A controversial decision to form a breakaway European Super League was taken “to save football” and in part motivated because “young people are no longer interested” in the game, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said on Tuesday.
Speaking for the first time since 12 top European clubs announced on Sunday that they would form a new elite league, the new chairman of the Super League said football needed to evolve and adapt to the times.
“Whenever there is a change, there are always people who oppose it... and we are doing this to save football at this critical moment,” Perez said on the Spanish TV show El Chiringuito de Jugones.
“Audiences are decreasing and rights are decreasing and something had to be done. We are all ruined. Television has to change so we can adapt.
“Young people are no longer interested in football. Why not? Because there are a lot of poor quality games and they are not interested, they have other platforms on which to distract themselves.”
Real have been joined in the venture by two other Spanish clubs, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
Premier League clubs Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have also signed up to the plans.
The founding group of 12 is completed by Italian Serie A trio AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus.
Perez said the top teams were losing money and needed a fresh impetus.
“Together we have lost 5bn (euros),” he said. “In two seasons Madrid have lost 400mn.”
“When you have no income other than television, you say that the solution is to make more attractive matches that fans from all over the world can see with all the big clubs and we came to the conclusion that if instead of having a Champions League we have a Super League we would be able to alleviate what we have lost.”
The move has triggered widespread condemnation across the sport and society but Perez brushed off the criticism and played up the prospect of more big games.
“What’s so attractive? That we play among the big teams, the competitiveness, to generate more resources?” he added.
He also said that no club will be thrown out of the Champions League for joining a proposed European Super League (ESL). Perez claimed Paris Saint-Germain have not been invited.
UEFA said sides in the tournament will be unable to compete in their future competitions, with Perez’ Madrid as well as City through to this year’s Champions League last four.
“They are the threats of someone who confuses monopoly with property,” Perez, who has been named ESL president, said on television programme El Chiringuito.
“Madrid will not be kicked out of the Champions League, definitely not. Nor City, nor anyone else.”
He added: “It’s not going to happen. I don’t want to get into the legal reasons but it’s not going to happen. It’s impossible.”
European football’s governing body also said players could be stopped from featuring for their countries too.
“Any player can be totally calm because that is not going to happen,” 74-year-old Perez said. “UEFA is a monopoly and it also has to be transparent. UEFA does not have a good image in its history. It has to be open to dialogue and not threatening,” he added. Earlier Perez claimed the move had been made to save the sport.
“Football has to keep changing and adapting to the times. Football is losing interest. Something must be done,” Perez said. “Football is the only sport that is global. Television has to change to adapt to the times. We have to think about why 16-24 year-olds are no longer interested in football.
“The new Champions League is supposed to start in 2024,” said Perez. “In 2024, all the clubs will be dead.”
Perez claimed the new league would also help smaller clubs. “They have said it is a league for the rich and it’s not true. It’s a league to save football,” he said.
“The money goes to everyone, it is a pyramid. If those above have money, it trickles down.
“There are 15 teams that generate value and five will enter on sporting merit. It is not closed. It is open. We have never thought of a closed league.”