Barcelona, Real en Juventus fel over 'onaanvaardbare Super League-druk'
Barcelona, Real Madrid en Juventus zijn ondanks de dreigende woorden van de Europese voetbalbond niet van plan om de stekker uit de European Super League te trekken. De drie topclubs komen zaterdag met een gezamenlijk statement, waarin zij fel reageren op de 'constante bedreigingen' van de UEFA.
De plannen voor de Super League zorgden wereldwijd voor veel kritiek en Arsenal, AC Milan, Atlético Madrid, Chelsea, Internazionale, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United en Tottenham Hotspur krabbelden onder de druk van de supporters al snel terug. Zij hebben inmiddels weer een akkoord gesloten met de UEFA en betalen een goodwill-boete van vijftien miljoen euro, die ten goede komt aan jeugdvoetbal. Bovendien wordt vijf procent van het dit seizoen vergaarde prijzengeld in de Champions League en Europa League ingehouden.
Barcelona, Real en Juve hebben zich nog niet teruggetrokken en weigeren dan ook om een boete te betalen. 'De UEFA zal met deze clubs nog aan de slag gaan', dreigde UEFA-voorzitter Aleksander Ceferin vrijdag. Een dag later zijn Barcelona, Real en Juve met een gezamenlijke verklaring gekomen. Daarin zijn zij onder meer erg kritisch op de inmiddels teruggetrokken medeoprichters.
'Het spijt ons om te zien dat onze vrienden en oprichters van het Super League-project zich nu in zo'n inconsistente en tegenstrijdige positie bevinden, nu ze gisteren een aantal toezeggingen aan de UEFA hebben gedaan', schrijven de clubs. 'Aangezien de redenen waarom de twaalf oprichtende clubs aan de Super League begonnen niet verdwenen zijn, hebben wij de plicht om op een verantwoorde manier te handelen en te volharden in het nastreven van adequate oplossingen. Dit ondanks de onaanvaardbare en aanhoudende druk en bedreigingen van de UEFA.'
'De oprichtende clubs hebben geleden, en lijden nog steeds, onder de onaanvaardbare druk, bedreigingen en overtredingen om het project te verlaten', vinden Barcelona, Real en Juve. 'Zij zien af van hun recht en plicht om oplossingen te bieden voor het voetbalecosysteem, door middel van concrete voorstellen en een constructieve dialoog. Dit is volgens de rechtsstaat onaanvaardbaar. Rechtbanken hebben al in het voordeel van het Super League-voorstel geoordeeld en hebben de FIFA en de UEFA gelast om af te zien van het ondernemen van enige actie die dit initiatief op enige wijze kan belemmeren, terwijl de procedure in behandeling is.'
Barcelona, Real en Juve benadrukken dat zij bereid zijn om over de plannen over de Super League te praten. 'Om zo met respect, en zonder ondraaglijke druk en in overeenstemming met de rechtsstaat, de meest geschikte oplossingen voor de duurzaamheid van de hele voetbalfamilie te vinden.'
In relation to the statement released by UEFA on the 7th May in respect of the Super League and the position taken by 9 of its founding clubs, Fútbol Club Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid Club de Fútbol state the following:
(i) The founding clubs have suffered, and continue to suffer, unacceptable third-party pressures, threats, and offenses to abandon the project and therefore desist from their right and duty to provide solutions to the football ecosystem via concrete proposals and constructive dialogue. This is intolerable under the rule of law and Tribunals have already ruled in favour of the Super League proposal, ordering FIFA and UEFA to, either directly or through their affiliated bodies, refrain from taking any action which may hinder this initiative in any way while court proceedings are pending.
(ii) The Super League project was designed jointly by its 12 founding clubs:
a) with the aim of providing solutions to the current unsustainable situation in the football industry. The 12 founding clubs shared the same concerns -as other stakeholders in European football do-, particularly under the current socio-economic context, that structural reforms are indispensable to ensure our sport stays appealing and survives in the long-term. To that effect, on 18th April, they announced their willingness to create the Super League and establish a channel of communication with UEFA and FIFA, in a constructive spirit of collaboration between the parties, as it was so notified to each of them on such date;
b) with the utmost respect for the current football structures and ecosystem. The founding clubs expressly agreed that the Super League would only take place if such a competition was recognised by UEFA and/or FIFA or if, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, it was deemed to be a competition duly compatible for all purposes with the continuity of the founding clubs in their respective domestic competitions. However, despite being aware of the above terms, UEFA and FIFA have so far refused to establish any adequate channel of communication; and
c) to bring financial stability to the entire European football family, currently under the effects of a deep crisis that threatens the survival of many clubs. Testament of it, the announced commitment to establish annual solidarity payments for guaranteed annual amounts that materially multiply those distributed by UEFA, and the obligation to reinforce financial sustainability rules, through the creation of a clear, transparent and effective control system verified by experts.
(iii) The 12 founding clubs also acknowledged that the Super League was a unique opportunity to offer fans around the world the best possible show and to reinforce global interest in the sport, which is not a “given” and is challenged by new generational trends. Moreover, one of its main objectives was to promote women's football on a global level, a tremendous, but currently underestimated, opportunity for the sector.
(iv) We are fully aware of the diversity of reactions to the Super League initiative and, consequently, of the need to reflect on the reasons for some of them. We are ready to reconsider the proposed approach, as necessary. However, we would be highly irresponsible if, being aware of the needs and systemic crisis in the football sector, which led us to announce the Super League, we abandoned such mission to provide effective and sustainable answers to the existential questions that threaten the football industry.
(v) We regret to see that our friends and founding partners of the Super League project have now found themselves in such inconsistent and contradictory position when signing a number of commitments to UEFA yesterday. However, given that the material issues that led the 12 founding clubs to announce the Super League weeks ago have not gone away, we reiterate that, to honour our history, to comply with our obligations towards our stakeholders and fans, for the good of football and for the financial sustainability of the sector, we have the duty to act in a responsible manner and persevere in the pursuit of adequate solutions, despite the unacceptable and ongoing pressures and threats received from UEFA.
(vi) Mostly, we reiterate to FIFA, UEFA and all football stakeholders, as we have done on several occasions since the announcement of the Super League, our commitment and firm will to discuss, with respect and without intolerable pressure and in accordance with the rule of law, the most appropriate solutions for the sustainability of the whole football family.
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