Alexander Ceferin (right) speaks. Photo: Getty Images/Gualter Fatia
Aleksandr Čeferin, UEFA president, rushed to the defense of the Premier League as he lashed out at a "jealous" attacks from other European countries.
The organizers of the proposed European Super League and Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, are among those who say the top English level is distorting the market.
In the latest transfer window, spending in the Premier League has eclipsed other competitions to an unprecedented level. For example, the £288m spent by Chelsea is comparable to the £190m spent by all 78 clubs in France, Spain, Germany and Italy combined.
However, speaking to football administrators at the UEFA congress in Lisbon, Čeferin said: «We must never forget that jealousy has never been a good adviser.»
"As the British government, fans and clubs abandoned the Super League, the Premier League has been demonized and branded as a Super League in its own right that needs to be overthrown.
“However, the success of the Premier League was not achieved by chance. By adopting a bold approach based on vision, strategy and hard work, its leaders and clubs have developed a remarkable model based on sporting merit and a highly egalitarian distribution of wealth.”
He added that competition was «one of the most egalitarian systems in the world.»
"This is not a model to be destroyed, but a model to be followed" He said. "And let me reassure those who fear that English football will crush everything that stands in its way. The numbers don't lie: English clubs have won the Champions League five times over the past 20 years. Only twice in the past decade has an English club lifted the iconic big-eared trophy… though jealousy sees all but the truth.»
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters leads a hugely successful business venture. Photo: Getty Images/Michael Regan
He stressed that Italy has the most teams left in the Champions League despite Serie A reporting its sharpest annual decline in gross transfer spending, falling 84% from £163m in January 2022 to £25m in January 2023. the lowest spending in the league since 2006. Spending in La Liga also fell by 63%.
The political landscape in European football remains hectic. UEFA President Aleksandar Čeferin continues to face an existential threat to his organization from three European Super League rebels Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, and last week ESL subsidiary A22 Sports Management came out with renewed vigor.
While the future of UEFA's monopoly on European club competitions will be decided this year by the European Court of Justice, the uprising is unlikely to end there, even with a ruling in favor of UEFA.
Čeferin responded by saying: “Those who are promoting this project are now saying they want to save football. It's a good job, no one has ever died of shame. In a matter of months, the Super League has become a Little Red Riding Hood character: a wolf disguised as a grandmother, ready to eat you.
"But you can't fool anyone. Because here we have two opposing worldviews. We have cynicism above morality. We have selfishness more important than solidarity. We have greed more important than benevolence. Immersion in yourself, not openness to others. Self-interest is higher than altruism. A shameful lie is higher than the truth. The heirs of the builders. Cartel against meritocracy and democracy. Share prices exceed sports merit. The pursuit of profit is more important than the pursuit of trophies.
This is the first time Čeferin has addressed Congress since UEFA faced harsh criticism for failing to manage the crowd at the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid last season.
"Nothing can be taken for granted" said Ceferin, clearly alluding to chaos. “Unfortunately, unlike goalkeepers, leaders can never stay clean. No leader can boast an impeccable track record, no matter how much they invest and no matter how passionate, professional or experienced they are.
"There are always a few stains, a few mistakes that tarnish our reputation, mistakes that they would like to erase. I am no different, and UEFA is no exception. The most important thing is to understand the mistake and change so as not to repeat it"
'Something needs to be done with handball'
The handball law is being revised during a speech by Čeferin, who said «nothing is clear». according to the current rules.
Laws are set by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), but Čeferin has created a separate group to look at thresholds for handball.
The most senior administrator in European football seems to be particularly outraged that players are being punished for «exaggerating».
"How do you shrink yourself if you fall to the ground or jump into the air" he said in an interview with the Slovenian newspaper Ekipe. "Hands where they are, they can not always be pressed to the body.
Last week, Čeferin called Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, and demanded action on handball.
Handball rules are a constant source of confusion in modern football. Photo: Reuters/Angelika Warmuth
The head of European football says he will now revisit the rules of the game with former Croatia captain Zvonimir Boban, who is now head of UEFA's football department.
Ceferin said: "I absolutely do not understand the current rules of handball and something needs to be done in this area.
"At the end of April, we will form a special group, which will be led by Zvonimir Boban, and we want to have all the great coaches and former footballers in it.
“Handball will be one of the priority topics. The law says that [it's handball] if a player has made himself bigger — but what should he do?
“I also spoke with Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, last week about how we all need to do something about this together. No one else understands anything, which is very bad for football, because football, by definition, is very understandable and very understandable.
“I was watching Yaka Biyol playing for Udinese against Milan when the ball hit him in the thigh, then in the arm, and the referee awarded a penalty. How the player can prevent this, I really don't understand.
Later in the congress, UEFA members voted for Debbie Hewitt, chairman of the Football Association, for a seat on FIFA's ruling council. Hewitt was the first woman to run for Vice President of British FIFA. She beat Northern Ireland's David Martin by 39 votes to 16. Čeferin is credited with pushing Hewitt's campaign to secure a seat at the FIFA top table.
Hewitt said: «My goal is to be significant UEFA's voice in international debate as FIFA seeks to develop the game. I will work hard to promote good governance and transparency, and to strengthen UEFA's relationship with FIFA.»
The representation of British women at the pinnacle of European football has been further reinforced by Welsh professor Laura McAllister, who has been elected to the UEFA executive committee by acclamation. She occupies the seat reserved for women and was the only candidate. In addition, a representative from Wales was elected for the first time to a position in the governing body of European football.
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