The chief of European soccer golf equipment has insisted a renewed Super League push can be repelled as a courtroom prepares to rule on the legality of a breakaway.
In an unique interview with Sky News, European Club Association (ECA) chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi stated followers will “never let it happen” and the “stupid plan” is not going to succeed.
The rival to the UEFA Champions League floundered inside 48 hours of its launch in 2021 after a backlash by followers of English golf equipment and inside Whitehall.
But Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid have refused to surrender on the rebel – pinning their hopes on the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling that European governing physique UEFA has an unfair monopoly and market dominance on the operating of the membership competitions.
A non-binding opinion by the ECJ advocate normal is due subsequent week from Luxembourg. Ahead of it, the board of the ECA umbrella organisation led by Paris Saint-Germain chairman Mr Al-Khelaifi is assembly later this week in Qatar through the World Cup.
It comes after a brand new enterprise – A22 – was launched, seemingly with the backing of Barcelona and Madrid, to advocate for a reshaped Super League apparently with out the assured locations for elite groups that sparked such anger with the unique proposal.
“The fans will never let it happen. Clubs will never let that happen,” Mr Al-Khelaifi stated in an interview in his native Qatar.
“I’m not really worried about the [court] decision. Even I think they will vote in our favour against it. But if not, it will not change anything.”
What if the courtroom did rule in favour of the Super League?
“Nobody will join them. Nobody will go to the stadium, fans. Nobody will organise anything,” stated Mr Al-Khelaifi, a member of UEFA’s ruling govt committee who additionally runs key Champions League broadcasting rights holder beIN Sports.
“Who is going to play – three of them? Fantastic. Fantastic Super League.”
UEFA maintains the significance of operating competitions which can be open to all in a pyramid construction, offering funding all through soccer – from the grassroots to the elite.
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UEFA has ceded some management of the Champions League by forming a three way partnership with the ECA to promote industrial and tv rights.
Pressed on the case by the insurgent golf equipment, Mr Al-Khelaifi stated: “I don’t understand them saying monopoly and it’s just their kind of lobbying and their PR which is the most stupid PR I saw in my life.”
It is unclear whether or not Italian membership Juventus continues to be a part of three golf equipment that also clung to the Super League after it collapsed final 12 months, saying they’ll create extra thrilling video games and generate elevated income for golf equipment. The board of Juventus, together with former ECA chief Andrea Agnelli, resigned final week amid an investigation by Turin prosecutors into alleged false accounting.
Juventus – together with Barcelona and Real Madrid – misplaced their membership of the ECA, which helps to form the Champions League as a part of a three way partnership with UEFA.
But Mr Al-Khelaifi goes to ask the brand new Juventus management to rejoin the ECA and “just forget this stupid plan”.
He stated: “I hope there will be smarter people there and I’d love to invite them to come back to the family.
“That’s what we would like and I believe (Juventus holding firm CEO) John Elkann is a really sensible, very good man. I do know him and I’m going to have a chat with him.”
Juventus and Barcelona have been knocked out of the Champions League within the group stage final month, though Real Madrid continues to be in rivalry.
Mr Al-Khelaifi stated: “Why are they still playing the Champions League if they don’t want? If they are really criticising the Champions League, let’s leave the Champions League – go play by yourself… play a Super Cup between the three of you.”
But Madrid are nonetheless pursuing glory within the UEFA competitors – profitable the Champions League final season by beating Liverpool within the ultimate.
Mr Al-Khelaifi congratulated Madrid however stated: “If I don’t like something, I say, ‘I don’t like it and I’m not going to do it.'”
Asked if the Super League concept has been killed off, he stated: “Definitely. That’s gone.”
Source: information.sky.com”