A day of verbal muscle-rolling in European top football. Various rulers met today during a conference to discuss some current themes. The slumbering resuscitation of the Super League, in particular, raised the issue.
The organizing newspaper Financial Times had gathered a good group for the debate about the future of football.
A short selection: UEFA president Alex Ceferin, La Liga president Javier Tebas and Juventus boss Andrea Agnelli. That trio would also attract the most attention.
In the run-up to the conference, it had been announced that Andrea Agnelli would present the plans for a Super League 2.0. The much-discussed project that shook up the football world about a year ago has not yet been brushed aside by some parties.
Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid still believe it is the only way to remain competitive. In the revised version, however, it would no longer be about regular participants, but all clubs would have a chance to (not) qualify via their own competition.
Ceferin: “It’s an insane idea”
Anyway, some guests had also read those plans and stepped onto the stage with knives drawn. La Liga president Javier Tebas immediately set the tone by lashing out at Andrea Agnelli, who was sitting in the front row at the time.
“Every time I hear a statement from these clubs it pisses me off, they lie more than Putin to be honest,” Tebas grumbled. “We all agree that the Super League is hurting the domestic leagues, but these three are just going to continue.”
UEFA president Alex Ceferin also completely opposed the plans during his interview. “They first launched this insane idea in the midst of a pandemic,” the Slovenian began his argument.
“Now we hear every day that they want to work out a new idea in the middle of a war. They clearly live in a parallel world. It’s total nonsense and everyone knows it except her.”
UEFA president Alex Ceferin is completely against the Super League.
Agnelli: “Project did not fail”
In the evening, the long-awaited Andrea Agnelli finally took the floor. The Super League’s great believer would ultimately not release any details about the reworked format, but did say several times that “the project did not fail.”
And also graciously added 11 of the 12 clubs that joined are still legally bound by their contracts. “We also urgently need deeper reforms. A monopolist (UEFA) is not fit to run an industry like football.”
When the moderator asked Agnelli as a final question whether Juventus will continue to play in the Champions League for the next five years, he replied with a smile: “I see Juventus play in the most important European competition.”
Undoubtedly to be continued.
