Two women walk past a Real Madrid poster of the team celebrating in a merchandising shop in Madrid, Spain, Monday, April 19, 2021. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says players at the 12 clubs setting up their own Super League could be banned from this year's European Championship and next year's World Cup. Ceferin spoke after a UEFA executive committee meeting held only hours of the English, Italian and Spanish clubs announced the project that threatens to split European soccer. (AP Photo/Paul White)
The Associated Press
MADRID (AP) - A Spanish judge on Tuesday issued a preliminary ruling stopping FIFA and UEFA from taking any immediate action or making statements against the Super League.
The ruling from a mercantile court in Madrid said the soccer governing bodies must refrain from 'œdirectly or indirectly'ť hindering the creation of the breakaway league.
Judge Manuel Ruiz de Lara ordered FIFA and UEFA to 'œrefrain from taking any measure or action, or from issuing any statement, which prevents or hinders, directly or indirectly, the preparation of the European Super League.'ť
The ruling, made after a request by the Super League, said FIFA, UEFA and its members - including federations, clubs and domestic leagues - can't threaten or sanction players and teams in the new competition.
The new league has attracted widespread criticism in the soccer world, and UEFA threatened to ban players from the participating teams from playing in the European Championship and next year's World Cup.
The ruling tells FIFA and UEFA not to 'œexclude'ť Super League clubs and players from 'œany international or national competitions'ť in which they have already been regularly participating or have the right to participate.
The judge's order prohibits FIFA, UEFA and their members from 'œannouncing, threatening to announce or adopting any disciplinary measures'ť against 'œclubs or its officials or players'ť participating 'œin the preparation'ť of the Super League.
It warned FIFA and UEFA to 'œinstruct'ť their members to follow the measures ordered by the court.
Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez will be the chairman of the controversial breakaway league, which has 11 other founding teams including fellow Spanish clubs Barcelona and Atlético Madrid.
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A man and a young boy walk past a Real Madrid poster of the team celebrating in a merchandising shop in Madrid, Spain, Monday, April 19, 2021. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says players at the 12 clubs setting up their own Super League could be banned from this year's European Championship and next year's World Cup. Ceferin spoke after a UEFA executive committee meeting held only hours of the English, Italian and Spanish clubs announced the project that threatens to split European soccer. (AP Photo/Paul White)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this June 13, 2019 file photo, Real Madrid's President Florentino Perez gives a speech at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain. The Super League's founding chairman Florentino Perez on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 says the competition is being created to save soccer for everyone and not to make the rich clubs richer. The Real Madrid president says it's "impossible" that players from the participating teams will be banned by UEFA. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
The Associated Press
A woman takes a snapshot in front Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 20, 2021. A group of 12 elite English, Spanish and Italian clubs dramatically split European soccer on Sunday by announcing the formation of a largely-closed Super League. The Super League's founding chairman Florentino Perez on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 says the competition is being created to save soccer for everyone and not to make the rich clubs richer. The Real Madrid president says it's "impossible" that players from the participating teams will be banned by UEFA. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
The Associated Press
A soccer supporter takes snapshots of Atletico Madrid hall of fame plates at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 20, 2021. A group of 12 elite English, Spanish and Italian clubs dramatically split European soccer on Sunday by announcing the formation of a largely-closed Super League. The Super League's founding chairman Florentino Perez on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 says the competition is being created to save soccer for everyone and not to make the rich clubs richer. The Real Madrid president says it's "impossible" that players from the participating teams will be banned by UEFA. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
The Associated Press