- hace 4 días
Categoría
🗞
NoticiasTranscripción
00:00The people please raise their hands and I'll ask one of my colleagues to come to you with a microphone
00:06and please just say who you are and which outlet you're representing, please.
00:17Hello, my name is Khaled Naha from German Media Sportschau.
00:21Alexander Scheffering just said the emperor is naked and football must say it's enough.
00:29Would you say it's enough?
00:31Is Gianni Infantino, from your point of view, the right person to guide FIFA into the future?
00:37And as another question, there is still a search for a candidate against him.
00:43Could you be this one?
00:47First of all, welcome to this press conference and thank you for coming.
00:53I hope you enjoyed a little bit our General Assembly and, you know, great to see all of you.
01:02So I'll start with the second question, if I may.
01:05Of course, I have zero interest in FIFA, zero agenda that or vision to be there.
01:13I think we're enjoying here.
01:16I'm enjoying with my club's family and having fun and we're building something big together and positive.
01:22And this is what's about the AFC that we work really collective, all of us together, big, small clubs.
01:30And, you know, we're changing, we're improving, we're developing every day.
01:34We try, you know, to work hard for our members, for football and changing our governance, as you saw today.
01:41So all this positive energy and I will not start with the first question of your negative things that I
01:50want to have really a positive day that, you know, we have a long day.
01:54And, you know, of course, there's some issues left and right, as I said, and it's really sad to see
02:02and spend time in answering again and again in the question of a negative energy, they say, which we don't
02:10need it honestly.
02:11You know, we need, that's what we need in our world, in our football world, in Europe and worldwide, actually,
02:17and very positive, trying to change things for the positive.
02:21And here, myself, and I'm talking on behalf of also my family here, my colleagues, as the AFC also, you
02:29know, if we can be in positive a way that we can be used, we are here.
02:34But, you know, we are here not to make also drama or complicate things more.
02:39I mean, we, the world has had a lot of problems and issues, and I think we have enough also
02:46of those issues and negativity.
02:48So, I prefer to be today happy and positive.
03:00Hi, Matt Slater from The Athletic.
03:03News has just broken in the UK that Manchester City have been found guilty of the most remarkable set of
03:12allegations that I've certainly ever seen.
03:15So, £900 million worth of fraud, and Manchester City's witnesses in that process have been accused of lying.
03:26So, one, how do you feel about that?
03:29You all represent clubs that have competed against Manchester City for the last 15 years.
03:33They've been lying and cheating, according to this independent three-person panel.
03:38And two, Ferenc Seriano sits on your board.
03:42Should he resign?
03:44You know, I will answer, and I will let, if anyone of my colleagues also want to answer.
03:48I think we are here not to judge.
03:51Something still is not a final decision first.
03:54Second, you said competing.
03:56We are here to help each other, to support each other.
04:00Of course, if there's anything wrong, that's still, they have, if I may, I'm not a lawyer, basically,
04:08but I think they have the rights also, again, to appeal, so this is not the final decision.
04:13And we are not in position, this is more Premier League, let's say, English club matter, and let's see where
04:20to go.
04:20I mean, Ferenc, he's been, honestly, great to the board, I tell you, very big assets and add value to
04:29us, his knowledge.
04:31You know, PIN, don't forget, his career is fantastic, and City, that's why I think they did a lot of
04:36positive things also,
04:37but I'm not, and we are not in position, also, to judge, and we are not judges, and we are
04:43not court, to talk about this matter, basically.
04:56Hello, Paulo Paulo from Marca.
04:58You mentioned Real Madrid, Ferencino Perez.
05:00I don't know if you can give us some details more, how is the situation now, and when do you
05:05think Real Madrid will come back to the EFC, if possible?
05:10Sorry, because I wanted to talk, but I think, you know, because I was managing this myself,
05:17and the discussion with him directly, to be honest, for Antonio Perez,
05:21and I can tell you, honestly, I mean, first, a huge respect to him.
05:25I think people also have to respect him, what he's done for football.
05:28We like, or we don't like, but I think, honestly, he's done an amazing job for Real Madrid, for European
05:36football,
05:37the Champions League, how many Champions League, he won six or seven, if I remember,
05:42and he was very straightforward, honestly, in our discussion.
05:45I mean, we find, of course, the discussion been for long, but him, directly with him,
05:51I can tell you, it didn't take half an hour, because he really wants to protect, also, the European football.
05:57He wants to have, as I said, you know, the unity.
06:01He come back.
06:02So, I think, sometimes, your media, sometimes, is not fair, you know, to the clubs and to CEO or to
06:10president,
06:10because I think they do a lot, and Forintino, honestly, done a lot in Spain,
06:15and some people using it, maybe, for personal agenda against them,
06:21but, of course, you know, we're competing against each other.
