This statement is signed by a wide cross section of European fans, including national fans’ organisations, fans of the top 200 ranked UEFA clubs, fans of clubs that reportedly back a breakaway league, and fans of previous winners of European competitions.
We are all united in our opposition to the creation of a European Super League—an unpopular, illegitimate, and dangerous scheme in the eyes of the overwhelming majority of fans.
It would destroy the European model of sport, which is based on commonly accepted principles such as sporting merit, promotion and relegation, qualification to European competitions via domestic success, and financial solidarity. In the process, it would also undermine the economic foundations of European football, concentrating even more wealth and power in the hands of a dozen or so elite clubs.
We recognise that the game is in desperate need of broad reform. But proposals to this end must seek to revive the competitive balance in European competitions, protect domestic leagues, promote the interests of fans, and encourage fairer revenue distribution. A European Super League would achieve none of these objectives—quite the opposite.
The reasoning behind a closed breakaway league is simple: it allows big clubs to succeed off the pitch even when they fail on it. It is anti-competitive by design. It does away with the magic of the cup, snatches the dream of seeing your club play in Europe, and goes against the very spirit of the game.
This approach is profoundly unjust and counterproductive. We believe all clubs must have an equal opportunity to qualify for European competitions based on hard work, determination, and skill, not the size of their balance sheet or past glories.
A Super League would further undercut domestic competitions, exacerbating existing inequalities within and between leagues—in part by adding more European games to an already congested calendar and giving the wealthiest clubs an even bigger advantage through increased revenue.
We care first and foremost about how our clubs fare in domestic leagues and cups. We refuse to let them become second class competitions. We want to strengthen, not weaken them.
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