UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has stated that moving European football league matches away from their stadiums poses a risk in breaking the game, Afrosport reports.
The European football governing body on Monday granted approval for the La Liga match between Villarreal and Barcelona in December and the Serie A match between AC Milan and Como in February to be played in Miami and Perth respectively.
Ceferin, speaking at the General Assembly of European Football Clubs (EFC) in Rome on Wednesday, gave a reminder of the binding spirit football has.
“Football is not just about balance sheets. It’s not just entertainment,” he said.
“It’s life in our communities. It is the streets, the clubs and the fans that shape it, and if we pull it too far away from those roots, we risk breaking it.
“In uncertain times football is our anchor and gives us a common ground, a joy we can share. In good times and in bad, football is always there, reliable lasting – always there.
“When Europe faces great political, economic and social challenges we need something which holds us together. Football has that power and we must preserve it.
“I believe it will prosper and inspire. It will do so because we are strong.”
Ceferin also maintained UEFA’s competitions were open to all member countries, and that with the support of EFC (formerly European Club Association), would never run like the proposed European Super League spearheaded by the continent’s biggest clubs.
