BEVERLY HILLS, April 20, (THEWILL) – Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, has personally waded into the hottest topic on global football currently, concerning the founding of a breakaway new Super League featuring Europe’s biggest clubs.
Infantino confirmed his stand clearly: “No doubt whatsoever of FIFA’s disapproval. Full support to UEFA.”
Infantino was unambiguous about the repercussions of such a division in the established football system and told the 12 breakaway clubs on Tuesday that his position was simple: They could not be “half in, half out” and that there were consequences of the decisions they made either way, which they had to live with.
Speaking to a congress of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) in Montreux, Switzerland on Tuesday, Infantino said: “If some elect to go their own way then they must live with the consequences of their choice.
“They are responsible for their choice –concretely this means, either you are in, or you are out.”
The FIFA head, a former UEFA General Secretary, repeated his opposition to the breakaway project: “We can only and strongly disapprove of a Super League which is a closed shop, breakaway from current institutions.”
THEWILL recalls that Aleksander Ceferin, the UEFA President, had presented a public appeal to English clubs behind Super League on Monday to reconsider their part in the new League: “Gentlemen, you made a huge mistake. Some will say it is greed, others disdain, arrogance … there is still time to change your mind. Everyone makes mistakes.”
It will come as a boost for UEFA that FIFA’s support, which was never in doubt before, has been publicly acknowledged for any of the founding members of the new League to be put on notice about the forces that are stacked up against them.
“We hope that everything will go back to normal, that everything will be settled, but always with respect, always with solidarity and with the interests of national, European and global football,” the world football chief finished.
Despite the swell of public condemnation of their decision to form their Super League, there has been no change in the opinions of the 12 founding members about the idea and they have resolutely held on so far. It makes the proposed meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee meeting, which will consider options for their official response, worth looking forward to.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
