Aleksander Ceferin, UEFA President, is back to talk once more about the European Breakaway project the 'Super League'. He granted an interview to the microphones of La Gazzetta dello Sport to discuss it. Here are his statements:
"They are just three people angry with everyone, taking everyone to court. What will I tell the court? Uefa is never a monopoly. One is free to be in UEFA or not. They can participate in our events, or oganise their own but then it is logical that they do no play in our cups, right? Whatever the Court's decision, nothing changes: the project is dead because no one wants to participate."
On the decision of the European Union court:
"It will be a very important decision from a symbolic point of view. But the EU defends the European model, the reason for the success of football. We have the support of 20 countries, including Italy, and the Commission. Think of Juve, Real and Barça: the players who have grown up in the club are very few. The best come from other clubs, because the system allows it. The independent UEFA Disciplinary board will then evaluate everything."
On the new FFP system:
"Some have serious problems. But we don't want to kill them. If they come up with sustainable plans, we will help them in all ways, otherwise we won't be able to do much. The most important thing is that you cannot spend more than 70% of the revenues on salaries, commissions and the market. A soft salary cap, because direct salary caps in Europe are not allowed... I am optimisitc", said Ceferin.
On the new Champions League system:
"Today, after the draw, we can already say who will go to the second round. In the future, the big teams will play more games against other big teams, the small ones will have more chances to qualify, the group will be fought to the end. It will be spectacular, 2024 is the future."
Ceferin on the relationship with the presidents of founding clubs of the Super League Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid:
"Nothing with Agnelli. I met Florentino Perez and I respected the protocol. I cannot expect UEFA to be my property. In the final in Paris we were close, I congratulated, but that's all. I would be a little man if I used UEFA power to humiliate the people."
On the shortler leagues:
"Useful, but the countries decide, not UEFA. France should move to 18 teams, like Germany, presidents disagree elsewhere. It is democracy. They should understand that two domestic cups – in England, the FA Cup and the League Cup – are too many. It’s easy to always attack UEFA and FIFA, but the speech is simple: if you play less, you charge less. The ones who should complain are the factory workers who are paid a thousand euros a month."
Ceferin on his future as UEFA president:
"I am applying again, I have already received 48 letters of support from 55 federations in one week. Voting takes place on 5 April in Lisbon... Then apply for FIFA in then future? No. Too much politics. UEFA is football. With FIFA, I should travel all year and leave my family."