06:24French outlet, Newstang Football.
06:26We are talking about UC3 during the GA.
06:30What are regarding the 2027-2031 TV rights?
06:36Do you still have territories to sell the rights?
06:42Charlie, I'm happy to take that one.
06:45Yeah, thanks.
06:46It was good to be able to report a very strong year that UC3 has been undertaking,
06:52preparing for, and in the market, selling the commercial rights for the post-2027 men's competitions.
06:59As you correctly referred to, it's the first time there's a four-year media rights cycle in place
07:04at European club competitions level, so the cycle will be a four-year one from 2027 to 31.
07:12It proves the use case for UC3 and why UC3 was put into place as a joint venture between UEFA
07:19and the clubs,
07:20a proper, full joint venture with the clubs and UEFA working together on the commercialization of the competitions.
07:27There's much more that's now put into the pot.
07:30There's much more collaboration.
07:32There's much more innovation available between the competition organizer and the competition participants,
07:36and that's been well recognized by the market.
07:39There is a new agency that we're working with, relevant football partners,
07:42who have also been able to bring a fresh approach to how these rights are commercialized,
07:47and there's been a strong response from the market.
07:49So today it was mentioned on a number of occasions by both the chairman and by the UEFA president
07:55that the annual average revenue per year throughout the next cycle will be over €5 billion.
08:03We are pretty confident of that.
08:06Of that, over 95% has already been sold and contracted.
08:11We still have a little bit more work to do in the remaining year to sell the rest of the
08:15media rights markets
08:17and some remaining sponsorship packages, but we're confident and almost certain
08:21that the annual figure will be over €5 billion for the first time.
08:33Hi, Rob Harris from Sky News.
08:35I'm sure you might even be upset at the fact your meeting is overshadowed by the Premier League verdicts on
08:41Manchester City.
08:42I'm also sure you probably have trust in the Premier League as well and everything they've done.
08:47Given the Premier League has shown that Manchester City were cheating for so many years,
08:51how important is it for the fairness of football that all clubs are following the rules
08:56and it's a level playing field so everyone knows it's a fair sport?
09:01You know, I think again, you know, I hope this is the last time I'm going to answer regarding City.
09:08You know, you're using cheating, but for them they didn't cheat.
09:13So who decides the court?
09:14There is, I think, a process and we are not here even allowed maybe to talk even about it.
09:21So let's see the final decision.
09:22And, you know, we have them here.
09:25I mean, you know, Farhan is someone, as I said, very honest.
09:29You know, we respect him very much and he's at value.
09:32So when you say this cheating, you say this cheating.
09:35For us, still the final decision?
09:38No.
09:39So we wait.
09:42We've taken two questions on Manchester City now.
09:45So please, let's not have another one.
09:47And if that was your request, then maybe ask something else or I'll go to someone else.
10:02Bonsoir, Président.
10:03Par ici, en français, c'est possible?
10:05Président, le FC grandit de plus en plus.
10:08C'est passé une association qui prend du poids, qui passe de 14 clubs à 900 aujourd'hui.
10:13Bientôt, un projet global et mondial que vous avez annoncé tout à l'heure.
10:16Malgré les défis, comment vous avez réussi à tout mettre en place avec vos équipes?
10:23Je vais répondre à l'anglais, si je peux.
10:27Merci beaucoup pour votre question.
10:29So, you know, I think, of course, you know, we grow very fast and, you know, from 200, as I
10:35said, from 247 in 2021, and today we are 900.
10:40I think that's, you know, our organization is not a threat for anyone at all.
10:46By the way, even the new announcement is not a threat for anyone.
10:50It's just, actually, we are doing today, working, and other clubs outside of Europe benefiting from what we're doing.
10:57And we negotiate for them indirectly.
10:59So, I think it makes sense that we could talk together, and they could, and we, they've been asked by
11:06other clubs internationally to come, to join, to learn.
11:10And there's some clubs also here from outside of Europe, a representative.
11:15And for us, you know, we are more than proud and happy that if we can help and contribute outside
11:23of Europe for our colleagues from different clubs in the world, that's, it's fantastic.
11:27I don't know, Ian, want to say something, maybe?
11:31I think the main thing for us as EFC is to represent the clubs with the bodies of FIFA and
11:40UEFA, and to give the club a voice.
11:43And the best is to be then inside of these bodies, to have a, like we do have in the
11:49UEFA Exco, the two representatives.
11:52This is also the reason why we asked FIFA for a seat in the FIFA Council, to represent the clubs
11:58and to have a better decision voice also than in these bodies.
12:06And I think this is the best way to be part of decisions and to get fully transparency.
