UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin insists the new Super League format is ‘even more closed’ than in 2021, but hopes ‘their fantastic competition starts as soon as possible, with two clubs.’
Ceferin spoke to the media on Thursday following a ruling from the European Court of Justice that agreed with Super League organisers that FIFA and UEFA are abusing a dominant position.
The verdict practically means FIFA and UEFA can’t ban or punish clubs and players involved in a tournament organised outside their jurisdiction.
A22, the company behind the Super League, presented a new format on Thursday, saying that the tournament would be divided into three leagues, but Ceferin strongly criticised it.
“I watched the so-called presentation of A22. It’s hard to decide if you should be shocked or amused by the show. Even more closed than the 2021 edition that everyone rejected,” he said as quoted by Simon Stone.
“We will not try to stop them. They can create whatever they want. I hope they start their fantastic competition as soon as possible, with two clubs. I hope they know what they are doing but I am not so sure about that.”
La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid are the only two clubs still formally involved in the competition, as Juventus started the process to withdraw in July 2023.
The Bianconeri have progressively stepped away from the breakaway tournament since Andrea Agnelli resigned as club President in November 2022.
“It’s clear now that they are offering a closed competition which we knew all the time. We will not try to stop them,” he claimed.
The UEFA President added that winners of domestic leagues would qualify for the ‘Blue League’ which is the Super League’s third division so clubs like “Girona or Atalanta” wouldn’t be able to get access to the tournament.