The 'big six' English clubs who were involved in the European Super League plans are increasingly unlikely to be punished, according to leading sports lawyers.
Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are under investigation by the Premier League and many supporters and other clubs in the league wish to see the owners in question punished for their intentions.
The legalities behind punishing the 'big six' with points deductions or fines would have to be charged in writing and a commission would need to be appointed to hear the case.
Dan Chapman, a solicitor and head of Sport Law at Leathes Prior told reporters: "There is a view that if they were going to charge the clubs they would have done so already.
"The Premier League are well equipped to moving quickly and any lawyer acting for a club responding to a charge will no doubt make much of any delay as part of their response. With every passing day I think it is likely that the chances of a charge seem to be receding."
According to the Daily Mail, contracts that the 'big six' owners have signed raise confusion as they are ambiguous on whether the clubs had actually joined at the time when the breakaway league was announced.
Within the agreement of the Super League, their plans stated that the clubs involved would still participate in their domestic leagues and therefore the 'big six' clubs could argue they have not breached Premier League rules.
The FA is also considering punishing the English clubs involved, however the owners who have pulled out of the Super League are expected to be punished with a fine of £130m for withdrawing from the agreement.
Sammy Wynne
