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UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says \u201cfootball is united\u201d against any attempts to revive a European Super League.<\/p>\n
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Justice said on Thursday that UEFA rules allowing it to grant prior approval to new competitions such as the Super League were contrary to EU law, leading Super League\u2019s backers A22 to declare victory and announce proposals for new men\u2019s and women\u2019s competitions.<\/p>\n
Clubs including Manchester United, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan \u2013 founder members of the original Super League back in 2021 \u2013 have already pledged their commitment to the existing competitions they play in, while the Premier League released a statement rejecting the Super League concept.<\/p>\n
It’s really hard to decide if you should be shocked or amused by the show that we have seen<\/p>\n
\u201cWhilst there is always room for improvement, football remains united as you see today,\u201d Ceferin said at a press conference which also featured the leaders of the European Club Association, European Leagues, Football Supporters Europe and world players\u2019 union FIFPRO.<\/p>\n
\u201cThree or four (of the original 12 Super League clubs in 2021) were the first to give statements today that they will never join. So even the ones who were there (in 2021) are the first ones to be against.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ceferin criticised the way the court\u2019s judgement had been communicated to the media and said that when the case began in 2021, UEFA\u2019s authorisation rules were different from how they look today after an update in June 2022.<\/p>\n
He said UEFA would fully review whether the 2022 rules were in line with the ECJ\u2019s ruling that stated they must be \u201ctransparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate\u201d. UEFA insisted the 2022 rules were developed in consultation with the European Commission.<\/p>\n
Article 7.4 of UEFA\u2019s 2022 rules state that authorisation of a new competition is conditional on it not adversely affecting the good functioning of UEFA\u2019s existing competitions.<\/p>\n
The rules state this condition is necessary \u201cto protect the sporting merit of UEFA competitions, the good functioning of the international calendar as well as the health and safety of players\u201d but would appear to make approval of a rival competition featuring Europe\u2019s top clubs under UEFA auspices impossible.<\/p>\n
A22 chief executive Bernd Reichart earlier declared \u201cfootball is free\u201d after the verdict and said it now gave competition organisers like his company the right to pitch its plans.<\/p>\n
He announced details for new men\u2019s and women\u2019s competitions which he said would be \u201copen and meritocratic\u201d. He also said fans would be able to stream live matches for free.<\/p>\n
Ceferin mocked the A22 presentation and said: \u201cIt\u2019s really hard to decide if you should be shocked or amused by the show that we have seen.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince it\u2019s close to Christmas I will choose amusement, I am amused by it.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the new format was \u201ceven more closed\u201d than the 2021 version \u201cespecially the interesting idea that (domestic) champions would qualify in a Blue League, which is a third-tier competition\u201d.<\/p>\n
On A22\u2019s reaction to the verdict, Ceferin added: \u201cI have a feeling that A22, now it\u2019s close to Christmas, saw a big, well-decorated box under the tree.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were super-happy (and) started to celebrate. But when you open the box you\u2019ll see that it\u2019s not much inside.\u201d<\/p>\n
United said their position had not changed following Thursday\u2019s ruling and said they \u201cremain fully committed to participation in UEFA competitions, and to positive co-operation with UEFA, the Premier League, and fellow clubs through the ECA on the continued development of the European game\u201d.<\/p>\n
Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the chairman of the ECA and president of Paris St Germain, who refused to join the Super League in 2021, said: \u201cThe best club competition in the world is the Champions League. The music itself is a brand.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have a brand that exists already for years and years. We are, as clubs, proud to be part of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have received I don\u2019t know how many calls from clubs (since the ruling), and you see their statements. All of us as stakeholders, we\u2019re standing together to protect the ecosystem of football.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fans were key to the demise of the 2021 Super League and Football Supporters\u2019 Association chief executive Kevin Miles said on Thursday: \u201cWe all want to see the trigger pulled on the walking dead monstrosity that is the European Zombie League.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Premier League\u2019s statement was less colourful but no less significant.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ruling does not endorse the so-called \u2018European Super League\u2019 and the Premier League continues to reject any such concept,\u201d a league statement said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSupporters are of vital importance to the game and they have time and again made clear their opposition to a \u2018breakaway\u2019 competition that severs the link between domestic and European football.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Premier League reiterates its commitment to the clear principles of open competition that underpin the success of domestic and international club competitions.<\/p>\n
\u201cFootball thrives on the competitiveness created by promotion and relegation, the annual merit-based qualification from domestic leagues and cups to international club competitions and the longstanding rivalries and rituals that come with weekends being reserved for domestic football.\u201d<\/p>\n
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said: \u201cWith the greatest respect for the European Court of Justice, today\u2019s judgement does not change anything, really.<\/p>\n
\u201cHistorically, we have been organising the best competitions in the world and this will also be the case in the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will continue to deliver the world\u2019s most spectacular, competitive and meaningful tournaments and use our revenues to develop football in every corner of the globe through solidarity programmes that ensure the less privileged benefit from those top competitions.\u201d<\/p>\n