UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has warned that moving matches from traditional grounds runs the risk of “breaking” football.
According to the ESPN, citing ambiguity surrounding legal framework, European football’s governing body announced on Monday that it had hesitantly approved the playing of one La Liga and one Serie A match abroad this season.
“Football is not just about balance sheets It’s not just entertainment,” Ceferin told the General Assembly of European Football Clubs in Rome on Wednesday, arguing that the ruling at the time did not establish a precedent.
“It’s life in our communities. It is the streets, the clubs and the fans that shape it, and if we pull it too far away from those roots, we risk breaking it. In uncertain times, football is our anchor.”
While AC Milan’s match against Como is scheduled for February in Perth, Australia, Villarreal and Barcelona are keen to play in Miami in December.
According to Ceferin, if there was unity and inclusivity, European football might become “unstoppable” and “eternal” like the city of Rome.
With the backing of EFC, the new name for the European Club Association, he once more insisted that UEFA’s competitions were accessible to everyone and that it would never function similarly to a closed Super League.
“Lasting value comes only from unity, from balance and from reforms that strengthen everyone, not just a few,” Ceferin added.
“UEFA will never and would never organise a competition for 12 clubs only. The federation wants inclusion.
“UEFA wants that dream to stay alive and, together with EFC, we will make sure that our club football is inclusive and that everybody has a chance to win the best competitions.”
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