Valencia CEO: 'Super League will damage revenues despite its collapse'

The ‘Super League’ project is on the verge of being collapsed with England's 'Big Six' all withdrawing within hours on Tuesday amid a furious backlash from supporters.

However, Valencia’s Anil Murthy expects the idea to be revisited in a new form in the future.

"The simple announcement was reckless, careless and with no regard to the rest of European football," Murthy told

News.

The Singaporean revealed that researches suggested that the broadcasting revenues for the non-breakaway Spanish top-flight clubs would have dropped by 60 percent if the plans had proceeded. 

While the smaller clubs in the top Spanish league depend on broadcast money up to 98 per cent of their total revenue, Murthy believes that the timing was just not right.

"It is absolutely not the right time to do so when everyone is trying to recover from the impact of the pandemic, the financial impact it has had on all football clubs, to once again introduce a new problem," he added.

Although Valencia were among several LaLiga clubs to publicly criticise the proposals, Murthy believes sanctions are not necessary for three participating Spanish clubs; Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid.

"Punishment is not always the answer," said Murthy, who will attend a meeting of La Liga clubs that did not sign up for the ESL on Thursday.

"They are going to be punished all by themselves because right now I imagine that they are looking silly in front of the whole world.

"To look silly as a big football club is punishment enough. Their own fans went against their project and let's not forget Barcelona and Real Madrid are members clubs. They are not owned by any particular person.

"I think owners, especially of football clubs... have to realise that football is not a franchise to just make money out of.

"Football for the last 150 years has been a public sport, it is the most popular sport in the world. Everyone is watching, everyone wants to participate; the kid who plays on the street and wants to become a future superstar in football.

"You are just killing this whole tradition. I am not saying that football does not need to change. I am not saying that football will not change in the future but it is not to be changed in such a way that this project is suggesting."

Despite his belief in unneccessity of sanctions, Murthy says the ESL concept "crossed the red line" and urged for a wider debate around solidarity payments.

"We should all be concerned without a doubt but let's work together," he said. "There are always ways to keep European football alive and healthy.

"If the concept of solidarity needs to change then let's change it but this is an important debate to have.

"The concept of the Super League is not new but the reckless manner in which the cards have been shown told us that these guys are not going to give in so easily.

"We should be talking, preparing on how to respond when this happens again because it will happen."

On Wednesday, Diego Simeone appreciated Atletico’s decision to resign from ‘European Super League’ project.

"I knew the club would make the right decision and that's what happened," said Simeone.

"Something's going to change, I'm so sure about that ... Every time there are movements like this, the sides should get closer at some point and obviously find what's good for everyone.

"Football belongs to everyone. To the people. And we are the people too. We were fans before we were players or coaches. It belongs to all of us."

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