Bayern Munich on Tuesday rejected plans for a European Super League, throwing their weight behind the Champions League and calling it "the world's best club competition".
Twelve of Europe's top clubs launched the breakaway Super League on Sunday, kicking off what is set to be a bitter battle for control of the game and its revenue with European soccer's governing body Uefa and world soccer's Fifa.
The renegade clubs – six from the English Premier League plus three each from Spain and Italy – will be guaranteed places in the new competition in contrast to the Champions League, which requires teams to qualify via their domestic leagues.
No German or French club is involved in the initiative which is backed by US investment bank JP Morgan.
Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has been elected to Uefa's executive committee, replacing Juventus supremo Andrea Agnelli.
Rummenigge made it clear that club world champions Bayern will not be joining the breakaway Super League of 12 clubs with six from England, as well as three each from Italy and Spain.
The Bavarians, Germany's most successful and richest club, won the Champions League title in 2020 en route to a six-title haul last season.
"On behalf of the board, I would like to make it explicitly clear that FC Bayern will not be taking part in the Super League," said Rummenigge in a statement.
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"Bayern stands in solidarity with the Bundesliga. It was and always is a great joy to be able to play in the Champions League as representatives for Germany. For Bayern, the Champions League is the world's best club competition."
The 65-year-old was elected during an Uefa congress meeting in Montreux, Switzerland, on Tuesday.
Rummenigge – whose term lasts three years – replaces Agnelli, who quit as European Club Association president amid plans for a new Super League with the Italian set to be vice-president of the controversial new competition.
Agnelli stepped down as head of the ECA as the body said it "strongly opposes" plans for a breakaway Super League with Juventus as one of the 12 rebel clubs.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin was quick to praise Rummenigge as one of the "true lovers of football" as European football's governing body fights the planned new competition.
Germany's Football Association has demanded a ban of all 12 clubs, including their youth teams, from all competitions until they reconsider.
"Our members and fans reject the Super League," said Bayern President Herbert Hainer in a statement.
"It is our wish as Bayern and our aim that European clubs live this wonderfully emotional competition – the Champions League – and develop it together with Uefa. Bayern say 'No' to the Super League."
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