Andrea Agnelli has broken his silence after leaving through the back door of the Turin Juventus but he has done it to talk specifically about the Super League in an interview with De Telegraaf from the Netherlands, a country that has clubs like Ajax that are dissatisfied with the European soccer format. Here are excerpts from the interview:
On the UEFA monopoly: “It must be broken to give clubs a financially sustainable future. A future where clubs do not face problems in case they do not qualify for European competitions once. Because this is a problem for any club. Ajax became champions from the Netherlands in 2019, they won the Cup, the Super Cup and played in two Champions League semifinals.Two months later they could have been eliminated from the preliminary round of the new Champions League.With so much uncertainty, it is not possible for a club to make sustainable decisions in the long term That’s why I’m in favor of a league system in elite European football, with more economic and sporting opportunities for everyone.”
Ceferin’s project: “In 2019 we were ready. Aleksander and I. The best clubs from all the ECA subdivisions had agreed on a new format. The mid-level clubs from the big leagues, the directs from the leagues and some federations saw this new format as a threat and that is why Ceferin withdrew it. The clubs were in favor of a renewed and improved system of European football. When the EUFA decided to block the project, projects were born outside of it to organize a new championship with all the ECA clubs. The The possibility of the project being launched will depend on the European Court of Justice”.
The future of European football: “In a sports competition it is important that all participants have a chance to win. Ajax, Feyenoord, Juventus… As a football fan I strongly support such an international competition unlike international federations, which do not take into account the problems of the clubs. As rulers they want to keep everything as it is, they are opposed to any change. That is why the system is not suitable for the football of the future”.
A system that benefits the rich?: “If the current system is maintained, the gap between the English and Spanish clubs and the others will only increase. Except probably PSG and Bayern. We should aspire to a greater sports democracy. Doesn’t a Polish club have the right to succeed? An equality exact conditions is an illusion in the Super League, but you have to fight for it. This is where the challenge lies”.
Free market or monopoly?: “UEFA has a monopoly and retains everything, as long as the European Court allows it. The ruling is expected in the spring. I am very curious if it will confirm the monopoly position of UEFA associations in a free European market. If so, the Court will not consider the football industry, with an annual turnover of around 50,000 million euros and 700,000 jobs, as an economic activity, but as a small game.”
What about the national championships?: “English dominance also threatens European football. In the Champions League, starting with the quarterfinals, it deals with English clubs and three or four others like Real Madrid, Barça, PSG and Bayern, with some other outsiders like Ajax in 2019 That predictability is death. On the other hand, it is necessary to create the economic and financial conditions for the clubs so that they do not lose all their income at once after a bad season. The Premier uses a parachute system for this. The relegated clubs receive financial compensation for a few years. In the European context this would be an element to take into account for the Super League”.
UEFA and FIFA: “The role of organizer of tournaments, now in the hands of UEFA, can be assumed without problems by an organization managed by the clubs. I do not think that the 2019 solution, in which clubs and UEFA aligned, is possible with Ceferin at helm. Isn’t it strange that there is only one candidate for the presidency of both UEFA and FIFA. Particularly the ones already there, Ceferin and Infantino. Is this a healthy thing? Can we wait to change them? They will do their best to stay in the center of power, to secure his privileges. Have you seen what Ceferin says in the Apple documentary? As UEFA president he feels as powerful as a king and talks like a prime minister about organizing competitions.” .
His relationship with Ceferin: “Actually, I don’t have any problem with him. When he calls me, I answer. He promised God that if something happened to me, he would take care of my daughter. You can’t give or take away.”