12:16If other clubs want to join EFC or want to be part in a partnership or want to learn from
12:21us how we go forward, then we are happy that we invite them.
12:30I have two little questions.
12:33I'm Giorgio Marotta of Corriere dello Sport, Italian newspaper.
12:36The first one you says before that we need the world football club.
12:45No, and I would like to ask you if you can explain this project, the world football club, and the
12:53second one, what do you think about the crisis of Italian football?
12:59In particular is political instability.
13:03You love media to do, you know, anyway.
13:10So, no, regarding the club, the world football clubs, actually, as I said, we've also been asked from outside and
13:20we are doing also this for them.
13:22So, it makes sense that, you know, we have to do it.
13:26And this is, again, it's not a threat for anyone.
13:29It's an advantage that all of us, we work also together.
13:32And we need to think and also know what their issue, the clubs outside of Europe, so we can help
13:38each other and be together.
13:40Because it's not just we are not just thinking about ourselves, but how we could also contribute outside of Europe.
13:47Because, as I said in my speech, you know, 857 players from European clubs played in the last World Cup,
13:5633 national team, basically.
13:59So, I think we need also players from outside of Europe that they play, and there's a lot playing in
14:05Europe.
14:05So, this will benefit us also.
14:07And regarding your second question, regarding Italian crisis, I didn't see a crisis.
14:15I mean, everywhere, you see the French, you see the crisis in France.
14:19You see the English, you see the crisis in England.
14:21And everywhere is the same.
14:23In Germany, thanks God, there's no crisis.
14:25No, there is.
14:26You have it.
14:27But, no, I think, you know, congratulations yesterday, you won national team.
14:32But, of course, every league has some issue and need to improve it.
14:36But, the most important is the unity, is that everybody, you know, work together, small, big.
14:43If there's any politics, it doesn't enter in this.
14:48If politics come in, football is gone, is dead.
14:52And this is the most important, you know.
14:54And this is what I learned a few years ago.
14:58I asked, I mean, in English, you are here, chairman and CEO of Premier League.
15:03When I came to France, I said, you know, Richard Scudermont, and I said, what's one advice you advise me?
15:11He said, put the politics out of football.
15:14And some of the leagues doing exactly the opposite.
15:17So, I hope that will stop.
15:19I'm just thinking about football.
15:22If I may, you know, continue what chairman has said, is that we get approached by European clubs.
15:29We get approached by clubs outside of Europe because we are delivering something for our members.
15:34We are over 900 clubs.
15:36And the amount of solidarity that has been sort of distributed for these clubs through FIFA and UFR, what we
15:45have agreed with them.
15:46They see the benefits of it.
15:47We have a lot of players contacting us.
15:50We had a strong lineup of over 40 legends of the game here.
15:55We talked about the laws of the game, the occupational health and safety issues.
15:59So, they contact us because we are delivering a lot of value for them.
16:03So, that's why we also want to, you know, help clubs and players all over.
16:12A couple more questions, please.
16:19Hi, Nick Ames from The Guardian.
16:21Thank you to everyone for your time as well.
16:23It's much appreciated.
16:24Question for NASA, please.
16:26You guys have got a joint venture with FIFA on the table, waiting for a few signatures maybe to get
16:35it over the line.
16:36Is it possible to get that finished while the current FIFA leadership question is ongoing?
16:43Or do you think we have to wait quite a few months until it's palatable for that to be signed
16:48off?
16:49You know all the details more than me.
16:51I don't know how we get it.
16:52But anyway, I mean, you know, we are, of course, you know, discussing.
16:57There's still the negotiation is going on.
17:01We stopped.
17:02I mean, there's not that much discussion the last few weeks through.
17:09But, you know, of course, I mean, you know, we look at our also interest, the club interest.
17:15And what can we do?
17:17What we cannot do?
17:18What the clubs want?
17:19So, it's negotiation.
17:20I don't know when we're going to finish.
17:23But as soon as we finish, we're going to announce.
17:26And that is normal discussion, normal negotiation.
17:36Ben Jacobs from TalkSport.
17:38Again, thanks for your time.
17:39Two questions for Mr. Al-Khalifi.
17:42The first, just further clarity on world football clubs.
17:45Are you calling it a launch?
17:47Have you already reached out to other clubs?
17:49Is this a body that you expect to actually be formalized?
17:53And on what kind of timeline?
17:55Or is it more just an idea?
17:56And then coming back to FIFA again, can you explain your own reluctance to stand for the FIFA president?
18:06And is the EFC position or your personal position that you would like a candidate to stand against Gianni Infantino
18:12between now and November the 18th?
18:16I will let Charlie first answer the first question, maybe.
