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.”
By Kunle Solaja.
Egyptian publication Ahram has reported an astronomical increase in prize money in all tiers of Egyptian domestic competitions.
This decision by the Egyptian Football Association to unveil what it described as the biggest prize-money package in its history for the 2025/26 season has once again thrown the spotlight on the modest financial rewards in Nigerian domestic football competitions.
Under the new structure announced by the Egyptian federation, winners of the Egypt Cup will receive EGP 2 million (approximately $37,000), while runners-up will earn about $19,000. The champions of the Egyptian Premier League are also expected to pocket EGP 5 million, estimated at about $94,000.
The package extends beyond the elite division. Clubs promoted from Egypt’s Second Division (A) will each earn roughly $19,000, while those advancing from Second Division (B) will receive close to $9,500 each.
Women’s football and youth competitions were equally accommodated. Winners of the Women’s Football League will receive about $9,500, while the Women’s Egypt Cup champions and runners-up will earn nearly $7,500 and $3,700 respectively. Youth championships across several age categories also have dedicated prize allocations running into millions of Egyptian pounds.
The Egyptian initiative is being viewed in many football circles as a deliberate attempt to improve club stability, encourage grassroots development and make domestic competitions more competitive.
For Nigerian football stakeholders, the development offers another example of how stronger financial incentives can stimulate growth in local competitions.
In Nigeria, complaints over poor prize money have persisted for years, especially in the domestic league, women’s football and youth competitions. Several clubs continue to struggle financially, while players and officials often lament inadequate rewards despite demanding schedules and rising operational costs.
Observers argue that meaningful prize money can motivate clubs to invest more seriously in infrastructure, player welfare, youth development and women’s football.
The Egyptian model also demonstrates that football development is not restricted to top-flight competitions alone. By extending financial rewards to lower divisions and youth categories, the federation appears to be creating a broader economic support system for its football ecosystem.
Many Nigerian football followers believe the Nigeria Football Federation, the Nigeria Premier Football League and corporate partners can draw valuable lessons from Egypt’s approach.
With Nigerian clubs facing increasing financial pressure and continental competitiveness declining in recent years, analysts insist that enhanced prize money could become one of the incentives needed to revive domestic football and restore greater excitement around.
Visit Sports Village Channel for more news:
https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria is set to host the 48th Ordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), marking the third time the country will stage the continent’s top football gathering.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the sidelines of the ongoing Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, approved Nigeria’s proposal to host the event.
The approval followed a meeting between President Tinubu and CAF President Patrice Motsepe, attended by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, former NFF President and Special Adviser to the CAF President Amaju Melvin Pinnick, as well as CAF Acting General Secretary Samson Adamu.
Sports Villages Square affirms that Nigeria previously hosted the CAF Congress at the National Theatre in Lagos in March 1980 and again in February 2009, when the late CAF President Issa Hayatou secured another four-year term in office.
In addition to this year’s 48th Ordinary General Assembly, scheduled for October, Nigeria also secured the hosting rights of the CAF Awards ceremony. The annual awards gala, which celebrates Africa’s top football performers, has been staged in Morocco over the past three years.
Nigeria had earlier hosted the CAF Awards when telecom firm, Globacom, was the headline sponsor. This year’s event will be the seventh to be held in Nigeria after those of 2005, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2016.
The CAF Ordinary General Assembly traditionally attracts key football stakeholders from across the continent, including presidents of CAF’s 54 member associations, representatives of the six zonal unions and senior football administrators.
The CAF Awards ceremony is regarded as one of African football’s flagship events, honouring outstanding players, coaches, clubs and officials in a glamorous setting that showcases the continent’s football excellence.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee has banned former Guyana Football Federation (GFF) General Secretary Ian Alves from all football-related activities for five years after finding he sexually harassed female staff members.
FIFA also fined Alves 20,000 Swiss francs ($22,000) after determining that he had breached provisions of the FIFA Code of Ethics relating to the protection of physical and mental integrity, abuse of position and general duties.
“FIFA has a strict stance against all forms of abuse in football,” the organisation said on Monday.
The decision followed a review of written statements from the victims, documents provided by the GFF, submissions from Alves, and other evidence gathered during the investigation.
Alves stepped down from his position in 2024.
The ban came into force on Monday, when the terms of the decision were notified to Alves, and the full grounds for the ruling will be communicated within 60 days in accordance with the Code of Ethics, FIFA added.
The GFF did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Alves could not immediately be reached for comment.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Egypt’s Mega Prize Money Package Offers Lessons for Nigerian Football
Burna Boy Takes Nigeria to FIFA World Cup Stage With New Anthem
Angry Libyan football fans set Government building on fire
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
NIGERIAN FOOTBALL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SANUSI CHARGES NIGERIAN COACHES TO BE UPRIGHT, DILIGENT
- World Cup7 days ago
FIFA Plans Three Opening Ceremonies in All Host Nations for 2026 World Cup
- World Cup6 days ago
United States Unveils Hollywood-Style FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony
- World Cup6 days ago
Mexico president wavers on plan to cut school year by 40 days for the World Cup
- World Cup1 week ago
Burna Boy Joins Shakira for Official 2026 World Cup Song ‘Dai Dai’
- World Cup2 days ago
US drops bond requirement for World Cup ticket holders
- Nigerian Football3 days ago
NPFL at 36: Why Nigeria’s League Top Scorers Rarely Become Super Eagles Legends
- Nigerian Football3 days ago
NPFL at 36: From Long Debate to Nigeria’s Football Showpiece
- World Cup2 days ago
White House: No visa issues for Iraq’s World Cup team