December 4 – Manchester United boss Ed Woodward (pictured) has said that his club wouldn’t participate in a European Super League. He argued that changes to the European football structure should be “complementary to thriving domestic leagues”.
Woodward was speaking to a fan forum on November 20. He said: “Most of my time [regarding European competitions] is focused, through the ECA and the UCCSA [a joint-venture between the ECA and Uefa], on the strengthening of existing Uefa club competitions. The dialogue focuses on them continuing to be predominantly midweek games having little or no impact on the Premier League.”
The European governing body UEFA have worked alongside ECA on reform of European club football from 2024 onwards, but those talk have often been slowed by division among key stakeholders.
“We believe any changes to European competition post-2024 must be complementary to thriving domestic leagues,” said Woodward. “Other domestic leagues feel the same way, reflected in conversation with our counterparts in other clubs and countries.”
Woodward also defended his club’s role in Project Big Picture, a plan that wanted to reshape English football dramatically and hand voting power to the top six clubs. Project Big Picture was abandoned, but Woodward said the idea was not about shifting the balance of power.
“It was not a behind-closed-doors power grab, only draft proposals and a discussion documents,” said Woodward. “A strong Premier League and a financially sustainable and robust pyramid are both crucial to the health of the national game, and that’s the principle we will continue to pursue. Those objectives were at the heart of our involvement in Project Big Picture.”
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1735063366labto1735063366ofdlr1735063366owedi1735063366sni@o1735063366fni1735063366