UEFA President Alexander Ceferin responded to the creation of a super league, the formation of which became known on the night from 18 to April 19.
The new organization included “Arsenal”, “Chelsea”, “Liverpool”, “Manchester City”, “Manchester United”, “Tottenham”, “Real”, “Barcelona”, “Atletico”, “Milan”, ” Inter “and” Juventus “. Another 8 participating teams will be announced later. It is expected that the tournament will begin in August 2021.
UEFA threatens to disqualify these clubs from Eurocups, and their players are not allowed to match the national team matches.
“UEFA and the football world united against several clubs led by a sense of greed,” said Ceferin during a video conferencing. “There is not only a football world against this, but also people, governments. Everything against such a meaningless project. English Association, Italian Federation, Spanish, FIFA, all our 55 members against the idea of such a tournament. We will never allow it to happen. Those who will play for teams who can perform in such a closed league will not be able to perform at the World Championships and Europe. They will be banned For national teams. “
Also, UEFA also decided to change the Champions League format from the 2024/25 season. After three years, not 32, but 36 teams will play in the main stage. Divisions on groups will not. Teams will play 10 matches on the Swiss system, which is more often used in chess. Each team will spend five matches at home and five away.
Clubs that took the first eight places will immediately fall into the 1/8 finals. Teams that took 9-24th places will hold an additional round of the playoffs. Of the 36 clubs, two will be invited to the main stage in the so-called Wild Card. They will receive eminent clubs who did not fall into the Champions League through their National Championship.
“We believe that those changes that we have taken today will go to the benefit of football and will increase income, – continues Ceferin. – Many fans do not know: UEFA gives, invests about 90 percent of income into amateur football, in women’s football , in the development and preparation of reserves, to children’s football. And the Super League is money for a dozen clubs. I do not want to call their dirty dozen.
Reforms allow you to maintain internal competitions. They are the most important thing. This principle will never change. We try to change, reform the competition so that they become more modern and more interesting. The main thing is solidarity. Unfortunately, this principle is not valid for everyone. For some more important than their pockets, money in their pockets.
Thank you all the football family – players, coaches, clubs, except for 12 of them, federation, leaders of countries, heads of the European Union. Those who respect the fans and European values. Not only football values. The idea of the Super League – spit in our side, spitting in the face of fans. “