The three remaining ESL clubs have criticized the two governing bodies for enacting 'unacceptable third-party pressures, threats, and offenses'.

While many perceive the European Super League to be a dead project, one that failed to even take off, three clubs are unwilling to let their plans of establishing this lucrative but controversial breakaway tournament without a fight.

They are Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus, the only clubs yet to withdraw from the competition. The other nine – Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal, Tottenham, Atletico, Inter Milan, and AC Milan – have backed out and are ready to reintegrate, but the three aforementioned sides remain steadfast to their plans and have officially hit out at FIFA and UEFA.

In a joint statement, the remaining founding clubs slammed European football's and world football's governing bodies for the failure of the European Super League, accusing those powerful organizations of making unlawful and "unacceptable" threats in order to prevent this competition from going through.

"The founding clubs have suffered, and continue to suffer, unacceptable third-party pressures, threats, and offenses to abandon the project and therefore desist from their right and duty to provide solutions to the football ecosystem via concrete proposals and constructive dialogue," the statement read.

"This is intolerable under the rule of law and Tribunals have already ruled in favour of the Super League proposal, ordering FIFA and UEFA to, either directly or through their affiliated bodies, refrain from taking any action which may hinder this initiative in any way while court proceedings are pending.

"Furthermore, we reiterate to FIFA, UEFA and all football stakeholders, as we have done on several occasions since the announcement of the Super League, our commitment and determination to discuss, with respect and without intolerable pressure and in accordance with the rule of law, the most appropriate solutions for the sustainability of the whole football family."

The nine that have abandoned the European Super League will face punishment for their role, albeit light, but it is unclear what is in store for Los Blancos, the Blaugrana, and the Old Lady. Expulsion from the UEFA Champions League has been touted as a likely repercussion but given that these are three of the biggest teams in the world, all parties will be keen to avoid this.

Real Madrid and Barcelona appear destined to finish in the top four in Spain, meaning qualification for next season's UCL is all but certain. The same, however, cannot be said about Juventus as they face tough competition from fourth-placed AC Milan, who they will face this weekend, and fifth-placed Napoli.