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Speaking of European Super League and finances hit by coronavirus, Italian says football must find a way to adapt
Juventus president Andrea Agnelli said he has had “productive arguments and fights” with UEFA boss Aleksander Ceferin over the future of football because he believes fans care about the game of a different way from yesteryear.
Agnelli believes top-level football is at a “crossroads” amid talks about a UEFA Super League and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has impacted finances throughout the sport.
And Agnelli says he thinks too many matches aren’t competitive, diverting fans from the game in favor of other forms of entertainment.
What was said
“We have to put the fans at the center. The current system is not suitable for modern fans, ”Agnelli said at the ECA General Assembly.
“Research shows that many traditional assumptions about fans need to change. If we look at the research, we can say that a third of fans around the world follow two or more cubs, which is very different from a few years ago.
“In addition, 10% of supporters follow players and not clubs, 2/3 follow football more out of modern fear of missing out or simply because they like big events, 40% of fans aged 16 to 24 , the famous Gen Z, has no interest in football.
“There are too many games that are not competitive, both nationally and internationally.
“The fans cannot be taken for granted and we have to give them the best competition possible, otherwise we risk losing them.
“That’s why I welcome the conversation that we as ECA have had over the past few months with UEFA for the development of the game.
“Although not present here, I want to thank President Ceferin for the arguments and almost the fights we had from October to December.
“But these are very productive arguments and fights.”
Finance in football
With fans unable to attend matches for almost a year, clubs around the world have reported massive financial losses.
However, several of the best clubs in the world are reportedly interested in forming a highly lucrative European Super League that would change the face of football forever.
“I’m looking at governance projects, or some of the projects developed in some countries, or JP Morgan’s support for the leaks that we had on a European Super League,” Agnelli said.
“It was broadcast in the media and it is common knowledge to everyone. If there is interest from these types of players and large financial institutions, it means that there is potential for a bright future within our industry.
“These individuals, unlike some of our more common stakeholders, are not too interested in solidarity, but they are interested in return on investment.
“This means that our industry is an industry which is very acceptable for ROI and it means if we change ourselves we can expect this ROI ourselves.
“Football, finance and governance are at a crossroads and this has been evident and exacerbated by the pandemic.
“It is our duty to intercept and act, otherwise the risk is that of imploding.”
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