Top European clubs threaten to break away from Fifa and Uefa

by ÖMARz Thu Jul 28, 2011 8:56 am

European clubs will break away from Fifa [http://tinyurl.com/
llumn6] and Uefa [http://tinyurl.com/4wy3gh] and create their
own super league unless the world governing body urgently
addresses their growing concerns over international fixtures
and finances. It would be the most radical development in the
history of football since the first World Cup in 1930, ripping up
the established world order of the game and seizing power from
Sepp Blatter, Fifa’s president.
The Guardian can reveal the background to Karl-Heinz
Rummenigge’s comments on Tuesday about a “revolution”
for football: a European super league that would see the clubs
seize control of their own affairs from the regulators. The
European game is currently ordered through a memorandum
of understanding between clubs and Uefa that was signed three
and a half years ago. It runs until 2014, and when it expires the
top European clubs will no longer be legally bound to play in
Uefa’s Champions League or, crucially, to release their players
for international friendlies or tournaments, including the World
Cup.
In a reflection of their belief that Fifa lacks legitimacy
– especially in the wake of the damaging bribery allegations
currently surrounding the organisation – the clubs will not
shrink from breaking away if they do not receive sufficient
guarantees.
A board member of the European Club Association of which
Bayern Munich [http://tinyurl.com/4t8va7]’s Rummenigge
is president told the Guardian on Wednesday: “The fact that
Bayern Munich, who have always been close to the institutions,
are being so vocal and loud about the situation is a clear sign
we’re very close to breaking point. We have a memorandum
of understanding with Uefa that expires in 2014. After that
time we can no longer be forced to respect Fifa statutes or
Uefa regulations. And we won’t be obliged to compete in their
competitions.”
When asked what that would mean for clubs’ finances if
they were to withdraw from the Champions League, which
generates tens of millions of pounds a year for his organisation’s
richest and most influential members, the ECA board member
responded: “Don’t be naive. Don’t think there would be no
alternative competition.”
Although the ECA has a broad constituency, representing
197 European clubs, it is the interests of nine in particular that
will drive this agenda. They are Real Madrid, Milan, Liverpool,
Internazionale, Manchester United, Barcelona, Arsenal, Chelsea
and Rummenigge’s Bayern. When the Guardian contacted the
four English clubs for their views on the matter, all declined
to comment. However, a director at one of the clubs said:
“[Financially] there is a lot of unfulfilled potential in football as
it stands.”
The English experience of the past 20 years, since a
breakaway group of the leading clubs withdrew from the
Football League to form the Premier League (albeit under the
auspices of the Football Association), has been exceptionally
lucrative for the game domestically and the hawks within the
ECA are pushing for a replica at European level.
The news will not come as a surprise at Uefa where in some
quarters there is a long-held view that the clubs will seek to
go their own way. This has arisen from a number of points of
conflict with the world football authorities. As revealed by
the Guardian last month [http://tinyurl.com/3z9sbvy] there
is considerable disquiet about perceived moves to expand the
international calendar, forcing clubs to release their expensively
remunerated players to national associations without any
payback. Fifa denies there have been any discussions about
the subject but the ECA source claimed that the matter will be
ratified at a Fifa executive-committee meeting in the autumn.
As is consistent with relations between Fifa and the clubs, the
decision will have been taken without any formal negotiations
with the clubs about how the additional fixtures would be
accommodated.
There is a further grievance, this time with Uefa about
insurance. The ECA alleges Uefa has pulled back from its
commitment to provide insurance for players who are called up
for international duty. “Uefa said we would have our insurance
after their presidential elections [in March],” the source said.
“Now the elections have taken place and we’re still waiting for
talks.” A spokesman for Uefa did not respond to the Guardian’s
call.
Yet despite the details of the enduring dispute between the
clubs and Fifa and Uefa, there is an overriding financial motive.
“When you have every club losing money every year and the
only winners the players and Fifa,” the source said, “how can
that be allowed to go on?”

Discuss.