LaLiga have issued a statement condemning the breakaway European Super League as ‘a selfish, egotistical proposal designed to further enrich the already super rich.’
LaLiga have issued a statement condemning the breakaway European Super League as ‘a selfish, egotistical proposal designed to further enrich the already super rich.’
The Super League was announced on Sunday night with 12 founder clubs, including three from Serie A – Juventus, Milan and Inter. Spanish trio Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona are also among the founding members, with six clubs from England: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
UEFA have come out strongly against the Super League, in a statement that had the support of the domestic leagues. LaLiga have on Monday issued a further statement, expressing their opposition to the breakaway.
“LaLiga strongly condemns the recently published proposal for a breakaway, elitist European competition that attacks the principles of open competition and sporting merit which are at the heart of the domestic and European football pyramid,” the statement begins.
“Today football fans across Europe can dream that their club, no matter the size, may excel, climb to the top and compete at the pinnacle of European football. LaLiga defends this European tradition of football for all. The concept proposed by 12 European clubs destroys that dream, shutting the door to the top of European football, allowing in just an elite few.”
The statement goes on to argue that the breakaway league will harm the Spanish economy and won’t succeed due to a lack of competition. The 12 founding clubs and three more to be named will be permanent members of the Super League, with five other clubs added per season.
“LaLiga has a proud, 90-year history as an open, merit-based competition. Millions of fans around the world follow the 42 clubs of LaLiga Santander and LaLiga SmartBank. The success of our competitions has helped football to become a key contributor to the Spanish economy, accounting for nearly 1.4% of GDP and providing employment for nearly 200,000 people.
The newly proposed top European competition is nothing more than a selfish, egotistical proposal designed to further enrich the already super rich. It will undermine the appeal of the whole game and have a deeply damaging impact on the immediate and future of LaLiga, its member clubs, and all the entire footballing ecosystem.
In addition, the breakaway league threatens the rest of Spanish sports to which, in the current season, LaLiga will contribute more than 126 million euros as part of its agreement with the Spanish government and the Spanish FA.
This destruction of the European football ecosystem will also ultimately cause the failure of this new competition and its participating clubs, which have built their success based on the achievement of sports titles and triumphs, which will now be more limited.
We use all measures at our disposal and work with all stakeholders to defend the integrity and future of Spanish football in the best interests of the game.”