{"id":31852,"date":"2021-04-20T07:19:49","date_gmt":"2021-04-20T07:19:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bengalnewstimes.com\/?p=31852"},"modified":"2021-04-20T07:19:49","modified_gmt":"2021-04-20T07:19:49","slug":"european-super-league-created-to-save-football-real-madrid-president-florentino-perez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bengalnewstimes.com\/?p=31852","title":{"rendered":"European Super League created to ‘save football’ – Real Madrid president Florentino Perez"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Florentino<\/span><\/span>
Florentino Perez would be the first chairman of the European Super League if it goes ahead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The European Super League was created “to save football”, says Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Real are one of the 12 European clubs who have signed up to the breakaway league and intend to establish a new midweek competition.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Perez said the move had been made because young people are “no longer interested in football” because of “a lot of poor quality games”.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Whenever there is change, there are always people who oppose it,” he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

The English ‘big six’ of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham have <\/span>agreed to join the new league.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

The move has been criticised by football authorities and government ministers in the UK and widely condemned across Europe by Uefa and leagues associations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will <\/span>hold a meeting<\/span><\/a> with football’s governing bodies on Tuesday to discuss the move, while the 14 Premier League clubs not included in the plans are also scheduled to meet.<\/span><\/p>\n

Perez said that the top teams were losing money and that big-name matches would help increase their revenue.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We are doing this to save football at this critical moment,” Perez told Spanish TV show El Chiringuito de Jugones.<\/span><\/p>\n

“If we continue with the Champions League there is less and less interest and then it’s over.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The new format which starts in 2024 is absurd. In 2024, we are all dead.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Plans for a revamped 36-team Champions League, starting in 2024, were <\/span>confirmed by Uefa on Monday.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

He added: “In the ’50s, it was a similar situation. Uefa and Fifa went against the new European Cup, but that competition changed football.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Why form the ESL?<\/h3>\n

Perez said the move had been accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic, which has led to matches being played behind closed doors. <\/span><\/p>\n

He claimed 40% of young people are not interested in football and Real have lost 400m euros (\u00a3344m) because of the impact of the pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n

“When you don’t have any income other than from television, you have to find a solution to make more attractive matches that fans all over the world can watch with all of the big clubs,” said Perez.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Young people are no longer interested in football. They have other platforms on which to distract themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We could get back some of the money we lost because of the pandemic. We have to raise more money organising more competitive games.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\"How<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

However, critics say the move is being driven purely by money, would destroy domestic leagues and is against the integrity of the sport.<\/span><\/p>\n

When could it start?<\/h3>\n

Another three teams will be added to the league as guaranteed members, with five more qualifying each year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Perez said the group want to start the new league by August, should they reach an agreement with Uefa, otherwise it could be delayed by a year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin called the league a <\/span>“disgraceful, self-serving” plan<\/span><\/a> and a “spit in the face of football lovers”.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ceferin also said that players involved with the ESL could be banned from all Uefa competitions, which Perez denied.<\/span><\/p>\n

“It will not happen, the law protects us,” Perez added.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We will not get into legal issues. It is impossible. The players should remain calm because the threats won’t happen. “This is not a league for the rich, it’s a league to save football.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The key developments so far<\/h3>\n