By Andrew Warshaw
April 20 – Faced with stinging criticism across the Continent from fans, ex-players, politicians, commentators and all the leading football stakeholders, the man driving the new European Super League has hit back by insisting the project was devised to save the game rather than destroy it.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, the first of the 12 Super League clubs to break their silence in the wake of Sunday’s bombshell announcement, says that far from undermining the entire footballing landscape, the new league will be its saviour.
Perez said elite clubs involved simply couldn’t wait until 2024 for UEFA’s revamped Champions League to kick in because “by 2024 we’re dead” in terms of tv viewing figures and rights.
“€5 billion has been lost by the clubs; we’re on the edge of ruin,” Perez, head of the European Super League, told Spanish television. “We don’t want the rich to be richer and the poor poorer. Whenever there is a change, there are always people who oppose it. We are doing this to save football at this critical moment.”
“Audiences are decreasing and rights are decreasing and something had to be done. We are all ruined. Television has to change so we can adapt.”
Perez revealed that those involved had been working on plans for two years but that “the pandemic has told us to do it now”.
He refuted the idea that most fans were opposed to his pet project, especially the younger generation.
“Young people are no longer interested in football. Why not? Because there are a lot of poor quality games and they are not interested, they have other platforms on which to distract themselves.”
“We have to change this sport to make it more attractive at all levels. Real Madrid v Manchester United is more attractive than Manchester [United] against a more modest team. The Champions League is only attractive from the quarter-finals onwards.”
Greed has been word most used to describe the rationale behind the Super League but Perez argued the eye-watering sums involved would filter down the pyramid and not just fall into the pockets of those participating.
“With UEFA income was around €120m; we’re talking about €400m, €500m; it would be three or four times more. The future of football is at stake. Some don’t like it because they are going to lose their privileges and they are irresponsible. We’re doing this to save football.”
Perez dismissed threats by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin that participating players and clubs would be banned from established competitions and also took issue with Juventus president Andrea Agnelli, who has resigned as head of the European Clubs Association, being labelled a ‘liar’ by Ceferin for speaking with forked tongue about his true intentions.
“Our players will NOT be banned from the World Cup. I guarantee it. 100% certain of it,” Perez declared. “Real Madrid and other Super League clubs will NOT be excluded from this 2020/2021 Champions League. It won’t happen, the law protects us. This is impossible.
“President Ceferin insulted Andrea Agnelli. This is something unacceptable, UEFA must change, we don’t want a president who insults other presidents.”
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