ZCZC
BSP-14
FBL-EUR-C1-SUPER-ECA-UEFA-GER-BUNDESLIGA-BAYERN-RUMMENIGGE
Bayern Munich ‘says no’ to Super League, Rummenigge replaces Agnelli on UEFA board
BERLIN, April 20, 2021(BSS/AFP) – Bayern Munich on Tuesday gave a clear “no” to a
breakaway Super League as club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was elected to UEFA’s
executive committee, replacing Juventus supremo Andrea Agnelli as a representative of the
European Club Association (ECA).
Rummenigge made it clear that club world champions Bayern will not be joining the
breakaway Super League of 12 clubs with six from England, as well as three each from Italy
and Spain.
“On behalf of the board, I would like to make it explicitly clear that FC Bayern will not
be taking part in the Super League,” said Rummenigge in a statement.
The 65-year-old was elected during an UEFA congress meeting in Montreux, Switzerland, on
Tuesday.
Rummenigge, whose term lasts three years, replaces Agnelli, who quit as ECA president amid
plans for a new Super League with the Italian set to be vice-president of the
controversial new competition.
Agnelli stepped down as head of the ECA as the body said it “strongly opposes” plans for a
breakaway Super League with Juventus as one of the 12 rebel clubs.
Bayern’s president Herbert Hainer has also scorned the proposed breakaway competition.
“Our members and fans reject a Super League,” said Hainer.
“As FC Bayern, it is our wish and our aim that European clubs live the wonderful and
emotional competition that is the Champions League, and develop it together with UEFA.
“FC Bayern says ‘no’ to the Super League.”
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin was quick to praise Rummenigge as one of the “true
lovers of football” as European football’s governing body fights the planned Super League.
On Monday, Rummenigge already said he was opposed to the Super League and “does not think”
the breakaway competition will solve the European clubs’ financial problems caused by the
Covid-19 pandemic.
The German Football Association (DFB) and the German Football League (DFL) have slammed
the Super League, and Ceferin clearly recognises an important ally in Rummenigge.
Bayern Munich, who won the Champions League last season, are the most prominent European
club to not have joined the Super League.
“FC Bayern stands in solidarity with the Bundesliga,” added Rummenigge.
“It always was and is a great pleasure for us to be able to play and represent Germany in
the Champions League.
“For FC Bayern, the Champions League is the best club competition in the world.”
Rummenigge is the second German voted onto UEFA’s executive committee alongside German FA
vice-president Rainer Koch, who was re-elected Tuesday for another four years.
BSS/AFP/BZC/2138HRS