Reacting to “recent media speculation” on the possible creation of a closed and very lucrative competition between the biggest European clubs, the international body and the six football confederations (AFC, CAF, Concacaf, Conmebol, OFC and UEFA) hammer home in a joint declaration that such a tournament “would be recognized neither by Fifa, nor by the confederations concerned”.
If the hostility of UEFA to such an idea has been known for a long time, since it threatens its own Champions League, Fifa had rather expressed its disinterest in this European debate, ensuring to focus on the reform of its Cup. world of clubs.
“Any club or player involved in such a competition would therefore be prohibited from participating in any competition organized by Fifa or the confederations”, this time write the authorities. An unprecedented joint initiative in this dossier.
A sea serpent in European football, where the big clubs are looking to increase their share of the financial pie, the “Superleague” was relaunched at the end of October when the resigning president of Barça, Josep Maria Bartomeu, announced that the Catalan club had agreed to participate to such a project.
The principle of promotion-relegation incompatible with a closed league
Press reports had mentioned support from Fifa, which would have represented a declaration of war on UEFA, the most powerful of its six confederations.
“All competitions must be organized or recognized by the relevant bodies at their respective level, by Fifa at world level and by confederations at continental level”, say the organizations.
“In this regard, the confederations recognize the FIFA Club World Cup as the only club competition in the world, while Fifa recognizes the club competitions organized by the confederations as the only continental club tournaments”, continues the text, thus condemning any private project.
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The signatories of the press release reaffirm that “participation in world or continental competitions must always be won on the ground”, a principle of “promotion-relegation” incompatible with that of a closed league.
