Izuchukwu OkosiSeveral European clubs on Thursday turned down the opportunity of being part of the European Super League being championed by the trio of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus.
The said clubs reaffirmed their commitments of remaining a part of the UEFA competitions which is set to take up a new format albeit the continent’s football body are mooted to be reviewing that decision following the announcement by the highest court in Europe to stop any efforts of ‘sabotaging’ the European Super League.
Manchester United released a statement on the Super League
“Our position has NOT changed”.
“We remain fully committed to participation in UEFA competitions, and to positive cooperation with UEFA, the Premier League, and fellow clubs through the ECA on the continued development of the European game.”
German Bundesliga champions FC Bayern followed suit in rejecting the Super League.
“It’s very clear: the door for the Super League at FC Bayern remains closed”.
“Such a competition would represent an attack on the importance of domestic leagues and the statics of European football”, club CEO Dreesen says.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) said the following with regards to the the Super League.
“Paris Saint-Germain totally and utterly rejects any plans for a so-called Super League, which has been the case from day one and will always remain the case”.
“As a proud European institution, PSG supports the principles of the European sporting model, the values of open competition and inclusion, and works with all recognised stakeholders in European football – above all with the fans and players, who are at the heart of the game.”
Serie A side, AS Roma, coached by Jose Mourinho said:
“The club in no way endorses any so-called Super League project that would present an unacceptable attack on the importance of the national leagues and the foundations of European football”.
“AS Roma believes that European football’s future well-being can only be secured through clubs working together through ECA in strong partnership and collaboration with UEFA and FIFA”.
Seven-time Europa League winners Sevilla also in a terse statement on their social media handle joined the clubs opposing the introduction of the Super League.
Borussia Dortmund through its CEO Watzke simply stated: “We are not available for Super League”.
Atlético Madrid per club statement announced that they are not going to be part of the new Super League movement.
“The European football family does not want the European Super League”.
“Germany, France, England, Italy, Spain (except for Real Madrid and Barcelona), etc. do not want the Super League”.
“We are in favor of protecting the European football family, safeguarding domestic leagues, and ensuring that qualification for European competitions is achieved through on-field performance every season”.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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