Liverpool boss Klopp: Good that UEFA, FIFA given ‘a shake’،
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp said that while he was not in favor of the Super League plan, he appreciated that Europe's highest court had “shaken up a bit” UEFA when it ruled that the governing body had “abused its dominant position”. ” in his mastery of European football.
The Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) ruled on Thursday that FIFA and UEFA rules requiring new football competitions to be subject to their prior approval were “unlawful.
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Following the decision, several of Europe's top clubs issued statements rejecting the creation of a new Super League, choosing instead to publicly demonstrate their support for existing UEFA competitions.
“Yesterday's ruling by the European Court of Justice does not change Liverpool FC's previous position on a proposed European Super League. Our involvement has been discontinued,” Liverpool said in a statement on Friday.
“We will continue to work with other clubs through the ECA and participate in UEFA competitions.”
Asked about the court's decision at a press conference on Friday ahead of his team's clash against Arsenal, Klopp said: “I agree 100% with this statement. [from Liverpool].
“But I am delighted that we finally understand that FIFA, UEFA and other bodies cannot do what they want.
“In the future we will have to talk about a lot of things and if we just do what they do – like organize more competitions and play more matches – and we don't really have a say in what is keep going, I like them to be shaken up a little.”
The president of Naples, Aurelio De Laurentiis, welcomed the ruling of the CJEU on the Super League project, adding that UEFA and FIFA do not understand the importance of this sport and the need to increase the revenues of the clubs.
“The Super League was a bad decision [when it was first launched in 2021], which nevertheless caused this change. Now we have to think seriously,” De Laurentiis told Corriere dello Sport.
“I spoke with [Real Madrid president] Florentino Perez and we agree to bring real entrepreneurs to the table, and not just nominal presidents. Because today football is administered by old people, but above all without vision.”
De Laurentiis also criticized the governing bodies' understanding of the financial realities of owning a football club that plays in Europe.
“Those who have governed through monopolies until now have not understood that football is a business and that it needs growing revenues.
“If I invest hundreds of millions to participate in a circus that distributes peanuts, makes no profit and forces me to play more and more to maintain an unproductive train, the game is not worth it.”
Information from Reuters contributed to this report
