by UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin says “football is united” against any attempts to revive the European Super League.
The General Chamber of the European Court of Justice said on Thursday that UEFA’s rules allowing it to give prior approval to new competitions such as the Super League were contrary to EU law, prompting Super League A22 defenders to declare victory and announce recommendations d ‘new men and new men. women’s competitions.
Clubs including Manchester United, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan – original Super League members back in 2021 – have already committed to the current competitions they play in, with the Premier League issuing a statement rejecting for the concept of the Super League.
“Although there is always room for improvement, football is still united as you can see today,” Ceferin told a press conference attended by the heads of the European Club Association, European Leagues, Football Supporters Europe and world players’ union FIFPRO.
“Three or four (of the original 12 Super League clubs in 2021) were the first to make statements today that they will never join. So even the ones that were there (in 2021) will be the first to face them.”
Ceferin criticized the way the court’s judgment was communicated to the media and said that when the case started in 2021, UEFA’s authorization rules were different from how they looked today after being updated in June 2022.
He said UEFA would conduct a full review of whether the 2022 rules were in line with the ECJ ruling which said they must be “transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate”. UEFA insisted that the 2022 rules were developed in consultation with the European Commission.
Article 7.4 of the UEFA 2022 rules states that the authorization of a new competition is conditional on it not prejudicing the proper functioning of existing UEFA competitions.
The rules state that this condition is necessary “to protect the sporting value of UEFA competitions, the proper functioning of the international calendar as well as the health and safety of the players” but it appears to allow for a competitive competition featuring the best clubs in Europe under UEFA. impossible protection.
A22 chief executive Bernd Reichart declared “free football” after the verdict and said it now gave competition organizers like his company the right to express their plans.
He announced details for the new men’s and women’s competitions which he said would be “open and meritorious”. He also said fans would be able to stream live games for free.
Ceferin joked about the A22 presentation and said: “It’s really hard to decide whether you should be surprised or amused by the show we’ve seen.
“Since it’s close to Christmas I’ll choose entertainment, it makes me lose.”
He said the new format was “even more closed” than the 2021 version “especially the interesting idea that (home) champions will qualify in the Blue League, which is a third-tier competition”.
On A22’s reaction to the birth, Ceferin said: “I have a feeling that A22, being close to Christmas now, saw a big, well-decorated box under the tree.
“They were very happy (and) started to celebrate. But when you open the box you’ll see that there’s not much in there.”
United said their position had not changed following Thursday’s ruling and said they “remain fully committed to participation in UEFA competitions, and to positive collaboration with UEFA, the Premier League, and other clubs through the ECA on the continuous development of the European game. “.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi, chairman of the ECA and president of Paris St Germain, who refused to join the Super League in 2021, said: “The best club competition in the world is the Champions League. The music itself is a brand.
“You have a brand that’s been around for years and years. We, as clubs, are proud to be involved.
“I received I don’t know how many calls from clubs (since the ruling), and you see their statements. We are all stakeholders, we are standing together to protect the football ecosystem.”
The fans were central to the demise of the 2021 Super League and Football Supporters’ Association CEO Kevin Miles said on Thursday: “We all want to see the trigger pulled on the walking dead monstrosity that is the European Zombie League.”
The Premier League’s statement was less colorful but no less significant.
“The ruling does not endorse the so-called ‘European Super League’ and the Premier League continues to reject any such concept,” a league statement said.
“Supporters are very important to the game and have made it clear time and time again that they are against a ‘slippery’ competition which separates the link between domestic and European football.
“The Premier League reaffirms its commitment to the clear principles of open competition that underpin the success of domestic and international club competitions.
“Football thrives on the competitiveness created by promotion and relegation, the annual qualification based on merit from domestic leagues and cups to international club competitions and the long-standing competitions and rituals that come with a weekend reserved for domestic football.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “With all due respect to the European Court of Justice, today’s judgment does not change anything, seriously.
“Historically, we have organized the best competitions in the world and this will be the case in the future as well.
“We will continue to deliver the most prestigious, competitive and prestigious championships in the world and we will use our revenue to develop football in all corners of the world through solidarity programs that will ensure the least privileged benefit from the best competitions .”
