After UEFA president Alexander Ceferin threatened that players involved in the European Super League (ESL) could be banned from the upcoming UEFA European Championship, here are the biggest stars who could miss the continental tournament.
Click through the gallery above to see some of the footballers who could be banned from Euro 2020!
The 53-year-old, who assumed his role as head of Europe's football governing body in September 2016, is facing the biggest crisis of his tenure to date.
Ceferin has come out guns blazing after 12 clubs – Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona – announced their intention to form the ESL.
The new competition is a breakaway league from the UEFA Champions League, and the 12 clubs involved are planning to start it as soon as possible, potentially from August 2021.
As a consequence, Ceferin has insisted that players from the clubs involved will be banned from all UEFA and FIFA competitions going forward.
"The players that will play in the Super League will be banned from playing in the World Cup and Euros. They will not be allowed play for their national teams," he said on Monday, as quoted by Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Read: Live Updates: European Super League
Such bans could impact a lot of players and national teams for the upcoming European Championship, which will be the first major tournament held since the ESL announcement, while the Copa America will also take place in June/July.
If the ban becomes a reality, Cristiano Ronaldo, who is one of the biggest stars in the game, would not be available to play for defending champions Portugal at the continental showpiece – something the Juventus superstar would not accept lightly.
Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane would miss the tournament for England, despite being the current captain of the Three Lions.
Reigning FIFA World Cup champions France would also be without several of their key players, including Manchester United's Paul Pogba, but Kylian Mbappe would be available because he plays for Paris Saint-Germain, who reportedly rejected the opportunity to form part of the ESL.
Scroll through the gallery above to see some other football superstars who could miss the Euros!
