the interview
Madrid
Florentino Pérez, president of Real Madrid and president of the Super League, gave his first interview to “El Chiringuito”, the sports program of Atresmedia with Josep Pedrerol.
Josep Pedrerol (JP): How was the Super League born?
«The important clubs of England, Italy and Spain had to find a solution for the difficult situation that football is experiencing. According to the ECA, the ball has lost 5 billion euros. We at Real Madrid have lost 400 million euros in two seasons. If you have no income other than TV rights, the only way to make money is to make the games more spectacular. So we came to the conclusion that, instead of playing the Champions League during the week, we could have organized a Super League between the big clubs to stop the loss of money ».
JP: Did you expect threats from UEFA?
FP: «Look, I entered this world in 2000 and I am an expert. Football must evolve, move forward as well as people, companies, must adapt to the times. He is losing interest ».
JP: Explain
FP: «Football is the only global sport, no one has this strength but it is in crisis. Let’s take the young. 40% of children aged 16 to 24 are no longer interested in football. The reason? There are too many low-level games and they choose other platforms. We need to change something to make this sport more attractive globally. This is why we thought about the Super League ».
JP: Did you make it up all by yourself?
FP: «All together, we have been friends for 20 years. The Champions League has lost interest as it already did in the 1950s. So we thought of a competition between big clubs, an attraction that generates resources ».
JP: Many think the Super League is only better for the rich …
FP: «No, it is the choice that can create more money. A match between Real and Manchester or Barcelona and Inter is more interesting than a match between Manchester and a modest team ».
JP: The money is also intended for clubs that are not members of the Super League. What do those who do not support Atletico, Real or Barcelona earn?
FP: “What do they earn from the Champions League now?”
JP: The chance to qualify for the next season. It means that Sevilla could access it.
FP: «Even here it is possible. There are 15 who generate value for TV rights and 5 will arrive for sporting merits. Everyone can access it. It’s open. UEFA gives 120-130 million euros and we want to give them 400 million to distribute among the clubs ».
JP: Would UEFA earn money from the Super League?
FP: «To be distributed among the clubs. Ours is a choice to save football ».
JP: Did you explain it well?
FP: «More or less. The idea is to leave as soon as possible. In the press release we say that we will speak with UEFA and FIFA. I don’t understand their angry reaction. “
JP: Before the announcement, did you speak to UEFA or did they not believe you?
FP: «UEFA was working on another project and, with all due respect, I didn’t understand it. It does not produce the necessary income. The situation is dramatic ».
JP: Uefa president Ceferin has been tough on you.
FP: «UEFA is a monopoly, it should be transparent. We want to save football, it is in danger. For us, the format of the Champions launched by UEFA does not work. I have also spoken with leagues, federations and nobody understands that. Also, they say they will start in 2024, but by 2024 we can all be dead. There are companies that have lost hundreds of millions in the last year ».
JP: Will Madrid be kicked out of the Champions League? And La Liga?
FP: «They will not chase anyone».
JP: Will Paris Saint-Germain if unite?
FP: «We didn’t invite them. There are 12 of us but we haven’t talked to the French or German teams yet. We want to do it ».
JP: Surprised by Bayern’s no?
FP: «When the project was born, someone said we would mark the end of the championships, but it doesn’t make sense. How could we do it? ».
JP: Ceferin attacked Agnelli …
FP: «I think it’s a very bad way to address the president of a historic club like Agnelli. I find it unpresentable to say such a thing in public. UEFA must change. I say this for the sake of football. Taking into account the earnings brought by the Champions League, as they are, we will all die ».
JP: Boris Johnson has threatened to do everything possible to curb this initiative.
FP: «Because they said that the Premier is disappearing. They lie, that’s not true. “
JP: Florentino, will you be president of the Super League for 4 years?
FP: “Until I am kicked out.” (and laughs)
JP: Will you have the Var?
FP: «Of course, and we will improve the Var, the referees and the financial fair play. We want to take an important step to allow football to last another 100 years ». –
(Translated by Daniela Cotto)
© breaking latest news