The president of Real Madrid, Florentino Pérez, president of the proposed European Super League breakout, has suggested that football matches should be shortened to regain the interest of the new generations of fans.
Perez, recently re-elected without opposition in Madrid for four more years, became the first senior figure involved in the Superliga project to speak on Monday in a wide-ranging interview on Spanish television tonight.
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The 74-year-old claimed the plans are aimed at “saving football in general” from declining interest and reduced revenue in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Football needs to change and adapt,” he told El Chiringuito during the 90-minute interview. “We need to look at why young people, young people aged 16 to 24, 40% of them are not interested in football. Why? Because there are a lot of low-quality games and they have other entertainment platforms.
“It’s a reality. They say the games are too long. We have to change something if we want football to stay alive. Sometimes we don’t understand our children or grandchildren.
“They are different generations, the world is changing. If young people don’t watch an entire game, it’s because it’s not interesting enough or we have to reduce the games … There are games that even I can do. sincere. “
The Super League’s proposals have received fierce criticism from football’s governing bodies, including UEFA and the League, who called it “a selfish, selfish proposal designed to further enrich the super-rich,” as well as groups. fans and other top clubs that are not on board.
Perez also said there was a need for a change in international football, arguing that “we have too many matches, there are international tournaments whose names people don’t even know” and argued that the European Super League could coexist with a targeted European secondary competition for UEFA.
He said the European Super League would be implemented “as soon as possible” and would not rule out trying to introduce it in time for next season.
Speaking ahead of Real Madrid’s trip to Cadiz in the League on Wednesday, coach Zinedine Zidane refused to withdraw from plans for a breakaway or rumors that his team could be eliminated from the Champions League semi-finals .
“We’re not even talking about it. We’re just talking about one thing, tomorrow’s game,” Zidane said.
“I’m here to talk about tomorrow’s game, the league, the Champions League. The rest is not my job. I won’t give you my opinion. I understand, you can say I don’t say what I think and don’t say anything. “Because? My job, what I’m doing, is what I enjoy. The rest … what’s the use?”