The future of European club football is in the spotlight after reports this week of plans for a “European Premier League” likely to replace the Champions League.
European Premier League – Serious approach or just fake news?!
UEFA is in talks with clubs over potential Champions League reforms, Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirms. The future of European club football is in the spotlight after reports this week of plans for a “European Premier League” likely to replace the Champions League. Rummenigge claimed to be unaware of these plans, which are said to be backed by Liverpool and Manchester United and suggested that UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin was also in the dark. “I don’t know anything yet and I spoke with UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin just today,” Rummenigge told reporters. “We both don’t know about it, so I can’t give you an enlightening answer on whether it is a serious approach or just fake news.
FIFA and UEFA are in opposition
“I told Aleksander Čeferin that we are very happy with the Champions League. At the moment, the reform and the ideas brought by UEFA is under the discussion, interesting for everyone; for clubs, for fans and broadcasters. It all sounds very positive”. FIFA reported supporting the proposals, although president Gianni Infantino said he was “not interested” in the idea when asked about it. UEFA said to be in opposition. But Rummenigge is not sure if the two federations will hold such opposing views. “I can’t imagine FIFA and UEFA working against each other,” he said. “The two presidents have an unstressed and harmonious relationship. No, I don’t think that’s possible”.
Kingsley Coman, Leon Goretzka and Corentin Tolisso scored as Bayern ran a 4-0 riot at home over Atlético Madrid. “Our game was good tonight, it was a difficult task, but we passed it,” Hansi Flick told reporters. “It is vital to win the first game. We were physically present and it was important to be there to win that one on one situations. The team had a game plan, and we applied it, scoring four beautiful goals.