UEFA furious over creation of “Super League”

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UEFA boss Aleksander Ceferin has come out all guns blazing against controversial plans for a breakaway European Super League, reiterating that participating players would be banned from the European Championships and World Cup.

The news broke on Sunday night that 12 teams – including six from England, three from Spain, and three from Italy – had already signed up for the proposed new tournament which would be a clean break from the existing UEFA Champions League.

Speaking on Monday, furious UEFA boss Ceferin described the much-maligned plans as a cynical, money-grabbing ploy from the owners and top brass at some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus.

“I cannot stress more strongly how UEFA and the football world stand together against this disgraceful, self-serving project from a select few clubs in Europe, fueled by greed above all else,” Ceferin said.

“This idea is a spit in the face of all football lovers and our society as well. We must not let them take it [football] away from us.”

He added: “The players who will play in teams that might play in the closed league will be banned from playing in World Cup and Euros… They could not represent national team in any matches.”

UEFA had already been planning reforms, defiantly announced on Monday, to expand the Champions League format from 32 to 36 teams, starting from the 2024-25 season. That move was part of a supposed bid to keep members of the European elite happy and boost revenues.

Instead, the UEFA boss now feels betrayed by “snakes” including the likes of Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli. 

Agnelli has resigned from the UEFA executive committee and as chairman of the European Club Association (ECA), after being one of the figures who cooked up the European Super League (ESL) plans supposedly behind Ceferin’s back.

Agnelli stands accused of knifing the UEFA boss in the back – despite Ceferin reportedly being godfather to one of the Italian businessman’s children.  

Elsewhere, Ceferin reserved the same ire for Manchester United vice-chairman Ed Woodward, who has likewise resigned from his role with UEFA.

The Old Trafford club have quit the ECA, along with the other 11 ‘founding clubs’ of the Super League.

“UEFA distributes 90% of revenue back to the game – into the Children’s Foundation, the women’s game and the youth. The Super League is only about money for the dozen. UEFA is about football. Unity doesn’t exist, only their pockets,” Ceferin fumed.

The UEFA chief thanked the likes of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron – both of whom have spoken out against the plans.