“I am surprised and deeply disappointed by the announcement made by 12 elite European football clubs of their intention to launch a European Super League,” said Lord George Foulkes (United Kingdom, SOC), rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Football governance: business and values.
“This initiative, as it stands, represents everything that we strongly oppose – it is a clear case of business trampling on values. Football should be a value-driven sport with a financial model based on solidarity and fair redistribution. I therefore stand on the side of all the other European clubs – as well as fans, of course, who feel betrayed. I understand the strong reaction from UEFA, a number of European national football associations and leagues, as well as FIFA. But public authorities also cannot stay neutral when the public interest is at stake.
I strongly urge the 12 concerned clubs, and their possible hidden allies, to abandon this schism. The football family should remain united and work towards a system which will truly benefit all those involved. The ESL project must be ended now, before it triggers a mortal combat which could kill football.”
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Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
