Former India footballers Henry Menezes and Godfrey Pereira believe players and fans will be cheated by new breakaway European League
Henry Menezes (left) and Godfrey Pereira
Mumbai-based former India football stars Henry Menezes and Godfrey Pereira believe the proposed European Super League will destroy the international structure of the beautiful game.
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On Monday, the world’s 12 leading clubs—AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur—came together to form the Super League with three more clubs expected to join soon. However, on Wednesday, six of the English clubs—Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd, Liverpool and Tottenham—withdrew from the league following widespread criticism from many quarters. The league is to be funded by American firm, JPMorgan, and all the founding clubs will share a whopping 13.5 billion euros for infrastructure investment, to offset pandemic costs and as part of solidarity payments. Matches will be played mid-week on a home and away basis with the final scheduled to be held in May. This is similar to the format of the current UEFA Champions League—Europe’s premier club competition.
“Everyone wants progression [in football] but not in such a destructive way. FIFA [world football’s governing authority] and UEFA [European football’s parent body] will have to impress upon clubs to withdraw from such a breakaway league,” former India goalkeeper Menezes, 56, told mid-day yesterday.
Former India striker Pereira, 50, said that lower division clubs will suffer just like it has happened in India. “This Super League is similar to what happened in India when the National Football League was formed many years ago. Many tournaments were cancelled and lower division clubs suffered as all the focus and finances went towards these top clubs. Currently, the Indian Super League too has overshadowed the country’s top competition, the I-League,” said Pereira, who is currently Head Coach of prominent city outfit, Air India.
Menezes said that the road ahead is challenging, considering players are bound by their clubs. “It’s difficult for FIFA or the various international confederations or the different Football Associations to protect their players from such breakaway leagues as these players are all contractually obligated to the clubs. So, it’s the clubs only who must rethink once again before deciding to move away,” said Menezes, who is currently the deputy chairman of the All-India Football Federation’s Technical Committee.
Pereira felt that fans have every right to feel cheated too. “European teams have to excel in their domestic structure to qualify for top events like the Champions League. Now, if certain teams are already assured of a place in the Super League, the interest in domestic games will be lost. For example, my son Astle, who is an Arsenal fan, will not enjoy watching his team battle against top clubs in the English Premier League because the results won’t matter now. And without fans, the charm of football will be lost,” added Pereira.
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