European Super League reaction: Real Madrid’s Florentino Perez, FIFA, UEFA, Premier League and more

The European Super League (ESL) might be taking a victory lap after the European Court of Justice ruled Thursday that FIFA and UEFA cannot ban them from creating a breakaway tournament by rolling out a new competition format, but the reaction from soccer’s power players is mixed.

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From UEFA to the Premier League and a handful of Europe’s top clubs, many maintained their intent to stick to the sport’s order as it currently stands. Many of the clubs that have so far voiced their commitment to the ongoing structure are doing so after a botched attempt to join the ESL in 2021 ended swiftly after strong condemnation. Real Madrid and Barcelona, though, are the only clubs from the original ESL pitch to continue voicing public support in the breakaway league and reiterated their stance once again.

Here’s an updating list of reactions to the latest ESL development.

UEFA

European soccer’s governing body is the most natural opponent to the ESL since it is a direct rival of UEFA’s club competitions  and maintained its confidence in the current soccer structure thanks to a recent rule change.

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“This ruling does not signify an endorsement or validation of the so-called ‘super league,'” the statement read in part. “It rather underscores a pre-existing shortfall within UEFA’s pre-authorization framework, a technical aspect that has already been acknowledged and addressed in June 2022. UEFA is confident in the robustness of its new rules, and specifically that they comply with all relevant European laws and regulations.”

Later the same day, President Aleksander Ceferin openly mocked the ESL as the breakaway competition reemerged.

“We will not try to stop them,” he said, per the BBC. “They can create whatever they want. I hope that they start their fantastic competition as soon as possible with two clubs. I hope they know what they are doing, which I’m not so sure about … Football is not for sale. We can show that many times.”

FIFA

In a statement issued on social media, FIFA said it would work in coordination with UEFA on preserving the current structure of the game.

“FIFA will now analyze the decision in coordination with UEFA, the other confederations and the member associations before commenting further,” the statement read in part. “In line with its statutes, FIFA firmly believes in the specific nature of sport, including the pyramid structure – which is underpinned by sporting merit – and the principles of competitive balance and financial solidarity.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino followed up by maintaining his organization’s position as the chief power broker in the sport.

“With the greatest respect for the European Court of Justice, today’s judgment does not change anything, really,” he said in a statement shared on social media. “We will continue to deliver the world’s most spectacular, competitive and meaningful tournaments and use our revenues to develop football in every corner of the globe through solidarity programmes that ensure the less privileged benefit from those top competitions.”

A22 Sports Management

The company behind the ESL celebrated the court’s ruling and re-declared its ambition to shake up the structure of European soccer.

“We have won the right to compete,” A22 CEO Bernd Reichart said in a statement, per the Associated Press. “European club football is free. The near-70-year UEFA monopoly is finally over, and the court’s decision has far-ranging and positive consequences for football. We will continue working with clubs, leagues and other stakeholders without fear of sanctions to create the best and most fan-centric football competitions in Europe. For the first time since 1955, pan-European competitions can now be governed by the participating clubs themselves as is the case in virtually all European domestic leagues.”

FIFPRO

The global players’ union voiced its opposition to the re-emergence of the ESL soon after the court ruling.

“In line with the players who were in firm opposition to the initial principles of a European Super League project FIFPRO Europe remains convinced that open competitions and sporting merit are not only the cornerstone of the football pyramid at domestic and European levels but also fundamental to ensure a vibrant employment market with career paths and job opportunities for all players,” a statement read in part.

Real Madrid

One of two clubs that has maintained their commitment to the ESL throughout, Real Madrid celebrated the court’s ruling and also treated it as an opening to re-establish the competition.

“We are at the beginning of a new era where we can work freely, in constructive dialogue, without threats, without acting against anything or anyone and with the aim to innovate and modernize club football to bring passion back to the fans,” club president Florentino Perez said in a video message shared on social media. “From today, the present and future of European football is finally in the hands of clubs, the players and their fans. Our destiny belongs to us and we have a great responsibility before us. This day will mark a before and after. It is a great day for the history of football and for the history of sport.”

Barcelona

The other consistent ESL backer also welcomed the court’s ruling on Thursday.

“As one of the clubs driving the Super League project, FC Barcelona feels that the sentence paves the way for a new elite level football competition in Europe by opposing the monopoly over the football world, and wishes to initiate new discussions as to the path that European competitions should take in the future,” the club said in a statement.

“As it has been maintaining in recent years, the club feels that the medium-term sustainability of European football entails the need create a concept along the lines of the Super League proposed by A22. A system of competition that will address such issues as fixture overload and the excessive number of games between national teams, that will work towards regulation of financial fair play among participating teams, and that will put local and international players and supporters at the centre. This system must respect the functions and sustainability of domestic competitions and should be a meritocracy that is primarily based on results on the pitch.”

Premier League

England’s top flight joined several other organizations maintaining its opposition to the ESL, according to a statement issued soon after the court ruling.

“The ruling does not endorse the so-called ‘European Super League’ and the Premier League continues to reject any such concept,” it said. “Supporters are of vital importance to the game and they have time and again made clear their opposition to a ‘breakaway’ competition that severs the link between domestic and European football. The Premier League reiterates its commitment to the clear principles of open competition that underpin the success of domestic and international club competitions.”

The Premier League also noted a June 2022 change to its Owners’ Charter that provided further protections to the existing set-up.

Paris Saint-Germain

The French champions, as from day one, intent on staying out of the breakaway competition and quickly condemned the latest proposal. 

“Paris Saint-Germain rejects wholly and completely any so-called Super League project, which has been the case since day one and will always remain the case,” Paris Saint-Germain president and UEFA vice president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi said in a statement. “As a proud European institution, PSG supports the principles of the European sports model, upholding values of open competition, inclusiveness, and working with all recognized stakeholders of European football – most importantly for the fans and players, who are the heartbeat of football.”

Manchester United

The club opted into the ESL during its initial launch but quickly dropped out and said it will stay away from the breakaway league in a statement.

“Our position has not changed,” Manchester United said. “We remain fully committed to participation in UEFA competitions, and to positive cooperation with UEFA, the Premier League, and fellow clubs through the ECA on the continued development of the European game.”

Bayern Munich

The German champions were also part of the fold when the ESL was announced in April 2021 but were also one of the clubs who dropped out after public outcry. They showed no signs of coming back in their reaction to Thursday’s ruling.

“This does not change FC Bayern’s and the ECA’s position that such a competition would be an attack on the importance of the national leagues and the structure of European football,” CEO Jan Christian Dreesen said in a statement. “The Bundesliga is the foundation of FC Bayern, just as all national leagues are the foundation of other European football clubs. It is therefore our duty and our deep conviction to strengthen them, not to weaken them. We are also committed to the European club competitions under the umbrella of UEFA.”

Andrea Agnelli

The former chairman of Juventus and the European Club Association was the figurehead of the first iteration of the ESL that arrived just as quickly as it left, and reacted to Thursday’s ruling by sharing lyrics of U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name.”