April 26 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin wants a salary cap to be introduced across European football to restore competitive balance and says clubs agree with the idea.
Ceferin said he had spoken to the European Commission and that talks had taken place about limiting the amount a club can spend on player wages which he described as “the solution”.
“In the future we have to seriously think about a salary cap,” Ceferin told US media outlet Men In Blazers.
“If the budgets go sky-high then our competitive balance is a problem. It’s not about the owners, it’s about the value of the competition, because if five clubs will always win then it doesn’t make sense any more.”
“It has to be a collective agreement – every league and UEFA. Because if we (UEFA) do it and the other leagues don’t, then it doesn’t make sense. I hope it can be made as soon as possible.”
While salary caps are widespread in US sports, breaching competition law has always been a problem in Europe but Ceferin said: “Surprisingly, everyone agrees. Big clubs, small clubs, state-owned clubs, billionaire-owned clubs, everybody agrees.”
Ceferin also hinted it was possible that UEFA could in future take prestige Champions League matches – even a final – to the United States.
The showpiece event in European club football has never been held outside the continent since the competition’s inception in 1955 but Ceferin hinted a break from tradition could happen.
“We have started to discuss about that, but this year (the final) is in Istanbul, ’24 is London and ’25 is Munich and after that, let’s see. It’s possible.”
Ceferin was also asked about the thorny relationship between UEFA and FIFA.
“It’s a complicated relationship. I would not tell the truth if I would say differently,” he replied. “Now it’s a bit better because we put some red lines (in place) – don’t touch us, we don’t touch you.
“Of course, it’s paradoxical a bit because UEFA is not a member of FIFA and UEFA is independent from FIFA. It’s not like other sports where you have a world governing body and then under them the local or continental governing bodies.
“We are three to four times bigger financially than FIFA not just now since I’m here, but always. FIFA has a problem that UEFA is too rich.”
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