Last update on.From European Football
Paris St-Germain Chairman Nasser al-Khelaifi told the 12 clubs that were part of the failed European Super League that their plans were "fabulists, failures."
Premier League clubs Tottenham, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City with Tottenham resigned within 72 hours of the Super League's founding.
AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Atletico Madrid withdrew as well, while Barcelona and Real Madrid remained in the breakaway competition.
Al-Khelaifi made his first major speech in his new role as head of European Clubs' Association (ECA), Geneva.
Apart from Chelsea, all Premier League clubs were represented.
After leaving the Super League in April, the nine clubs that withdrew from it rejoined ECA last month, but Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Juventus are still not reinstated.
Al-Khelaifi said: "Together, we defended European football's interests for all. We relied upon the strength and resolve of [Uefa] president Aleksander Ceferin, who held firm against the midnight coup. He promised that 'we would win', and we did.
"While the rebel clubs waste energy, spin narratives, and continue to shout at each other, the rest are moving forward."
Al-Khelaifi was happy to see six Premier League clubs return to the ECA. On Tuesday, it is expected that a representative from the Premier League will be returning to the ECA executive board.
It is evident that Super League fans are still passionate about the concept.
Ceferin, the Uefa president, couldn't resist a slap on Andrea Agnelli (ex-CECA chairman), as he welcomed Al-Khelaifi to his post.
He said, "When you are passing through a storm you need a captain who is not like the one from the past who left the ship." The ECA has a great captain. Your future looks bright.
Some will feel uncomfortable if Uefa's top official speaks warmly to the man running PSG.
Despite all the excitement surrounding the victory against Super League, the transfer window this summer has suggested that there may be fewer clubs competing for the top end of the game.
Premier League duo Arsenal & Manchester United spent more than 130 million on their players. Manchester City set a British transfer record by buying Jack Grealish from Aston Villa. Chelsea nearly matched the 100m fee for Romelu Lukaku, Inter Milan forward
Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi headed a group of four free transfer arrivals to PSG. They will be earning huge wages. Real Madrid also rejected a bid for Kylian Mbappe from France, even though he could leave for nothing next season.
Khelaifi insists that he wants to bring financial stability to European football. New Financial Fair Play regulations will also be implemented to ensure a stable, sustainable, inclusive, and competitive football pyramid.
Ceferin stated that Financial Fair Play is not about competition.
He said, "Cost control systems are not the same as competitive balance measures."
They are interrelated, but they serve two different purposes. We can, and will, work together to find sensible ways to reduce competitive imbalance when necessary.
