MADRID, 21 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The European Leagues, including LaLiga, showed this Friday their “unconditional support for the European football pyramid” and warned of the danger of allowing it “to be threatened by short-term economic temptations” as the draft of the Super League.
After the General Assembly of the association held in Prague, the 40 leagues of the Old Continent supported a joint declaration that “represents a firm conviction of the European Leagues and their members”. “We wholeheartedly support the European Football Pyramid and urge all European stakeholders to ratify these principles,” they said.
In addition, the national championships “commit” to a series of “sacred principles” such as making “open competitions with promotions and relegations only at the national level”, access to European competitions based on “sporting merit” and through the own leagues, or “a fair and balanced solidarity system” for the correct development of football “at its lower levels”.
In the same way, they see clear “a structure of good governance and dialogue that involves the main stakeholders of the
football economy to have a voice and impact”, and that the governing bodies are “best suited to meaningfully engage and strike a fair balance for the interests of legitimate parties in European decision-making processes, rather than purely for-profit organizations.
“These foundations are unanimously upheld by the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, as well as by national governments,
public institutions and stakeholders from across the continent,” added the association.
It recalls that football in Europe “has remained firmly solid throughout its history, even when it has gone through
challenges and their own evolution”, which has been possible “thanks to their openness and commitment to the majority participation of the entire football pyramid”. “This means protecting and preserving the football economy from its base to the elite and maintaining those crucial links throughout its ecosystem,” he said.
For the European Leagues, “soccer is more than a business and much more than a consumer good”. “It is a social benefit supported by a huge ecosystem that has an impact on communities and society in general,” they warn.
“Football generates an economy that is socially responsible for the citizens of all of Europe. We cannot allow it to weaken or be threatened by short-term economic temptations or by materializations of world power,” they stressed.
Therefore, they believe that “any attempt to show a similar objective by private entities is illusory.” Without established objectivity and the inclusion of interested parties, a healthy football environment is a mirage and is unsustainable.
“European football must continue to stand firmly together for the future positive development of sport and society. We therefore call on our colleagues who are also football stakeholders at continental level to commit to supporting the principles above. mentioned in this statement”, sentenced the leagues.
INCREASE THE SOLIDARITY DISTRIBUTION TO NON-PARTICIPANTS IN EUROPEAN TOURNAMENTS
On the other hand, during the assembly, the leagues decided to ask UEFA and football stakeholders for “a substantial increase in the solidarity distribution to non-participating clubs from four to ten percent of total revenue” from European competitions.
The association believes that the expected increase in this income to 4.8 billion euros per season “allows for a significant increase in distribution for both participating and non-participating clubs.”
“Strengthening the link of solidarity payments with specific projects dedicated to the development of youth and talent allows clubs that only play in national competitions to better compete on the pitch and in the transfer market. This will defend and protect the competitive balance both in national and international competitions,” they added in a statement.