UEFA say 'greedy' Group A22 Super League plan fails to meet European football's wishes
By Andrew Warshaw
November 9 - The standoff between UEFA and supporters of a breakaway European Super League has intensified after a secret meeting between the two sides ended in stalemate and acrimony.
The previously unannounced meeting at UEFA headquarters on Tuesday ended without an agreement, with each side criticizing the other and leaving the European Court of Justice to be the final arbiter.
UEFA was brought before the ECJ in July after the three remaining rebel Super League clubs - Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus - accused it of abusing its power to block events rivals and penalize players and clubs.
The court's general counsel is due to deliver his opinion on December 15, with the final verdict not likely until several weeks later, potentially determining the entire future of Europe's elite club competition.
Super League promoter A22 Sports Management, the Madrid-based company that worked with the original 12 breakaway clubs in April last year before the whole concept fell apart, had called a meeting with UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin after appointing his own chief last month. executive.
But instead of just facing Ceferin, the three-man A22 delegation led by CEO Bernd Reichart met with officials from several top European leagues and clubs who bolstered UEFA's opposition to any agreement.
High-profile leaders alongside UEFA included Paris Saint-Germain president and European Club Association boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Bayern Munich chief executive Oliver Kahn.
Speaking after the meeting, Reichart said what he took away was that UEFA were unwilling to abandon the current status quo, even if a revamped Super League would include promotion and relegation – a major concession to the original idea that it was a closed club. shop that would threaten national football.
"This position was anticipated because UEFA has been the only dominant operator of European club competitions since 1955," he charged.
Accusing UEFA of overseeing a 'monopolistic structure', Reichart added: "The A22 also reiterated that they are fully committed to open competitions based on sporting merit and the fundamental role played by domestic leagues - which would be complementary to a new format.”
Reichart said the A22 had been contacted by "many clubs" about the future of European club competitions, saying such talks "must be conducted in an environment free from threats and other constraints" .
"In this regard, A22 asked UEFA to refrain from such activities in order to allow clubs and others to freely exchange ideas on important reforms. UEFA assured that this would be the case ."
In a counter statement, UEFA said its supporters at the meeting had "jointly underlined that the opposition to the self-proclaimed super league remains overwhelming today, as it has been since April 2021".
"In line with the unity of European football, UEFA and participating football stakeholders have once again unanimously rejected the rationale behind projects such as the ESL when discussing 'today."
UEFA said it noted "surprisingly the assertions by the CEO of A22 Sports that this company does not represent any club in any capacity, including the three clubs which continue to openly support the project" .
“UEFA and football stakeholders remain committed to the foundations of European football, which are based on openness, solidarity and meritocracy and serve wider goals of sporting principles and societal interest, rather than privileges and personal rights.
“This approach has received unanimous support from the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and broad support from national governments, public institutions and stakeholders across the continent. ."
In a second statement after the A22 released theirs, UEFA angrily accused Super League supporters of disrespecting long-time traditional football organisers.
"If there is one thing to take away from today, it should be that all of European football stands against their greedy plan," fumed UEFA. "European football has consistently demonstrated its openness to change, but this must be for the benefit of the whole game, not just a few clubs.
“A22 wanted a dialogue, so we gave them two and a half hours of time with all stakeholders in the game, and everyone rejected their approach. They claim not to represent the remaining three clubs. what their so-called new approach is. They claim to want dialogue. But when they get the chance, they have nothing to say."
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1668009574labto1668009574ofdlr1668009574owedi1668009574sni@w1668009574ahsra1668009574w.wer1668009574dna1668009574
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By Andrew Warshaw
November 9 - The standoff between UEFA and supporters of a breakaway European Super League has intensified after a secret meeting between the two sides ended in stalemate and acrimony.
The previously unannounced meeting at UEFA headquarters on Tuesday ended without an agreement, with each side criticizing the other and leaving the European Court of Justice to be the final arbiter.
UEFA was brought before the ECJ in July after the three remaining rebel Super League clubs - Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus - accused it of abusing its power to block events rivals and penalize players and clubs.
The court's general counsel is due to deliver his opinion on December 15, with the final verdict not likely until several weeks later, potentially determining the entire future of Europe's elite club competition.
Super League promoter A22 Sports Management, the Madrid-based company that worked with the original 12 breakaway clubs in April last year before the whole concept fell apart, had called a meeting with UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin after appointing his own chief last month. executive.
But instead of just facing Ceferin, the three-man A22 delegation led by CEO Bernd Reichart met with officials from several top European leagues and clubs who bolstered UEFA's opposition to any agreement.
High-profile leaders alongside UEFA included Paris Saint-Germain president and European Club Association boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Bayern Munich chief executive Oliver Kahn.
Speaking after the meeting, Reichart said what he took away was that UEFA were unwilling to abandon the current status quo, even if a revamped Super League would include promotion and relegation – a major concession to the original idea that it was a closed club. shop that would threaten national football.
"This position was anticipated because UEFA has been the only dominant operator of European club competitions since 1955," he charged.
Accusing UEFA of overseeing a 'monopolistic structure', Reichart added: "The A22 also reiterated that they are fully committed to open competitions based on sporting merit and the fundamental role played by domestic leagues - which would be complementary to a new format.”
Reichart said the A22 had been contacted by "many clubs" about the future of European club competitions, saying such talks "must be conducted in an environment free from threats and other constraints" .
"In this regard, A22 asked UEFA to refrain from such activities in order to allow clubs and others to freely exchange ideas on important reforms. UEFA assured that this would be the case ."
In a counter statement, UEFA said its supporters at the meeting had "jointly underlined that the opposition to the self-proclaimed super league remains overwhelming today, as it has been since April 2021".
"In line with the unity of European football, UEFA and participating football stakeholders have once again unanimously rejected the rationale behind projects such as the ESL when discussing 'today."
UEFA said it noted "surprisingly the assertions by the CEO of A22 Sports that this company does not represent any club in any capacity, including the three clubs which continue to openly support the project" .
“UEFA and football stakeholders remain committed to the foundations of European football, which are based on openness, solidarity and meritocracy and serve wider goals of sporting principles and societal interest, rather than privileges and personal rights.
“This approach has received unanimous support from the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and broad support from national governments, public institutions and stakeholders across the continent. ."
In a second statement after the A22 released theirs, UEFA angrily accused Super League supporters of disrespecting long-time traditional football organisers.
"If there is one thing to take away from today, it should be that all of European football stands against their greedy plan," fumed UEFA. "European football has consistently demonstrated its openness to change, but this must be for the benefit of the whole game, not just a few clubs.
“A22 wanted a dialogue, so we gave them two and a half hours of time with all stakeholders in the game, and everyone rejected their approach. They claim not to represent the remaining three clubs. what their so-called new approach is. They claim to want dialogue. But when they get the chance, they have nothing to say."
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1668009574labto1668009574ofdlr1668009574owedi1668009574sni@w1668009574ahsra1668009574w.wer1668009574dna1668009574
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