European football reconfirms its opposition to breakaway projects

UEFA accommodated a meeting request from A22 Sports, a private commercial venture, today in Nyon by offering them a chance to address all the genuine representative authorities of European football. Top management of UEFA, led by President Aleksander Čeferin, and high representatives from the national leagues, clubs, players and fans, stressed together that the opposition to the self-proclaimed super league remains overwhelming today as it has been since April 2021.

In line with the unity of European football, UEFA and the participating football stakeholders once again unanimously rejected the rationale underpinning projects such as ESL during today's discussion. The participants took note, with surprise, of the claims of the A22 Sports CEO that this company is not representing any clubs in any capacity, including the three clubs who continue to openly support the project.

UEFA and football stakeholders remain committed to the foundations of European football, which are based on openness, solidarity and meritocracy and serve broader objectives of sporting principles and societal interest, rather than privilege and self-entitlement.

This approach has been given unanimous support by the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and extensive support from national governments, public institutions, and stakeholders across the continent.

Alongside UEFA top management, the meeting was attended by:

• Javier Tebas, LaLiga – President
• Mathieu Moreuil, Premier League – Director of Intl Football Relations
• Donata Hopfen, Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) - CEO
• Luigi De Siervo, Serie A – CEO
• Vincent Labrune, Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) – President
• Nasser Al-Khelaifi, European Club Association (ECA) Chairman / UEFA Executive Committee Member / Paris Saint-Germain President
• Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, ECA – Honorary Chairman / UEFA Executive Committee Member
• Oliver Kahn, ECA – Vice-Chairman / FC Bayern CEO
• Edwin Van der Sar, ECA – Vice-Chairman / AFC Ajax CEO
• Dariusz Mioduski, ECA – Vice-Chairman / Legia Warszawa President
• Aki Riihilahti, ECA – Vice-Chairman / HJK Helsinki CEO
• Hans-Joachim Watzke, ECA – Board Member / Borussia Dortmund CEO
• Miguel Ángel Gil, ECA – Board Member / Atletico de Madrid CEO
• Michael Verschueren, ECA – Board Member / RSC Anderlecht Board
• Domingos Soares de Oliveira, ECA – Board Member / SL Benfica CEO
• Dan Friedkin, ECA – Board Member / AS Roma President
• Charlie Marshall, ECA – CEO
• Luca Percassi, Atalanta BC – CEO
• David Aganzo, FIFPRO – President
• Jonas Baer-Hoffmann, FIFPRO – General Secretary
• Ronan Evain, Football Supporters Europe – Executive Director
• Kevin Miles, Football Supporters' Association – CEO

The A22 Sports was represented by Bernd Reichart, Anas Laghrari and John Hahn.

English clubs could not participate due to the scheduled meeting of Premier League shareholders.

European football will continue to stand together firmly for the positive future development of the game and society. UEFA looks forward to welcoming all recognised stakeholders and partners of European football to the second Convention on the Future of European Football later this week, where constructive dialogue prevails. Discussions will cover topics from good governance and competitiveness to further development of women's football.