18:21Yeah, and I think it's been covered as a response to a number of questions in terms of the World
18:27Football Club's concept.
18:31It's a concept rather than an organization right now.
18:35It's important for us, as I think a few people have done on the panel, to explain the rationale for
18:40why we are thinking about it.
18:43The primary thing is that we get asked about it quite a lot.
18:47This is, if you like, an outside-in response rather than an inside-out one.
18:53A lot of clubs around the world see what we do.
18:55A lot of the clubs around the world see club football globalizing.
18:59And whether in their own regions or at global level, we are getting asked the question by clubs a lot
19:06more, can we work together?
19:08And so it's at the consideration stage, but it's a concept which has resonance right now.
19:14And it's something that we wanted to be transparent and open about at this stage in the General Assembly.
19:19So it's a watch this space response.
19:33No, it's nothing to do between both positions.
19:42As I said, I have zero ambition.
19:46I don't think I'm the right guy to throw in this position.
19:50And I don't want to go.
19:52Actually, I'm enjoying what I'm doing.
19:54You know, I'm really enjoying and having fun.
19:57And, you know, we're doing an amazing job.
20:00And still, I think our mission is to finish here.
20:03You know, hopefully that we continue building positive things together.
20:08You know, and FIFA not for me.
20:10Do you think you could win, though?
20:12Because a lot of other people do.
20:14I think FIFA not for me.
20:17Okay, last question, please.
20:19Gentleman over there.
20:21Hi.
20:22Nasser.
20:23Here Aritz Gabilonda from Sports Daily Ask in Madrid in Spain.
20:27One football question, sorry about that, is about the Ballon d'Or.
20:32Because there is, like, a propaganda from Kylian Mappé and Lamine Yamal from themselves to win the Ballon d'Or.
20:43But the best team in Europe was PSG.
20:46So, what's your opinion about that?
20:49Now it gets me in trouble with other clubs.
20:53But, you know, I mean, of course, I have big respect for both players.
20:57You know, Kylian or Yamal, they're amazing players.
21:01I mean, you know, Kylian, I know him very well.
21:03Of course, amazing player, talented.
21:05He's one of the best players in the world, for sure.
21:08But, for sure, you know, I mean, I will go for sure for my players.
21:13You know, we have three players, honestly.
21:14We have Dembele, we have Kvara, we have also Fabio Ruiz.
21:18I mean, you know, he's the only one who won all the trophies also.
21:23So, I think Dembele and Kvara and, you know, Fabio Ruiz, I think they deserve it because they won everything.
21:32I think they played very well.
21:36They did fantastic.
21:37And, yeah, that's it.
21:40But I forgot I'm here actually as AFC, not by St. Germain.
21:43You trick me in on this.
21:45Thank you very much, guys.
21:47Thank you very much, everyone.
21:49That's a conclusion of the press conference.
21:55You know something?
21:56If I could keep your attention for just one moment.
22:00Apologies.
22:01Sorry, Chairman, but everybody's asking about players and Infantino and Manchester City.
22:08But today, what we had during the General Assembly is, like, we passed a resolution to adopt new set of
22:16governance reforms, which actually is quite landmark, right?
22:21Everybody's talking about governance.
22:23A lot of these things that you're asking about are actually about governance.
22:27We haven't started to work on this three months ago.
22:30We started to work on it 18 months ago, when we saw that the organization is growing so rapidly, and
22:36we figured that any organization to be strong has to have good governance.
22:41And I think that translates to some of the themes that you've been asking about, but also about some of
22:47the questions you had about the world clubs, right?
22:51Because it's also about that, I mean, clubs feel they want to be part of an organization which is well
23:00-governed, which is able to develop very good relationships with stakeholders.
23:05And this is what today was also about, so it's not that I'm feeling neglected, but it's about the fact
23:15that this is very important for the purpose of generally looking at football.
23:19It's like what we've done today is basically we included 900 institutions into a governance structure, which is working and
23:26passed unanimously without any opposition.
23:28So I think it would be nice if you guys also noted in your various things, that little fact.
23:37Can you just say just quickly about how much push and pull there was in working out what the importance
23:43would be?
23:47Well, as I said, I mean, the work started 18 months ago.
23:52It took a lot of listening.
23:55A lot of listening and a lot of discussions between various interests.
23:59You know, we have a very delicate balance within the EFC between the various subdivisions and different clubs, et cetera.
24:05We managed to keep that and to, at the same time, to provide everybody with votes, with feeling of representation.
24:13So this is something that I think we can be also a little bit of an example for everybody else
24:19of what we're doing.
24:20And I think that bodes well for club future in Europe and perhaps also outside of Europe in the future.
24:30Thank you, everyone.