But everyone faces the consequences that their decisions will bring and they know it.

“If they (the remaining clubs) continue to say they are in the Super League, they will not play the Champions League, of course.

“And if they are prepared to do so, they can play in their own competition.”

Ceferin also hinted that the teams who have confirmed their formal intentions to withdraw from the ESL, including Atletico Madrid, will not be penalised as severely as those who are still involved.

Zinedine Zidane’s side are set to face Chelsea in their Champions League first leg in the Spanish capital on April 27.