UEFA chief Ceferin takes firm Super League stance in A22 meeting
In a meeting with A22 Sports Management CEO Bernd Reichart, Aleksander Ceferin reiterated his total opposition to the breakaway project. Other major football figures also attended.
UEFA, European football’s governing body, took a tough stance in a meeting with Super League promoters A22 Sports Management on Tuesday, reiterating its total opposition to the creation of parallel competitions.
Opposition to Super League as strong as ever, A22 told
UEFA chiefs, headed by president Aleksander Ceferin, and leading representatives of national leagues, clubs, players and fans, sought to stress that opposition to the breakaway project remains as overwhelming today as it was in April 2021.
In the meeting at UEFA HQ in Nyon, Switzerland, A22 was represented by Bernd Reichart, Anas Laghrari and John Hahn.
“The participants took note, with surprise, of the claims of the A22 Sports CEO that this company is not representing any clubs in any capacity, including the three clubs who continue to openly support the project,” a UEFA statement said.
“UEFA and football stakeholders remain committed to the foundations of European football, which are based on openness, solidarity and meritocracy and serve broader objectives of sporting principles and societal interest, rather than privilege and self-entitlement.
“This approach has been given unanimous support by the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and extensive support from national governments, public institutions, and stakeholders across the continent.”
UEFA bosses were joined at Tuesday’s meeting by:
- Javier Tebas, the president of LaLiga
- Mathieu Moreuil, the Premier League’s director of international football relations
- Donata Hopfen, the CEO of Germany’s Deutsche Fußball Liga
- Luigi De Siervo, the president of Italy’s Serie A
- Vincent Labrune, the president of France’s Ligue de Football Professionnel
- Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the chairman of the European Club Association, a UEFA Executive Committee member, and the president of Paris Saint-Germain
- Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the honorary chairman of the European Club Association and a UEFA Executive Committee nember
- Oliver Kahn, a European Club Association vice-chairman and the CEO of Bayern Munich
- Edwin Van der Sar, a European Club Association vice-chairman and the CEO of Ajax
- Dariusz Mioduski, a European Club Association vice-chairman and the president of Legia Warszawa
- Aki Riihilahti, a European Club Association vice-chairman and the CEO of HJK Helsinki
- Hans-Joachim Watzke, a European Club Association board member and the CEO of Borussia Dortmund
- Miguel Ángel Gil, a European Club Association board member and the CEO of Atlético Madrid
- Michael Verschueren, a European Club Association and Anderlecht board member
- Domingos Soares de Oliveira, a European Club Association board member and the CEO of Benfica
- Dan Friedkin, a European Club Association board member and the president of Roma
- Charlie Marshall, the CEO of the European Club Association
- Luca Percassi, the CEO of Atalanta
- David Aganzo, the president of FIFPRO
- Jonas Baer-Hoffmann, the general secretary of FIFPRO
- Ronan Evain, the executive director of Football Supporters Europe
- Kevin Miles, the CEO of the Football Supporters’ Association
English clubs were unable to take part in the talks because of a previously scheduled meeting of Premier League stakeholders. UEFA is also due to hold a meeting with stakeholders and European football partners at the second Convention on the Future of European Football this week. The discussions will cover subjects such as good governance, competitiveness and the development of the women’s game.