Florentino Perez Slams Governing Bodies As Super League Debate Resurfaces

Real Madrid chief, Florentino Perez, lashed out at various targets during the club’s annual general meeting on Sunday including European and world football governing bodies UEFA and FIFA.

The Los Blancos chief has conflicted with football’s governing bodies over the Super League initiative that Madrid, Barcelona, and several other prominent European clubs attempted to establish in 2021.

Perez blasted the new and expanded Champions League format which features eight group games instead of six and an extra round of matches for some clubs.

“The new Champions League format is unfair, nobody understands it,” said Perez.

“With more games, the value of each one has fallen almost 30 percent there are more games, but they are worth less.

“This competition will only arouse interest at the end and not at the start.”

Perez has often insisted the Super League project will save the sport and reiterated at the assembly he thinks football is “gravely injured” and has “never been in a more delicate situation.”

The Madrid chief said he was “more optimistic than ever” about the possibility of a Super League after the European Court of Justice ruled last year that UEFA and FIFA banning clubs from joining was unlawful.

“The ruling, which is historic and will be studied in universities, put an end to UEFA’s monopoly,” said Perez.

“We never said it would be easy. It has been titanic, with pressure and threats.”

Madrid is facing multiple long-term injuries among its players, including severe knee injuries to Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, which Perez attributed to the growing number of matches.

“This season, we could play 82 matches there are 63 percent more matches organized by UEFA and FIFA, from 22 to 36,” said Perez.

“There have already been nine cruciate ruptures this season (in La Liga), the same as in the whole of last season. Specialists point to fatigue as the cause.

“The matches, on top of that, are getting later and later, making it difficult for the players to rest and recover.”

Perez on Ballon d’Or

Perez also criticized the Ballon d’Or voting process and its organizers after Manchester City’s Rodri was awarded the honor over Madrid forward Vinicius Junior.

“Rodri is a great footballer… he deserves a Ballon d’Or, but not this year,” said Perez.

“This year they rewarded him for his performance last season… he deserved to win last year when he won the treble with Manchester City.”