UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has launched a huge DEFENCE of the Premier League.
In his address to the UEFA Congress in Lisbon, the Slovenian said that rather than criticising the Prem, the whole of football should look to mirror the way it is run.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin delivered a speech in LisbonAFP
Ceferin, once again slamming the “so-called Super League” rebels, told the 55 European national associations: “Jealousy is never a good counsellor.
“A few months ago, UEFA and its club competitions were being blamed for all the evils in football and the inequalities within the leagues.
“Today, it’s the English Premier League that seems to be under attack.
“Since the British government, supporters and clubs said no to the Super League, the Premier League has been demonised and labelled a Super League in its own right that needs to be toppled.
“However, the Premier League’s success was not achieved by accident.
“By adopting an audacious approach based on a vision, a strategy and a lot of hard work, its leaders and clubs developed a remarkable model founded on sporting merit and a highly egalitarian distribution of wealth, one of the most egalitarian systems in the world.
“Rather than a model to be destroyed, this is a model that should be followed.”
The UEFA President added: “Let me reassure those who fear that English football will crush everything that stands in its way.
“The figures do not lie: in the last 20 years, the Champions League has been won on five occasions by English clubs.
“Only twice in the last decade an English club has lifted the iconic trophy with the big ears.
“This season clubs from 17 countries played in the knockout rounds of our competitions. Italy has the most representatives in the Champions League and Europa League quarter-finals, Belgium in the Conference League.
“But it is true that jealousy sees everything except the truth.”
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Ceferin praised the Premier League and insists it is an example to look up toGetty
Ceferin’s anger against the Super League trio – Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus – has not abated.
He said: “I’m not going to go into the details of the ill-fated plan put forward by three club officials, two financiers and one spokesperson.
“Those who promote this project are now claiming that they want to save football. It’s a good job nobody has ever died of shame.
“The Super League has turned into a character in Little Red Riding Hood: a wolf disguised as a grandmother, ready to eat you up.
“But nobody’s fooled. Football is and will always stay the sport of the people.”
Ceferin did, though, make what was effectively an apology for the chaos at last season’s Champions League Final in Paris – but without actually saying it directly.
Ceferin blasted European Super League rebels Real Madrid, Barcelona and JuventusGetty
He said: “We must never forget the mistakes of the past and we must remain humble at all times.
“Nothing can ever be taken for granted.
“Unfortunately, unlike goalkeepers, leaders can never keep a ‘clean sheet’.
“No leader can boast an unblemished record, however much they invest and however passionate, professional or experienced they are.
“There are always a few stains, a few mistakes that tarnish our reputation, errors they would love to erase.
“I am no different and UEFA is no different. The most important thing is to understand the mistake and change not to repeat them.”
And Ceferin also pledged a crackdown on racism and other hate-speech or actions.
He added: “We must never forget that football is an inclusive sport, open to everyone, in which everyone has a place.
“Unfortunately, some people have still not grasped this concept, which is why we’re going to have to rethink our approach.
“We need to target offenders more effectively whenever a player is subjected to racist, homophobic or sexist insults during UEFA competitions.
“Maybe it is time to go with harsher measures, maybe it is time to put some people in court.”