April 19 – The European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) has spoken out against the idea of a European Super League and backed the current UEFA-based system.
Speculation that Europe’s elite clubs might break away has been gathering momentum in recent weeks after reports – subsequently denied – that leading Premier League clubs had met privately to discuss the possibility.
Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who also heads the European Club Association, has also floated the idea of a change to the status quo amid reports in Germany that plans for a new competition were under way involving 20 of the continent’s leading clubs.
Selecting the most financially lucrative clubs rather than qualification being based on domestic performance would be highly controversial and at an EPFL meeting in Madrid on Monday, its new chairman Lars-Christer Olsson said the organisation, which represents 24 leagues, was “strongly against the creation of a European Super League and any format of competition which could destroy the basic dream and goal of any of our hundreds of clubs to compete at the highest level and possibly win a European club competition.”
“We must keep the dream alive for all clubs,” he added. “At this stage, the EPFL together with all its Leagues believe the football stakeholders should focus their efforts to guarantee a better redistribution of wealth among all clubs to create a greater competitive balance in European football.
“The EPFL is ready to play an active role in any discussion with the football family on this respect.”
Javier Tebas, president of Spain’s La Liga, said any European Super League would be detrimental to progress and that he would “” defend the right for national leagues to decide who accesses European competitions.
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