European Super League: LaLiga chief Javier Tebas won’t ‘cut people’s heads off’ over Real Madrid and Barcelona breakaway attempt
The head of the Spanish football league, Javier Tebas, has played down calls to sanction the 12 clubs who tried to launch a breakaway European Super League.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and six English clubs including Manchester United and Liverpool abandoned the project this week.
LaLiga chief Tebas said the project was now dead and that the teams had been effectively punished by the angry reaction of their supporters.
“We’re not talking about sanctions. Everyone wants to cut people’s heads off. We have procedures,” said Tebas.
“We have to see how it all works out. I’m talking about [making] other types of agreements. We shouldn’t rush into anything.
“I think a very important thing is that the clubs have been sanctioned by their own fans. Their reputations has been affected.”
European Super League ‘dead without English and German teams’
The European Super League clubs failed to persuade German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund to join them.
The project collapsed when the English clubs, which also include Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham, backed out on Tuesday.
“There were a lot of threats for a long time from these big European clubs but I think that threat is now going to disappear,” Tebas added.
“The Super League is dead without the English and German teams. Let’s be realistic: it’s dead.”
Tebas ‘concern’ at Infantino stance
Tebas called on Fifa president Gianni Infantino to clarify his position on the breakaway attempt.
While Infantino condemned the European Super League when speaking at Uefa on Tuesday, Tebas said some clubs had claimed they had his private support.
“The role of Infantino does concern me. I’ve been saying this a long time,” Tebas added.
“I’d like him to more clearly state what he thinks about all of this. The Super League said Infantino was supporting them.
“[Uefa president Aleksander] Ceferin believes Infantino more than I do. I really doubt Infantino.”
Tebas on US owners of English clubs
Tebas said he had been surprised by the strength of the European Super League backlash in England – and believed the rebel clubs’ owners, some of whom also have US sports franchises, had too.
“I think they are most surprised because they have even come out and apologised,” he said.
“American owners have a different concept of sport in that competitions are closed and they get more money.
“But that’s the American style, not the European style. This [open competition] is the model of industry in Europe. We can’t understand this ‘closed shop’.”