Florentino Perez, the president of Real Madrid, is a figure synonymous with ambition in the world of football. His latest endeavour, the revival of the European Super League (ESL), highlights his relentless pursuit of reshaping football’s landscape.
Florentino Perez beats FIFA, UEFA to respark Super League
Despite the initial collapse of the ESL in 2021, Perez’s unwavering vision for an elite European competition remains steadfast.
In 2021, the football world was rocked by the announcement of the ESL, involving 12 of Europe’s top clubs. Florentino Perez was at the forefront, orchestrating this seismic shift.
However, the project quickly disintegrated amid a maelstrom of backlash from fans, football associations, and UEFA. But for Perez, this setback was merely a comma, not a full stop.
Fast forward to 2023, and the European Super League has re-emerged, buoyed by a landmark ruling from the European Court of Justice.
As reported by Swisher Foot, the ruling declared UEFA and FIFA’s actions to block the ESL as “unlawful,” adding fuel to Perez’s burning ambition. A22, the company backing the ESL, celebrated the decision as a victory against UEFA’s monopoly.
The revised ESL proposes a radical overhaul, featuring a multi-division competition with 60 to 80 European teams, promotions, relegations, and qualifications based on merit.
This new model aims to replace existing UEFA competitions like the Champions League and Europa League.
Perez, known for his ‘Galacticos’ era at Real Madrid, sees this as a golden opportunity to usher in a new era of football, one that aligns with modern corporate governance and financial fair play.
In his own words, Perez believes that football is experiencing an “unprecedented institutional crisis.”
In his criticisms of UEFA’s stagnant approach, he asserted,
“Football is going through an unprecedented institutional crisis. European football does not belong to the UEFA president. Football is no one’s monopoly because it belongs to everyone.”
He envisions the ESL as a platform to modernise football, making it more appealing and accessible to supporters worldwide.
Emphasising the objective of the ESL, Perez explained,
“The objective of the Super League is very clear: to offer the best possible club competition. We must impose, once and for all, maximum respect for the rules of financial fair play.”
While the future of the Super League hangs in the balance, one thing is certain: Perez’s influence on the game, for better or worse, is undeniable.