The Super League has collapsed, and UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin says ‘the important thing is to move on and rebuild the unity of the game,’ but what’s going to happen now?
Juventus President Andrea Agnelli, one of the prominent architects of the Super League project, announced this morning the competition “can no longer progress.”
The Super League has collapsed, and UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin says ‘the important thing is to move on and rebuild the unity of the game,’ but what’s going to happen now?
Juventus President Andrea Agnelli, one of the prominent architects of the Super League project, announced this morning the competition “can no longer progress.”
Neither the Bianconeri nor Milan have formally announced their withdrawal from the Super League but according to reports in Italy, the Rossoneri have pulled out from the competition.
Juventus also said that the clubs that have withdrawn from the Super League haven’t yet completed the necessary procedures.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin welcomed the Premier League clubs back “in European football.”
“I said yesterday that it is admirable to admit a mistake and these clubs made a big mistake. But now they are back in the fold and I know they have a lot to offer, not just to our competitions, but to all of European football,” he said this morning.
“The important thing now is that we move on, rebuild the unity the game enjoyed before this, and move forward together,” he added.
It is still unclear how the six Premier League clubs changed their mind so quickly, especially as Real Madrid President and Super League Chairman Florentino Perez seemed sure the law would have protected the 12 breakaway clubs against UEFA.
At the same time, Agnelli stressed the Super League was a “blood pact.”
JP Morgan had revealed they would finance the new competition and haven’t reacted since the project collapsed.
According to the Financial Times, the clubs involved would have faced financial liabilities worth hundreds of millions of euros for leaving the competition once it began. It also adds the remaining Super League clubs have the option to sue those who are quitting, which could explain why Juventus and Milan haven’t formally announced their exit.
At the same time, exit clauses also appear dependent on money flowing to the teams, which has not yet happened, the FT reports.
UEFA will launch a reformed Champions League from 2024, possibly with a boosted budget. The European football governing body is reportedly in talks with an investment fund for a €6 billion financing package.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the new Champions League could be launched earlier than 2024, but Perez criticised the new format on Monday night, saying that it “makes no sense.”
Also, it appears difficult for Agnelli to continue to represent Juventus within the European institutions considering Ceferin said: “I’ve never seen a person lie as much as him.”
Agnelli had negotiated a new format for the Champions League and other European competitions as the President of ECA, a role he left on Sunday after the Super League was announced.
Real Madrid and Barcelona haven’t released official statements yet, while Juventus and Milan haven’t formally withdrawn from the competition. However, it appears clear the Super League will not take place.
A UEFA Executive Committee is scheduled for tomorrow. The “former” Super League clubs still involved in European competitions are not likely to be banned, as appeared from reports on Monday.
At a domestic level, Juventus, Inter and Milan have made enemies for themselves with Torino Chairman Urbano Cairo, who urged Inter’s CEO Beppe Marotta and Milan President Paolo Scaroni to step down from their FIGC duties.