True Madrid president Florentino Perez old the club’s annual traditional assembly on Sunday to open a broadside in opposition to UEFA, FIFA, and the Ballon d’Or preference route of.
Perez, 77, has long been at odds with soccer’s governing bodies, notably after the controversial Tremendous League project spearheaded by Madrid and Barcelona in 2021.
At the assembly, Perez criticised UEFA’s newly expanded Champions League layout, which adds more community-stage matches and a further knockout spherical for some golf equipment.
“The contemporary Champions League layout is unfair. No person understands it,” acknowledged Perez. “With more games, the worth of each and every one has dropped by nearly 30 p.c. This competitors will only generate hobby on the tip, no longer in the initiating.”
He argued that the elevated quantity of fixtures undermines the quality of the competitors, extra fuelling his long-standing crimson meat up for the Tremendous League.
Tremendous League revival hopes
Irrespective of setbacks in the Tremendous League’s implementation, Perez expressed renewed optimism. Final Twelve months, the European Court docket of Justice deemed it unlawful for UEFA and FIFA to ban golf equipment from becoming a member of such ventures, a ruling Perez described as groundbreaking.
“The ruling is historic and might presumably even be studied in universities. It ended UEFA’s monopoly,” he acknowledged. “We never claimed it’d be easy. It has been an not doubtless effort, withstanding power and threats.”
Perez continues to voice that the Tremendous League is wanted to saving soccer, which he believes is “gravely injured” and in its most “gentle trouble” ever.
Concerns over participant workload
The True Madrid chief also highlighted the bodily toll of an an increasing number of congested soccer calendar, notably criticising UEFA and FIFA for organising extra matches.
“This season we would conclude up playing 82 matches. UEFA and FIFA score elevated the volume of games by 63 p.c, from 22 to 36,” Perez great. “There score already been 9 cruciate ligament accidents in La Liga this season, the same as in the entirety of closing season. Experts are pointing to fatigue as the motive.”
He also raised concerns about the timing of matches, arguing that slack kick-offs hinder gamers’ restoration and relaxation durations. Madrid had been hit laborious by accidents, with key gamers love Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao sidelined for extended durations.
Criticism of the Ballon d’Or
Perez didn’t spare the Ballon d’Or organisers from his critique, taking reveal with Manchester Metropolis midfielder Rodri Hernandez being awarded the accolade over True Madrid forward Vinicius Junior.
“Rodri is an excellent participant who fully deserves a Ballon d’Or — however no longer this Twelve months,” Perez remarked. “This Twelve months, they rewarded him for closing season’s performances. He must score obtained it closing Twelve months when he secured the treble with Manchester Metropolis.”
Perez’s remarks encapsulate his broader frustration with what he perceives as mismanagement in soccer at all phases, as True Madrid and its president remain on the forefront of challenges to the sport’s historic governing constructions.
