Inter and their Super League counterparts have warned FIFA and UEFA that they are already pursuing legal action to protect their breakaway project, according to a US media report.

As per the Associated Press, the 12 clubs from England, Italy and Spain sent a letter to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and UEFA president Aleksandar Ceferin which explained they have already underwritten the project with funding worth €4 billion from a financial institution.

UEFA had threatened on Sunday that clubs could be banned from taking part in their respective league competitions as well as international tournaments.

“We are concerned that FIFA and UEFA may respond to this invitation letter by seeking to take punitive measures to exclude any participating club or player from their respective competitions,” the Super League clubs wrote to Infantino and Ceferin.

“Your formal statement does, however, compel us to take protective steps to secure ourselves against such an adverse reaction, which would not only jeopardize the funding commitment under the grant but, significantly, would be unlawful.

“For this reason, SLCo (Super League Company) has filed a motion before the relevant courts in order to ensure the seamless establishment and operation of the Competition in accordance with applicable laws.”

Inter are one of 12 leading European clubs who have confirmed they will be founders of the new league, along with fellow Serie A giants AC Milan and Juventus.

The league also includes six Premier League clubs – Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool – and three La Liga teams, namely Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

20 teams will participate in the Super League, as per an official statement last night, with 15 founding clubs and five clubs who qualify for the tournament each year via league position.

The Super League is expected to hold matches in midweek while the teams continue to take part in their respective league competitions at weekends.