In a move that has drawn widespread criticism from European federations to prime ministers, 12 of Europe's top clubs announced they were launching a breakaway European Super League.

Six English Premier League clubs will join AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid in setting up a league in direct competition to the UEFA Champions League.

European football's governing body UEFA have expressed their disapproval, claiming players participating in the Super League could be "banned from all UEFA and FIFA competitions, European or International level."

FIFA also condemned the proposals."FIFA can only express its disapproval to a "closed European breakaway league" outside of the international football structures and not respecting the aforementioned principles," it said in a statement, quoted by Reuters.

"FIFA always stands for unity in world football and calls on all parties involved in heated discussions to engage in calm, constructive and balanced dialogue for the good of the game and in the spirit of solidarity and fair play.

"We will, of course, do whatever is necessary to contribute to a harmonised way forward in the overall interests of football."

Meanwhile, the announcement by six leading English clubs that they plan to join a breakaway European Super League sparked a furious reaction on Sunday, with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling the proposals "very damaging for football".

The Premier League, English Football Association, players' union and fans' groups were also quick to voice their disapproval at the idea of a closed breakaway league.

Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham are among 12 teams to sign up to the plan, also featuring Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan.

"Plans for a European Super League would be very damaging for football and we support football authorities in taking action," Johnson said via his official Twitter account, quoted by AFP.

"They would strike at the heart of the domestic game, and will concern fans across the country.

"The clubs involved must answer to their fans and the wider footballing community before taking any further steps."

On Monday, UEFA are due to announce changes to the Champions League format from 2024.

Europe's premier club competition is expected to be expanded from 32 to 36 clubs with a minimum of 10 games for each team.

Those changes were seen as a measure to dissuade a breakaway and appease the continent's biggest clubs, who are seeking greater revenue from more matches against each other.

However, the 12 breakaway clubs have been lured by a 3.5 billion euro ($4.2 billion, £3 billion) pot just to sign up to the competition.

"A European Super League will undermine the appeal of the whole game, and have a deeply damaging impact on the immediate and future prospects of the Premier League and its member clubs, and all those in football who rely on our funding and solidarity to prosper," the Premier League said in a statement.

"Fans of any club in England and across Europe can currently dream that their team may climb to the top and play against the best. We believe that the concept of a European Super League would destroy this dream."

The FA said a closed league would "attack the principles of open competition and sporting merit" and repeated a threat by FIFA that players who participate in such a competition could be banned from representing their countries at international level.

"We would not provide permission to any competition that would be damaging to English football, and will take any legal and/or regulatory action necessary to protect the broader interests of the game," said the FA.

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