By Andrew Warshaw
April 20 – Making his first public comment on the creation of the European Super League, FIFA president Gianni Infantino today urged those involved to think again or “live with the consequences.”
In an address to the UEFA Congress in Switzerland, Infantino was perhaps not as hard-hitting as other leading figures in his condemnation of the project – perhaps privately believing it might actually assist FIFA’s own Club World Cup competition – but nevertheless delivered a clear message of which side of the fence FIFA was sitting.
Speaking to UEFA’s 55 member federations, all of whom were at last able to attend the Congress in person rather than by video-link, Infantino conceded he had reframed his remarks to take account of the bombshell last 48 hours.
“I wanted to speak to you about the Covid relief plan, the back to football protocol, reform of the transfer system, protection of children, the fight against match-fixing, human rights, the future debate about the international match calendar, the 2023 Women’s World Cup,” said Infantino.
“But the last 48 hours changed everything. So let me be clear. FIFA can only strongly disapprove of the creation of the Super League, a Super League that is a closed shop, a breakaway from the current institutions, from the leagues, from the associations, from UEFA, and from FIFA – outside the system.”
“It is our task to protect the European sport model, so if some elect to go their own way then they must live with the consequences of their choices. Either you’re in or you’re out. You can’t be half in and half out. Think about it, this has to be absolutely clear.”
“There is a lot to throw away for the short-term financial gain of some. They need to think very carefully – not only about their shareholders but everyone who has contributed to what European football is today. They need to reflect, and they need to assume responsibility.”
Unlike UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin, Infantino tellingly stopped short of calling for players and clubs to be banned but was joined in his opposition to the project by Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee who stressed the need for solidarity.
“The European sports model is a unique approach that can shape the post-coronavirus world. It is built on solidarity and volunteers, on the twin principals of financial solidarity which allows revenues generated at the elite level to be reinvested at the lower level. It is grounded on fair competition which gives priority to sporting merit,” said Bach.
“Unfortunately this model is under threat, the very existence of the vales of solidarity and the volunteer-based model is under threat, challenged by a purely profit-driven approach that ignores the social mission of sport and needs of the post-coronavirus world.”
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