Governing Bodies
SUPER LEAGUE BOSS THREATENS PREMIERSHIP ‘BIG SIX’ WITH FINE FOR LEAVING
The president of the controversial competition, which was met with a huge backlash when it was announced on Sunday, discussed teams U-turning, penalty fees for leaving, Jurgen Klopp and Chelsea supporters in a wide-ranging and, in places, bizarre interview.
Perez began by discussing the elephant in the room – the six Premier League clubs pulling out of the Super League and leaving the tournament in tatters.
And he claimed that there was a rotten apple in the bunch that ultimately infected the group.
Perez told the El Larguero radio station: “There was someone in the English six clubs who did not have much interest. That started to affect the others, there was fear. One of the English clubs was never really convinced.
“They are leaving due to UEFA putting on a show, which surprised me. I don’t want to get into it with the UEFA president, but he needs to be able to talk. It was like we had thrown an atomic bomb.
“They did not let us explain, as they did not want anything to change.”
On the protests in England, he appeared to suggest they had been orchestrated by a higher power, adding: “There were only 40 Chelsea fans, and I could tell who brought them.”
“Who brought those Chelsea fans to protest? Someone moved them.”
As the interview progressed the Real Madrid president also discussed finances and provided clarity on his motives.
“It cannot be that in England, the six lose money, and 14 make money. In Spain, the top three lose Following the decision of the Premier League big six to back out of the competition, La Liga giants Atletico Madrid and Serie A outfit Inter Milan did the same thing.
There are murmurs that Barcelona may soon follow suit, while AC Milan and Real Madrid are still standing firm.
Perez admits the Super League is looking less likely now, but is determined to still make it work, and believes there is a chance it can be altered with fewer teams in the competition.
He said: ”Juventus and Milan have not left. Barca are thinking about it. Maybe we can change it a bit – that the top four in England enter, the top four in Spain. The important thing is that the big teams play each other, so the kids will watch football.
“The founder clubs believed in this project. It is not dead. We will keep working.”
Another big question of the night was whether the clubs who have backed out of the competition are liable to fines.
“Nobody has yet paid the penalisation fee for leaving. We are almost all still in this, they have not left yet,” said Perez.
“All 12 founder clubs signed the same contract, not a comma more or less.”
money, and the others make money. It cannot continue – at the moment the rich are those who are losing money,” he said.
Perez doesn’t name the club, but it appears either Chelsea or Manchester City are the most likely candidate.
Murmurs Chelsea were getting cold feet emerged on Tuesday night before Manchester City became the first club to issue a statement saying they were backing out of the competition.
Perez went on to issue something of a threat to the clubs who confirmed they are leaving, reminding them why the plan for a Super League was hatched in the first place.
“There are people with privileges who do not want to lose them and are willing to run clubs, although when the clubs are ruined they will lose their privileges,” said Perez.
As unhappy as Perez is that the English teams pulled out of the competition and ruined its worth, he is somewhat sympathetic to their reason for doing so.
“The English clubs tried to do something, but they were being told they were killing football. But there is no other solution than the Super League. Or somebody invents something else,” added Perez.
They are leaving due to UEFA putting on a show, which surprised me. I don’t want to get into it with the UEFA president, but he needs to be able to talk. It was like we had thrown an atomic bomb.
“They did not let us explain, as they did not want anything to change.”
On the protests in England, he appeared to suggest they had been orchestrated by a higher power, adding: “There were only 40 Chelsea fans, and I could tell who brought them.”
“Who brought those Chelsea fans to protest? Someone moved them.”
As the interview progressed the Real Madrid president also discussed finances and provided clarity on his motives.
“It cannot be that in England, the six lose money, and 14 make money. In Spain, the top three lose money, and the others make money. It cannot continue – at the moment the rich are those who are losing money,” he said.
Perez has previously made it very clear that the 12 founding clubs all signed ‘binding contracts’, which prevents them from backing out of the competition should they get cold feet.
But Perez is remaining calm on this front.
He is yet to threaten any of the big six with a fine as – as far as he is concerned – the Premier League’s big six are still very much involved in the competition, despite their statements to the contrary.
“Nobody has yet paid the penalisation fee for leaving. We are almost all still in this, they have not left yet,” said Perez.
“All 12 founder clubs signed the same contract, not a comma more or less.”
The FIFA Museum in Zurich has launched a new special exhibition titled Innovation in Action: Football Technologies on and off the Pitch, offering visitors an unprecedented glimpse into how innovation is transforming the world’s most popular sport.
