Football: government with Uefa against Superlega, from Leagues to Biennial World Cups

2021-10-22T18:33:42.387Z

The Draghi government takes the field in defense of Uefa and against the Super League. The turning point came in the evening, almost in the Cesarini area, after a long reflection. According to what has been announced by Palazzo Chigi, the government has decided to constitute itself in defense of the European football federation in the judgment on the Super League hinged at the European Court of Justice. A position that had been hoped for and urged throughout the day by the FIGC and Lega Serie A. "I hope that this will happen by today so as not to place our country outside a very large group of states that support UEFA in that which we believe is a battle of principle in defense of an open and meritocratic football system ", said federal president Gabriele Gravina on the sidelines of the Coni council. "I said to myself cabbage,what is this thing? I made the point with Gravina. He was sorry, bitter and surprised. The government, however, was extremely powerful and deployed against this situation and therefore it would seem a contradiction not to do so ", the words of the president of Coni Giovanni Malagò. The pressure apparently served. The General Assembly of the European leagues gathered for two days at the Hotel Principi di Savoia is also staged in Milan. The association that brings together over 39 European national championships has reiterated its no to the reform of the international calendars proposed by FIFA with the organization of the World Cup every two years and no longer every four as is the case now. "We totally and firmly reject the proposal of Fifa,we also discussed it directly with them. There would be sporting and financial repercussions for the clubs, for the players and for the domestic leagues, ”said Jacco Swart, managing director of the European Leagues. "The World Cup and the other Uefa and Fifa competitions must be confirmed with the current schedule, if some changes are to take place we will always consider them in the interest of our members," said Swart. The CEO of Lega Serie A Luigi De Siervo also spoke on the subject on the sidelines of the meeting, according to which "we need greater respect for the fans, the players and the entrepreneurs who are the ones who pay the players' salaries." concerns the project of some top European clubs to set up a Super League, outside the Uefa sphere,the representatives of the national leagues remain vigilant. “The Super League always remains a threat, the possible biennial organization of the World Cup would push the clubs to close themselves more and more. We must all be aware that it can take place in other forms, perhaps with another name but with the same principles, ”said Claus Thomsen, chairman of the European League. "There are still various proposals under consideration and we must remain vigilant because the project is far from dead and would irreversibly damage the fate of the national championships", added De Siervo. The highest alert on compliance with the financial fair play stakes was then reaffirmed by the assembly of the European Leagues. "We must be vigilant so that this does not become a tool that splits the world of football between super-rich clubs and those with a more virtuous attitude ", De Siervo said again about the possible revision of the FFP by UEFA by March 2022." We need to change the current FFP for the better and be careful that in a post-pandemic phase the level of control is lowered and those elements of differentiation increase rather than decrease ", added the CEO of Lega A. According to Jacco Swart, managing director of the 'European Leagues, "excessive liberalization reduces financial sustainability and facilitates unsustainable business models." For the European football ecosystem to be sustainable in the short, medium and long term, the European Leagues believes that "clubs must operate with its own means ".Furthermore, measures must be supported to strengthen the implementation of the FFP with sanction mechanisms, so as to further improve the discipline and rationality in the finances of the clubs.