December 22 – Real Madrid president Florentino Perez (pictured) has once again provocatively called for the formation of a European Super League.
The prospect of Europe’s elite clubs breaking away to do their own thing has been mooted for years despite UEFA steadfastly insisting it is a non-starter and national federations threatening to throw any clubs who join it out of their domestic leagues.
That said, reports still point to a potential 2022 start bankrolled by JP Morgan and involving the biggest clubs in Spain, England, Italy, Germany and France.
In comments carried by Diario AS, Perez pointed to the Coronavirus pandemic and the massive impact it has had on the landscape of European football.
“Nothing will ever be the same again,” he said.
“The pandemic has changed everything, It has made us all more vulnerable and also football. Football needs formulas that make it more competitive and exciting.”
“(Real) has participated in all the innovations and has protected these innovations in our sport. The club was the sole founder of FIFA in 1904 along with seven country federations, and in 1955 collaborated with L’Equipe to promote the creation of the European Cup, a revolutionary moment that changed the history of football.
“Without all these changes, football could not have been what it is today, but we need a new change. Football has to face this new era. The fans themselves are faced with a saturation of the calendar that makes everything very difficult, even identifying the competition that is being played.
“Football reform cannot wait. We have a responsibility to fight for this change.”
His remarks prompted a typically feisty response from La Liga boss Javier Tebas, a long-time critic of the super league concept, who took to Twitter to claim Perez had no idea what he was talking about.
“I think the president of Madrid is clueless about the Super League issue, they should inform him better,” Tebas fumed.
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