THE Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has opened a disciplinary investigation into Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus over their involvement in the launch of the breakaway European Super League (ESL), announced the European soccer governing body Wednesday.

“UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary inspectors have today appointed to conduct a disciplinary investigation regarding a potential violation of UEFA’s legal framework by Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus in connection with the so-called ‘Super League’ project,” said UEFA in a statement.

The sanctions Barca, Real and Juventus face can be a two-year ban from the UEFA Champions League, according to ESPN. If that goes through, all three clubs will lose a massive amount of revenue. Barca is just about to negotiate a contract extension with superstar Lionel Messi — it’s hard to imagine Messi will agree to stay in a team that will miss the Champions League for two years.

Real is trying to recruit Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain. It took PSG about 145 million euros (about US$175.2 million) to land the French genius.

There were originally 12 clubs participating in the establishment of the ESL. Nine of them — Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and AC Milan — already dropped out, signing a “Club Commitment Declaration” and agreeing to “take all steps within their power” to end their connection with the ESL.

They also accepted punishments including 15 million euros (US$18.1 million) in fines and withholding 5 percent of their revenue from competitions next season.

By contrast, Barca, Real and Juventus refused to quit the ESL as well as the “intolerable” pressure from UEFA.

(SD-Agencies)