The failed project of the European Super League, announced in April by twelve great clubs and which days later collapsed, “did not pretend to defend the interests of football,” Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al Khelaifi told AFP to who the Champions League should be “preserved”.
«Football has existed for years and years. The Super League did not pretend to defend the interests of football, “said the leader in statements transmitted to AFP.
“You can contemplate changes, but not break the tradition that each club can aspire to achieve their dreams,” insisted the president of PSG, who remained loyal to UEFA and its Champions League (formerly the European Cup), the flagship competition of European football since 1955.
As a reward for not being part of the ‘rebel’ clubs, Al Khelaifi was appointed to head the European Club Association (ECA), instead of the discredited Andrea Agnelli (Juventus), one of the leaders of the Super League.
For the Qatari leader, the fact that the Super League project envisaged bringing together 15 “founding” clubs classified by trade each season and only five teams selected by sporting criteria was a red line in total opposition to the meritocratic tradition of European football.
“All teams should have the possibility to participate one day in the main competitions, keeping the UEFA wing low,” Al Khelaifi told AFP, ensuring that he is open to changes in the format of the queen competition.
“The Champions League is a very solid brand, which must be preserved, but we always have to be able to adapt to the market and that is a reality for all competitions, national or international,” he concluded.
UEFA in recent months undertook a profound reform of the Champions League for the stage that will begin in 2024, contemplating going from 32 to 36 participants and adding a hundred supplementary matches to each edition. The new format follows the example of chess competitions to replace the current group stage.
This format, considered by many too complicated, has drawn criticism, especially for overloading the calendar even more.
In parallel, UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, the three clubs that have not yet renounced the European Super League project. AFP (HN)