UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says the “shameless” plans for a new European Super League (ESL) are akin to taking “football hostage.”Speaking to CNN Sport contributor Darren Lewis, Ceferin did not hold back on the proposals which threaten to rock the foundations of the sport but was confident the new league would not be a success.”Because we [UEFA] respect the fans, the traditions, football, the football community, our society, we will win.
In the end, we will win,” Ceferin says.”If 12 people want to meet to take football hostage, just to fill their pockets that are already so full that it’s hard to put anything in, they can’t win. Long term, they can’t win.”In a joint announcement Sunday, six English clubs — Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur — alongside three teams from Italy — AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus — and three from Spain — Atlético Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid — laid out plans to form a breakaway competition.
The announcement has resulted in widespread condemnation, with fans, players and politicians all criticizing the founding members for prioritizing financial gain and creating a closed shop for the richest clubs.”I’m proud and happy that fans respect football, that they love football, that they respect history and they’re not for sale,” Ceferin added.”Fans are not for sale and football players as well.
And I hope they will raise their voice and stop this nonsense of a project that would kill football not only in the UK, but in all Europe.”Ceferin says he had previously been reassured by both Juventus and Manchester United that neither club would sign up to the new structure and was left surprised by the news.He was particularly frustrated with Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli, who he said had been ignoring his calls since the rumors of the major announcement were circulating.”I thought we are also friends, but I was wrong. For me, it’s always better to be naive than to lie all the time,” Ceferin said, previously referring to those involved as “snakes.””Their chairman approved something and then ran away, and he’s still hiding probably somewhere, I don’t know where he is.”Juventus did not want to comment on Ceferin’s latest comments.
The president of European football’s governing body had reiterated in a press conference Monday that any players involved in the proposed breakaway will be banned from the World Cup and European Championships.He confirmed UEFA would be taking legal advice as soon as possible in relation to this year’s Champions League semifinals, which features three teams currently signed up to the new Super League.UEFA on Monday voted to approve new plans for an expanded and restructured Champions League to kick-in from the 2024-25 season.The total number of teams participating will increase from 32 to 36 with the traditional group stage being remodeled into a single league stage.
There had been hopes the new format would hold off the new Super League.”I was a criminal lawyer for years and I’ve met many tricky people that I’ve represented but I’ve never seen something like that. Ethics doesn’t exist in the group,” Ceferin added.”It’s hard for me to call it Super League because it’s all but super.
