Croatian Football Federation stands united against Super League

HNS

The Croatian Football Federation has stated that it ‘stands united with UEFA and all member associations’ against the plans of a European Super League.

Milan, Arsenal, Atlético Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham are the founding clubs of a break-away rebel league which has faced widespread criticism from governments, domestic leagues, football federations and fans all around the world since its announcement on Sunday.

Today, the Croatian Football Federation made a statement saying that it stands united with UEFA and all member associations. The statement the HNS backs read:

“The 55 member associations and participants in the UEFA congress condemn the declaration of a so-called ‘Super League’. The UEFA congress is adamant the closed ‘Super League’ goes against the very concept of what is to be European: unified, open, supportive, and principled on sporting values. UEFA and its member associations believe in a truly European model that is founded on open competitions, solidarity, and redistribution to ensure the sustainability and development of the game for the benefit of all and the promotion of European values and social outcomes. The conspirator clubs have obviously failed to see that their status today was not achieved in isolation, but rather was part of a dynamic European system where big, medium and small clubs have all contributed to the successes and losses of everyone. It is an affront to European values to assume they are entitled to ‘separate’ and lay claim to the legacy that everyone built. UEFA, its member associations and all those who love football stand firm and will strongly resist and fight against this move by these clubs’ owners and their backers to the fullest extent possible. We know, morally, what is at stake and will protect football from a selfish clan who care nothing for the game. We are European football. They are not.”

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said on Monday that players who play in the Super League would be banned from playing in the European Championship and World Cup for their countries. 

It it got to that, it would effect Croatia with Luka Modrić, Šime Vrsaljko, Ante Rebić, Ivan Perišić, Marcelo Brozović and Mateo Kovačić all tied to Super League clubs. 

Davor Šuker, who not only is president of the Croatian Football Federation but also on the UEFA board, commented on the Super League situation as well as the appointment of Zvonimir Boban as UEFA’s head of football. 

“Once again, we have sent a clear message to football Europe, showing solidarity united against the selfish interests of the richest clubs and their owners. The great thing is that we are unique in our attitudes and efforts to keep football as it should be, accessible to everyone, not just elites. The congress was very successful, UEFA kept the same course, everything it did before does now. I am extremely glad that my former teammate Zvonimir Boban has become UEFA’s head of football, increasing the number of Croatian officials involved in various bodies of FIFA and UEFA. I believe that by acting together we will contribute to an even better treatment of Croatian football on the international stage,” said Šuker.

HNS stands united with @UEFA and all member associations. pic.twitter.com/5KmftbAH4O

— HNS (@HNS_CFF) April 20, 2021

Dejan Lovren, who won the Champions League with Liverpool, was the first Croatian international player to be vocal on social media about the situation. 

“Football will be in the near future on a brink of complete collapse. Nobody is thinking about the bigger picture, only the financial side. I still believe we can solve this unpleasant situation. The day football stopped being football and became soccer,” he said in tweets.