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The European Leagues Association has commented on SPIEGEL reports on a private elite league in which a secret society has worked for FC Bayern. (The whole story on SPIEGEL +: Bayern checked exit from the Bundesliga and Champions League)

"The national leagues are the heart of football for all concerned in Europe", it says in a statement of the umbrella association. The European Leagues have always expressed their strong opposition to the creation of a "closed and franchise-like" Super League. "The leagues support the pyramid-based European sports model, in which the mechanisms of promotion and relegation and the sports merits of the clubs are at the center of every competition," said the association of 32 leagues in 25 countries with 900 clubs. "Proposals for a closed Super League will have a serious and lasting impact on the sustainability of professional football in Europe."

Jürgen Klopp to the Super League: "Less games, more money - sounds good"

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REUTERS

Football Leaks at SPIEGEL +

REUTERS / New Pool / Benedikt Rugar / THE MIRROR FOOTBALL LeaksThe betrayal

PA / Benedikt Rugar / DER SPIEGELFootball LeaksHow Fifa boss Infantino subdues football

Alex Livesey / Getty Images / Benedict Rugar / THE MIRROR FOOTBALL LeaksThe pact with the sheikhs

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has meanwhile commented on the SPIEGEL reports, which revealed that Manchester City and Paris St-Germain have systematically broken the Financial Fair Play rules. (You can find the whole story on SPIEGEL +: The Pact with the Sheikhs)

At a press conference ahead of the Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk (Wednesday, 9 pm), Guardiola expressed his confidence in their actions to the club and its representatives. "Of course we want to follow the rules, you do what you have to do, I'm the coach, my focus is on what's going on in the field and in the cabin, and I'm completely out of business. " As for criticism, City have won in recent years only because the club could spend so much money, he said, "To reach the next level, you need a lot of time, a lot of time - and of course money - but also a lot of time you invest more, then it reduces that time. "

Guardiola on the FFP leaks undermine what Manchester City are doing on the pitch, and their response to those who say is the only reason for the club's success pic.twitter.com/827eZU0HjH

- Sam Lee (@Sammy_Goal) November 6, 2018

The Spanish League, in turn, repeated their demands to Uefa. "Our position is clear, the leaks confirm what we have been saying for over a year, and Uefa should now take action and apply the applicable rules and, if necessary, any existing sanctions," said La Liga spokesman Joris Evers. "Uefa should do its part in enforcing the FFP, as, as we have already said, both Manchester City and PSG are not following the rules."

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The SPIEGEL team on the football leaks

  • Rafael Bushman
  • Jürgen Dahlkamp
  • Gunter Laces
  • Andreas Meyhoff
  • Nicola Naber
  • Jörg Schmitt
  • Alfred Weinzierl
  • Robin will
  • Christoph Winterbach
  • Michael Wulzinger

In cooperation with De Standard, Expresso, L'Espresso, Le Soir, Mediapart, Nacional, NRC Handelsblad, Politiken, The Black Sea, NDR, Premieres Lignes, Reuters, Verdens Gang, Tamedia