‘Football will DIE’ – Real Madrid chief Perez says European Super League is vital and declares ‘we won’t give in’
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REAL MADRID president Florentino Perez has declared 'football will die' if his team and fellow rebels can't revive the hated European Super League project.
The attempted breakaway in April was scrapped when nine of the 12 teams pulled out in the face of an amazing backlash and show of unity by fans.
Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, however, cowed by their own lack of funds at present, remain determined to get the plans back on track.
Asked this week about the failed Super League project, pompous Perez, 74, claimed that football is being 'distanced from the youth'.
Rather than suggesting slashing ticket prices so that young people can actually afford to go and watch football, however, he instead persisted with the idea that a Super League is necessary - despite fans hating it.
Perez is threatened by oil-rich clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City knocking his team off their perch.
At a Real Madrid assembly, he said: "The pandemic has made us live one of the most difficult moments in the history of football.
"The Super League is not just a tournament. It is trying to change the dynamics of football because if we don't even do anything, football will die.
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"It is the project that will finally protect the Financial Fair Play and thus prevent the clubs from receiving great financial support, whether they are states or not.
"It is also solidarity and commitment to create an infrastructure in football, it is respect for national competitions. The agreements established by the founding clubs clearly respect the national competitions.
"The data shows us that the different entertainment channels are distancing football from the youth. We are causing the fans to abandon us.
"For example, Chelsea and Madrid had never met until last season, two historic teams. Another historic player, Ajax, reaching the semi-finals, was forced to play a preliminary phase the following year.
"A format that should not continue to exist. That of the Super League will be open and may change according to what is requested each moment. The great clubs of Europe have the responsibility of looking after the future of football.
"It is we, and not Uefa, who bear all operational costs and risks. A final trigger was when, starting in April, Uefa reported a new format with more inconsequential matches. A project that had a lot of criticism.
"Twelve of the most important clubs in the world announced the European Super League and founded a company based in Madrid. Uefa denied any dialogue with the Super League and told a false story.
"It is not acceptable for the Uefa president to insult the president of one of the most important clubs in history. Said threats and pressures had no effect on three clubs with a total of 20 Champions League.
"These clubs work so that football continues to interest new generations. Anyway, you have to remind Uefa who Real Madrid is. It is the most successful club in the history of football.
"And he has watched over the traditions of football when they were in danger. He was the defender of the creation of the European Cup.
"Uefa showed its radical opposition and our president Bernabeu had to suffer their continuous threats. What is even more important is that the Spanish justice has raised the case to the European justice."
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