February 25 News Former Juventus chairman Agnelli recently accepted the Dutch “Telegraph”
In an exclusive interview, he also talked about UEFA and the UEFA Super League.
Was your intention in creating the UEFA Super League to compete with UEFA?
Of course, UEFA’s monopoly and power must be broken to provide clubs with a more stable financial future. Even if they fail to qualify for the European War, it will not lead to financial collapse, otherwise it will be a disaster for any club.
nightmare.
For example, Ajax won the Dutch double in 2019 and reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League that year. However, two months later they were forced to participate in the next Champions League qualifiers, facing the possibility of missing the regular stage.
This uncertainty will prevent the club from pursuing a healthier structure.
That’s why I support the formation of the UEFA Super League system, which is to provide financial and sporting guarantees to each club.
You worked for many years at UEFA and ECA, why didn’t you discuss it with Ceferin?
We are ready for 2019, I talked to Ceferin, all the top ECA clubs (130) agreed to adopt a new format, but some mid-range teams and some football associations think that the new format will pose a threat.
That’s why Ceferin gave up, and now many clubs are trying to bypass UEFA to hold new events, and whether it will happen will depend on the European Court of Justice.
The Prosecutor General of the European Court of Justice seems to be on UEFA’s side. Wouldn’t it be a better choice for you to fight for reform opportunities within UEFA and the ECA?
It’s a war I can’t win if I stay inside, and I also know the current system won’t open the door for Ajax, Anderlecht, Celtic, Benfica, Panathinaikos and Red Star Belgrade
Waiting for the team to bring the future, you can’t stand still, you have to find other paths.
What’s wrong with the European football system?
In addition to the lack of economic stability, many leagues have become no suspense. This is because these clubs have obtained too much income from the domestic market.
Sports should give every player a chance to win, but UEFA, as top management, prefers to keep everything as it is, and any proposals for reform will attract opposition.
Is the UEFA Super League the solution really needed?
Yes, if the game is as unsuspenseful as it is now, the fans will gradually stay away from football. If Ajax, Feyenoord or PSV never have a chance to win the Champions League, or even have a chance to compete, the Dutch fans will still
Watching Intercontinental games?
We want equal opportunities for clubs, I’ve been in football for 13 years and I know how it works and I’ve collected some ideas, so I want to have a fairer game.
The existing system in European football will only widen the gap between the rich and the poor, especially the clubs in England and Spain that benefit the most. Don’t Polish teams have the right to succeed?
Are Polish fans not enthusiastic enough?
But this situation seems utopian?
A completely level playing field is indeed an illusion in Europe, but you have to fight for it, it’s worth the challenge, who wants to watch a game that’s decided?
Why don’t you talk about this with other ECA clubs?
I have been in contact with many clubs, many people support reform, but if they follow me or agree with me, they will be suppressed by UEFA, so many people cannot publicly declare that they want a better and fairer competition.
mode, which is unpopular and clubs can only submit to UEFA.
If the European Super League is restarted, will the clubs continue to play in their own league?
Of course Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV of course need the Eredivisie and vice versa, UEFA qualification also depends on the national league, it’s an equal competition and in everyone’s interest
.
But if you look at the whole of Europe, you will find that the tension in the national league has disappeared, because the championship is monopolized, and Paris will always be the champion of Ligue 1. How much value is there in Ligue 1?
This trend is also present in Italy, Germany and Spain. Only the Premier League is thriving. They can get 4 billion euros in revenue every year, Spain almost 2 billion, Germany 1.5 billion, and the Netherlands only 100 million.
On the other hand, you have to create the financial and economic conditions for the clubs so that they don’t lose all their income after a bad season, the Premier League has adopted a parachute mechanism, the relegated clubs will be financially compensated in the next few years, which is also true.
European football needs to emulate.
If the European Court of Justice ruled that UEFA could ban European Super League teams from participating in domestic and European competitions, would you consider giving up?
I have full confidence in the court, but I cannot predict the outcome, I hope the ruling will change the status quo, our plan is to put all stakeholders first, including clubs, fans and players, put their interests first, which is the same as in Europe
Football is different.
Do you want to use the UEFA Premier League to replace UEFA’s role?
In fact, UEFA’s role as an organizer can easily be replaced by an organization that runs clubs. I don’t think the solution when clubs and UEFA are united in 2019 is the most feasible. In fact, UEFA and FIFA only have one president.
Candidate, isn’t that weird?
is this healthy
Can you count on Ceferin and Infantino to reform?
they will do whatever it takes