Madrid, 23 April (IANS) Thirty-nine clubs in the Spanish Football League (La Liga) have issued a statement condemning plans for a European Super League, including Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
Although plans for the Super League look dead in the water involving all the original 12 clubs, with the exception of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, who are retiring in the face of widespread opposition, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez insisted the plans remain alive in an interview with Spanish radio station Kadena Ser on Wednesday night, Xinhua reported.
On Thursday, Barcelona President Joan Laporta made his first statements since announcing the race on Sunday. Laporta said it was a “necessity”, but said “club members will have the last word”.
Meanwhile, the 39 non-La Liga and Liga SmartBank clubs (second division) that do not participate in the scheme, including Valencia, Villarreal, Sevilla, Athletic Club Bilbao and Real Betis, met at La Liga’s Madrid offices to discuss the situation. and after a meeting, they published a joint statement against the Super League.
“The clubs present at the meeting unanimously and unequivocally rejected the plans for this competition. All clubs firmly believe in sports merits as the only criterion for qualifying for international club competitions through national leagues.”
“Today, football fans all over Europe can dream that their club, regardless of its size, can excel, climb to the top and compete at the top of European football. This European football tradition is paramount for everyone. importance and should not be threatened or altered, “the statement said, adding that” global resistance over the past few days has shown that a closed, elite league is unviable and undesirable. The response proves how much an open ecosystem means and the football community for the people, ”she continues.
La Liga president Javier Tebas also spoke to the press to add his voice of criticism against Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barça.
“They can’t tell us they came to save football. They can’t say they want to save us from ruin, it’s not true and they can’t say they won’t hurt national competitions because it will hurt them. in both economic and sporting terms. “
“If they have such a good idea, who has kept it hidden,” Tebas said.
– IANI
rkm / sdr /