UEFA: "Promotion, relegation and open leagues are non-negotiable" (A. Ceferin)

"There are certain principles that are sacrosanct. The right for confederations to organise continental competitions is an inalienable right. The principles of solidarity, of promotion, relegation and open leagues are also non-negotiable," stated Aleksander Ceferin (SVN), president of UEFA, at the 44^th Ordinary Congress, in Amsterdam (Netherlands) on 03/03/2020.

"The football pyramid is delicate, and must not be knocked off balance. Certain projects, some devised on other continents with the backing of governing bodies, are particularly worrying," added Ceferin, with a particular focus on the new 24-team FIFA Club World Cup format, the first edition of which is scheduled to take place in China from 17/06 to 04/07/2021.

"Football is not simply a business like any other. It has a history, tradition and structure that must be respected. Our principles, history, tradition and structure are the reason for our current success. They have enabled football to dominate other sports and enabled European football to dominate the rest of the world. Calling them into question would be a death…