Aleksander Ceferin, UEFA president, sent a message to club directors who support the Super League project to get the project back
The UEFA president, Aleksander Ceferin, He told clubs supporting the Super League project that “they are in time to change their minds and correct their mistake”, mainly out of respect for fans and the history of football.
In his speech at the 45th UEFA Ordinary Congress in Montreux (Switzerland), Ceferin was again very critical of the initiative of the twelve clubs, whom he reminded that “if they are now giants it is partly thanks to UEFA”, Although he opened the door to redirect the situation with a few words addressed mainly to English clubs.
“I would like to address the owners of some English clubs. They have made a huge mistake, they have ignored the culture of football, but what matters is that they have time to change their minds, everyone makes mistakes, English fans deserve you to correct theirs, they deserve respect, “he said.
Ceferin highlighted the support that UEFA has received from all governments, FIFA, the leagues, the fans and the media and especially thanked the role of some presidents. such as the PSG, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the Bayern Munich, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the Olympique de Lyon, Jean-Michel Aulas, and the Seville, José Castro, present at the room.
“Thank you Nasser. You have shown the person you are. Thanks to Rummenige, to Aules, to Josep, we had a good conversation yesterday. You have chosen solidarity. We have chosen solidarity and it is the right choice of which we are not going. to regret, ”he remarked.
In his speech Ceferin defended the UEFA sports model and its competitions, which need clubs like Atalanta, Dinamo Zagreb, Rangers or Galatasaray and “know that anything is possible, that everyone has a chance and keep their sleep alive.”
“The big clubs today weren’t great before necessarily and there is no guarantee that they will be in the future. Football is dynamic and unpredictable, it’s what makes it so beautiful so popular and so successful. Where was Manchester United a decade before Sir Alex Ferguson arrived ?, surely they remember. And where was Juventus 15 years ago? In Serie B, “he said.
In a very critical tone Ceferin noted that the clubs that support the Super League “do not understand that football is changing” and “only see the changes in their bank accounts”.
“These clubs that are believed to be big and untouchable must remember where they come from, they must realize that if they are giants today it is thanks in part to UEFA that for 60 years it has protected the ideal of competitions, it is they are based on sporting merit. Without UEFA knowing where they would be, “he wondered.
Ceferin predicted that football will be strengthened by the current crisis and was confident that it will be up to the task of organizing a successful European Championship, which will be “the perfect opportunity to show the world that Europe is adapting”.
“I have read in several places that we are planning to abolish Financial Fair Play. Let me be clear: this will not happen … However, we must adapt it to the new reality. With these reforms I think we are building football of the future, while a few selfish people try to kill the sport king “. he pointed out.