April 3 – Using the metaphor of a symphony, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin (pictured) delivered a message of unity at his confederation’s Congress in Belgrade on Thursday.
Following speeches by Serbia Prime Minister Miloš Vučević and Serbia Football Association president Dragan Džajić, Čeferin emphasized the importance of unity in a polarized world, pointing to the example of Serbia and Albania staging the U17 European Championship in 2027.
“Every day we hear what feels like a nonstop refrain us versus them,” said Čeferin. “And when we hear this day in and day out, it’s easy to believe it. This division is but an illusion and a terrible common tactic, a deliberate and obvious ploy by those who seek to divide us, to divide and conquer.
“These actors deliberately try to beat us against one another – us as private individuals, as citizens, as regions, as nations, as entire continents, and us as a successful and influential organization, often for financial or political gain, or simply out of cynicism and bad faith.
“Instead, European football must continue to stand as a model for unity in this increasingly divided world. And united we stand and united we will stand.”
The European football boss highlighted the success of the Champions League following the introduction of a new competition format.
He said: “Fans were on the edge of their seats right up until the final whistle of the league phase and we were told this wouldn’t work. Yet, instead of closing the competition, we opened it up and the result we saw was probably the most exciting season ever. The new diversity has also proved popular with the fans.”
Čeferin pointed as well to the viewership of EURO 2024 reaching five billion and the tournament in Germany generating revenue of €2.4billion and a net profit of €1.2bn.
He then dismissed claims of a crisis in the game, saying: “Explain to me how football is sick – football is in crisis. And what exactly do we mean when we talk about crisis? Because the so-called crisis lies not with football, but with cynical, opportunistic critics and doubters, with those who really are in crisis, which on the wider global scale is reflected in fast-growing xenophobia, populism and nationalism, and also in grotesque posturing, threats and conflicts.”
He mentioned the Memorandum of Understanding signed with European Club Association but did not address the Club World Cup in the United States or a potential return of Russia to the international game, which FIFA boss Gianni Infantino had raised minutes before the Slovenian’s speech.
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