Nobody can break football’s ecosystem – PSG president Al-Khelaifi

Nasser Al-Khelaifi

, the

president, thinks the 12 sides that tried to form a European Super League wanted to “break the ecosystem of football”.

Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Milan, Inter, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool wanted to form a breakaway competition in April 2021.

Bayern Munich and PSG were the notable clubs that were absent, with the Ligue 1 side having chosen against being part of the plan.

The proposal then collapsed, with many clubs dropping out, but Juve, Madrid and Barca are pushing for it.

Al-Khelaifi has been among the ones that rejected the plan.

"The ecosystem of football is bigger than just two or three clubs,"

he said.

"That's very important and I think a message has been sent to everybody that nobody can break the ecosystem of football, the fans.

"The love of football is stronger than anyone and any business."

A new Champions League format is going to be announced from 2024. Four more teams will be able to feature, and instead of a group stage, there is going to be a single 36-team League. The clubs will not play against three clubs twice, but they will lock horns with different teams and have more guaranteed fixtures.

There is also a possibility for two of the qualification places to be handed to the domestic leagues, whose performances were the best in UEFA competition.

Al-Khelaifi, whose side will go against

in the opener of the Champions League on Tuesday, backs the new format.

"You call it Super League, I call it non-Super League,"

he added.

"For me, the sales from the new [Champions League] format, the US has increased without even Spanish language by 150 per cent, and the UK and France increased a lot also.

"So, I think it shows this new format is a success even before we started it."

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