Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez is leading the charge for elite sides to ditch their domestic leagues in favour of joining an elite super competition.
This concept of a ‘European Super League’ is by no means new. Pérez has long pursued this groundbreaking idea, but he has met plenty of resistance from clubs all across Europe, who fear that it would be too damaging to domestic football.
As noted by the New York Times, Pérez’s idea is to form two 20-team leagues formed of top teams from England, Spain, Italy, France and Germany, in the hope of allowing these elite sides to drastically increase their revenue. Basically, he wants the rich to get richer.
However, not only would this plan damage the reputation of all the leagues in those aforementioned countries, but it would also harm the Champions League – something which UEFA president
“I have read about this insane plan,” Ceferin said. “If reports are to be believed, it comes from a single club president, not the owner, and a lone football administrator. It would be hard to think of a more selfish and egotistical scheme.
“It would clearly ruin football around the world: for the players, for the fans and for everyone connected with the game – all for the benefit of a tiny number of people.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino was also involved in discussions with the Real chief about the plans, but all that is expected to come out of the talks is some potential drama between Infantino and Ceferin.
The pair infamously did not speak for a whole year after Infantino unveiled his plans to expand the Club World Cup back in March 2018, and Ceferin has taken an equally dim view of the idea of the European Super League.
“The statutory mission of FIFA is to develop football at a worldwide level,” a FIFA statement said. “This involves formulating plans and competition concepts to bring on club football everywhere.
“We want the European clubs to further grow, because that is good for world football, but at the same time we want to see clubs from outside Europe to grow as well so that one day they can compete with the European clubs.”
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