Inter, AC Milan and Juventus will face fierce opposition to their ‘unjustifiable’ plans for a new European Super League, according to the Italian Football Federation’s (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina.

Inter were one of 12 leading European clubs to announce their participation in the franchise on Sunday night, in a group of 12 founding members which also included Serie A rivals AC Milan and Juventus.

The FIGC is reportedly considering legal action to try and stop the Super League getting under way, as per one report today, albeit it is not yet clear what that would entail.

“We will approach this issue with our usual determination and conviction,” FIGC president Gravina told reporters after leaving UEFA’s executive committee meeting today.

“This was a bolt from the blue: we’d had a few warning signs but we didn’t expect the Super League to be announced in this manner and at this time, it’s such a violent reaction.

“I have to thank everyone who is helping build an insurmountable wall against this project, from politicians to those who love the values of football.”

Asked if he was disappointed with Inter, AC Milan and Juventus for signing up to the plans, Gravina admitted: “I’m not disappointed, I understand these are moments of great difficulty which they and other clubs around the world are experiencing.

“But you can’t present this as an innovative project when your target is to increase income: if you don’t have your accounts under control, there’s no amount of revenue which can justify an initiative like this.”

Inter, AC Milan and Juventus would be joined in the Super League by six Premier League clubs (Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham) and three La Liga teams (Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid).

Asked if the three Italian powerhouses could be thrown out of Serie A for their involvement, Gravina said: “Our job isn’t to defend league titles which have been won in the past, we must defend the values of sport.

“Football belongs to the people and the fans, even if we must also recognise that the top clubs are a great window for football here in Italy with their business abilities.”

The games would be played in midweek, overlapping with the UEFA Champions League but allowing clubs to keep playing in their domestic leagues.