UEFA chief Ceferin dismisses reports that Saudi clubs would be allowed to play in Champions League
Ahead of the Champions League group stage draw on Thursday, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin dismissed reports suggesting that clubs from Saudi Arabia would be permitted to participate in the Champions League in the future. Ceferin clarified that only European clubs are eligible to take part in the Champions League, Europa League, or the Conference League.
- Sports
- DPA
- Published Date: 03:13 | 31 August 2023
- Modified Date: 03:13 | 31 August 2023
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin dismissed reports that clubs from Saudi Arabia would be allowed to play in the Champions League in the future.
"Only European clubs can participate in the Champions League, the Europa League or the Conference league," the president of the European football ruling body told the L'Equipe newspaper ahead of the Champions League group stage draw on Thursday.
Despite the strong financial growth of the Saudi league, which attracted the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Sadio Mane recently, Ceferin doesn't see the country as a threat to European football.
"We had a similar situation with China, which bought players at the end of their careers and offered them a lot of money. The result was that Chinese football didn't develop after that," Ceferin recalled.
"As far as I know, (Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian) Mbappe and (Manchester City striker Erling) Haaland are not dreaming about Saudi Arabia," he said.
Ceferin added that the approach used by Saudi Arabia "is not the right way" and that the Saudi league "should work on the education of players and coaches, but that's not my problem."
"Only European clubs can participate in the Champions League, the Europa League or the Conference league," the president of the European football ruling body told the L'Equipe newspaper ahead of the Champions League group stage draw on Thursday.
Despite the strong financial growth of the Saudi league, which attracted the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Sadio Mane recently, Ceferin doesn't see the country as a threat to European football.
"We had a similar situation with China, which bought players at the end of their careers and offered them a lot of money. The result was that Chinese football didn't develop after that," Ceferin recalled.
"As far as I know, (Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian) Mbappe and (Manchester City striker Erling) Haaland are not dreaming about Saudi Arabia," he said.
Ceferin added that the approach used by Saudi Arabia "is not the right way" and that the Saudi league "should work on the education of players and coaches, but that's not my problem."
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