UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin speaks during the 45th UEFA Congress in Montreux, Switzerland, Tuesday April 20, 2021. Ceferin has directly appealed to the owners of English clubs in the Super League project to change their minds out of respect for soccer fans. Ceferin both cajoled and criticized the six-club English group made up of American billionaires, Arab royalty and a Russian oligarch. (Richard Juilliart/UEFA via AP)
The Associated Press
MONTREUX, Switzerland (AP) - In a direct appeal to the owners of the English clubs in the Super League project, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin urged them Tuesday to change their minds out of respect for soccer fans.
Ceferin both cajoled and criticized the six-club English group - made up of American billionaires, Middle East royalty and a Russian oligarch - less than 48 hours after the Super League was launched in alliance with three clubs from each of Italy and Spain.
'œGentlemen, you made a huge mistake,'ť Ceferin said in a speech to European soccer leaders at the UEFA annual meeting. 'œSome will say it is greed, others (will say) disdain arrogance, flippancy or complete ignorance of England's football culture. It does not matter.
'œWhat does matter is that there is still time to change your mind. Everyone makes mistakes.'ť
Ceferin urged them to turn back out of respect for fans in England, aiming another barb at what he earlier called 'œa few selfish people.'ť
'œCome to your senses," he said. "Not out of love for football because I imagine some of you don't have much of that.'ť
Ceferin also lavished praise on UEFA executive committee colleague Nasser al-Khelaifi, the president of French champion Paris Saint-Germain. PSG has so far resisted offers to be one of the 15 founding Super League members. Bayern Minich and Borussia Dortmund have also stayed out.
'œNasser, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You showed that you are a great man," Ceferin told the Qatari official before also citing Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
The UEFA president also spoke about an email he received from a fan of Tottenham, one of the six rebel clubs from the Premier League.
'œIf you read the email you would be close to crying,'ť Ceferin said of the fan he identified only as Trevor, whom he had given two tickets to the 2019 Champions League final, when Tottenham lost to Liverpool.
Ceferin said fans and governments have supported UEFA in resisting the proposed 20-team Super League, which threatens to directly challenge the Champions League and damage the historic pyramid structure of European soccer.
'œWe cannot lose this match,'ť said Ceferin, a Slovenian lawyer.
The clubs have not said when their planned breakaway league, underwritten by American bank JP Morgan Chase, would kick off.
On Monday, Ceferin said he wanted Super League clubs and their players banned from all UEFA competitions 'œas soon as possible.'ť
It is unclear if UEFA's legal statutes and Champions League rules will allow that before Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City play in the semifinals next week. Manchester United and Arsenal also play next week in the Europa League semifinals.
Earlier Tuesday in a speech that seemed to blame the club owners and absolve players, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he can only 'œstrongly disapprove'ť of the Super League.
'œIf some elect to go their own way, then they must live with the consequences of their choice,'ť Infantino said. 'œThey are responsible for their choice.'ť
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FILE - In this Sunday Aug. 23, 2020 file photo, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Lisbon, Portugal. Ceferin has directly appealed to owners of English clubs in the Super League project to change their minds out of respect for soccer fans. Ceferin both cajoled and criticized the six-club English group which includes American billionaires, Arab royalty and a Russian oligarch. They launched the Super League plan in alliance with three clubs from each of Italy and Spain. Ceferin tells them 'Gentlemen, you made a huge mistake.' He says it doesn't matter if they acted out of "arrogance, flippancy or complete ignorance of England's football culture. The UEFA president says there's time to change their minds. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
The Associated Press
A banner is seen outside Liverpool's Anfield Stadium protesting the formation of the European Super League, Liverpool, England, Monday, April 19, 2021. Players at the 12 clubs setting up their own Super League could be banned from this year's European Championship and next year's World Cup, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said Monday. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
The Associated Press
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin speaks during the 45th UEFA Congress in Montreux, Switzerland, Tuesday April 20, 2021. Ceferin has directly appealed to the owners of English clubs in the Super League project to change their minds out of respect for soccer fans. Ceferin both cajoled and criticized the six-club English group made up of American billionaires, Arab royalty and a Russian oligarch. (Richard Juilliart/UEFA via AP)
The Associated Press
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin speaks during the 45th UEFA Congress in Montreux, Switzerland, Tuesday April 20, 2021. Ceferin has directly appealed to the owners of English clubs in the Super League project to change their minds out of respect for soccer fans. Ceferin both cajoled and criticized the six-club English group made up of American billionaires, Arab royalty and a Russian oligarch. (Richard Juilliart/UEFA via AP)
The Associated Press
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin speaks during the 45th UEFA Congress in Montreux, Switzerland, Tuesday April 20, 2021. Ceferin has directly appealed to the owners of English clubs in the Super League project to change their minds out of respect for soccer fans. Ceferin both cajoled and criticized the six-club English group made up of American billionaires, Arab royalty and a Russian oligarch. (Richard Juilliart/UEFA via AP)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this March 3, 2020 file photo UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin looks up during a meeting of European soccer leaders at the congress of the UEFA governing body in Amsterdam's Beurs van Berlage, Netherlands. The 12 European clubs pursuing a Super League have told the leaders of FIFA and UEFA that legal action is already being pursued to stop them from action intended to thwart the launch of the breakaway competition, according to a letter obtained Monday by The Associated Press. The letter was sent by the group of English, Spanish and Italian clubs to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA counterpart Aleksander Ceferin saying the Super League has already been underwritten by funding of 4 billion euros ($5.5 billion) from a financial institution. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
The Associated Press