Opened on Monday, October 1, 2025, the immersive showcase was developed in collaboration with the FIFA Innovation Team and other departments within world football’s governing body. It explores how cutting-edge technology supports players, referees, and fans—enhancing performance, ensuring fairness, and enriching the overall football experience—while preserving the game’s passion and human spirit.
“What makes this exhibition truly special is that we can give visitors a never-before-seen behind-the-scenes look that allows them to step inside football innovation, experiencing it hands-on rather than just reading about it,” said Marco Fazzone, Managing Director of the FIFA Museum. “We offer a glimpse at technologies and tools that fans don’t normally get to experience up close, while also showing how innovation has evolved over almost 100 years of FIFA World Cup history.”
Organised around five themed sections — Broadcasting & Media, Intelligent Data, Refereeing & Fair Play, Staging the Game, and the Innovation Lab — the exhibition blends rare artefacts with interactive displays. Visitors can relive football’s broadcast evolution, from the black-and-white footage of the 1954 World Cup to today’s ultra-slow motion 4K replays, and even step into a virtual referee booth to experience the pressures of officiating in real time.
Among the standout features is the FIFA Player App, which allows fans to explore Chelsea star Cole Palmer’s performance statistics from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final, illustrating how data helps players refine their craft.
Another exhibit showcases Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan’s water bottle from the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 — marked with opponents’ penalty data — revealing how analytics influence critical moments.
Visitors can also view a referee body camera used at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, giving a fresh perspective on decision-making from the official’s point of view.
The exhibition invites visitors to engage directly with football technology. They can test their reflexes and judgment as referees, operate goal-line technology systems, or assume the role of a broadcast director managing live match feeds. Data enthusiasts can analyse player movements, while aspiring innovators can design their own football tech concepts inside the Innovation Lab.
Innovation in Action runs until 31 March 2026 at the FIFA Museum in Zurich. Entry is included with a standard museum ticket.
With its rich mix of storytelling, interactivity, and history, the exhibition promises to be a must-see experience for anyone passionate about the future of the beautiful game.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that football could not solve conflicts, but it must carry a message of peace and unity as Israel’s military operation in Gaza and other global tensions fuel calls for the sport to take a stand.
“At FIFA, we are committed to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world,” Infantino told a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich where he met Palestinian federation president Jibril Rajoub.
“Our thoughts are with those who are suffering in the many conflicts that exist around the world today, and the most important message that football can convey right now is one of peace and unity.”
Infantino said world football’s governing body could not solve geopolitical crises, but “it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values.”
“I met Palestinian Football Association (PFA) President Jibril Rajoub today at the Home of FIFA in Zurich to discuss the ongoing situation in the Middle East region,” Infantino later wrote on Instagram.
“I commend President Rajoub and the PFA for their resilience at this time and I reiterated to him FIFA’s commitment to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world.”
FIFA has faced repeated calls to act over the war in Gaza, with Palestinian officials pressing for Israel to be suspended from international football.
The issue has been under review by FIFA for months, but no decision has been taken. Infantino has consistently said such matters require consensus with the confederations and must be handled with caution.
The comments came a day after FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani noted that any decision over Israel’s participation in European competitions, including World Cup qualifiers, was a matter for UEFA to decide, effectively putting the onus on the European body.
“First and foremost, it (Israel) is a member of UEFA, no different than I have to deal with a member of my region for whatever reason… They have to deal with that,” Montagliani told reporters at the Leaders sports business conference on Wednesday.
Israel are third in Europe’s Group I of the qualifying stage for next year’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Amnesty International on Wednesday sent a letter to FIFA and UEFA calling on them to suspend the Israel Football Association.
-Reuters
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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed reports suggesting that its Statutes will be amended at this year’s Annual General Assembly (AGA), insisting that no such plans are on the table for the September 27 meeting.
In a statement, the Federation stressed that the ongoing conversation around its Statutes remains at a preliminary stage and that suggestions of imminent changes are unfounded.
Ahead of the AGA, the NFF will host a workshop on September 26, bringing together representatives of its members, as well as officials from FIFA and CAF. According to the Federation, the forum is strictly consultative, designed to deliberate on proposals for new Statutes in line with the principles of good governance and international best practices.
The NFF explained that only after consensus is reached with its members will a separate General Assembly be convened to formally consider and adopt any proposed Statute changes.
“The NFF remains committed to due process, transparency, and working hand-in-hand with its General Assembly Members, FIFA, and CAF,” the statement read.
“The ultimate goal is to establish enduring Statutes that will strengthen governance, broaden representation, and promote inclusivity within Nigerian football.”
The Federation added that the long-term reform framework is aimed at ensuring stability and progress across its structures and enhancing the participation of all stakeholders in the country’s football administration.
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