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Taken the past 4 months off this app to preserve the old mental health, but inspired by the events of the past few days by everyone in the football community from fans to ex players to journalists, thought I'd hop on to touch on something I feel should be addressed more seriously
Arguably the driving force & architect behind this failed Super League & the most vocal supporter of the concept, Florentino Perez has had a lot to say over the past 72 hrs, the vast majority of it nonsensical but sadly unchallenged & most all of, dangerous.
And whilst the reaction to the majority of his claims have been met with amusement & indifference, as if they're just the 'silly, harmless' words of an out of touch, privileged, arrogant president who just doesn't get what football really means to real fans...WE NEED TO REMEMBER
It's the 'silly, harmless' words of this out of touch, arrogant president who somehow convinced (or fooled) the owners of the 6 biggest clubs in English football to try & walk out and ruin the structure of football we have all adored for over a century. https://tribunemag.co.uk/2021/04/the-evil-empire-of-florentino-perez
Not to mention the relentless pressure he and others owners have heaped on UEFA for *decades* to constantly change & amend the UCL giving big teams more spots, more money & more influence which of course led to the new format even @IlkayGuendogan hates https://twitter.com/IlkayGuendogan/status/1385293404100235272
So I thought I'd go through some of the utter nonsense, lies & mistruths he's been allowed to spew across several major platforms where he is essentially unchallenged due to his influence in Spanish media & explain why it's not OK we just laugh it off & say "Oh that's Perez"
Let's begin with his opener "UEFA is a monopoly"
This coming from a man whose club alongside Barcelona took home more than 40% of La Liga TV money in the 2015 season.
This coming from a man who runs one of two clubs who have won 30 out of the last 35 La Liga titles.
This coming from a man whose club alongside Barcelona took home more than 40% of La Liga TV money in the 2015 season.
This coming from a man who runs one of two clubs who have won 30 out of the last 35 La Liga titles.
This coming from a man who as @sidlowe reported:
"Has won the past 3 (Real Madrid Presidential) elections unopposed...the statutes, which he altered, make it virtually impossible to stand against him and if anyone did, they would surely lose." https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/apr/22/florentino-perez-the-emperor-who-wanted-more-but-lost-for-once
"Has won the past 3 (Real Madrid Presidential) elections unopposed...the statutes, which he altered, make it virtually impossible to stand against him and if anyone did, they would surely lose." https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/apr/22/florentino-perez-the-emperor-who-wanted-more-but-lost-for-once
Then there's his repeated insistence 'football' is broke & the sport needs the Super League to survive.
Yet Madrid are currently undergoing a €575 million stadium renovation, that is not adding *even a single seat* to the stadium capacity.
Must be an expensive roof.
Yet Madrid are currently undergoing a €575 million stadium renovation, that is not adding *even a single seat* to the stadium capacity.
Must be an expensive roof.
A half a billion euro renovation yet,
"We'll be dead by 2024 if things continue this way" Perez claimed in an interview on Monday night.
Yet a day later he refuses to deny that his own club are going for arguably the most expensive player in the world. https://twitter.com/theMadridZone/status/1385000204743712768?s=20
"We'll be dead by 2024 if things continue this way" Perez claimed in an interview on Monday night.
Yet a day later he refuses to deny that his own club are going for arguably the most expensive player in the world. https://twitter.com/theMadridZone/status/1385000204743712768?s=20
As for the powerhouse clubs that were smart enough not to get involved in this embarrassing project?
Florentino, with a straight face told the press "PSG weren't invited' & "we haven't even spoken to German clubs" https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1384274859031629828
Florentino, with a straight face told the press "PSG weren't invited' & "we haven't even spoken to German clubs" https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1384274859031629828
Which doesn't really add up according to many journalists covering the fiasco https://twitter.com/MiguelDelaney/status/1384442177917493256?s=20
But hey that's just one man's word against another right?
Well no, there's actually documented proof. https://twitter.com/ManuelVeth/status/1384281458693472261?s=20
Well no, there's actually documented proof. https://twitter.com/ManuelVeth/status/1384281458693472261?s=20
Then of course there's his blatant lies surrounding the inspiring protests Chelsea fans organised on Tuesday, which would almost be funny if it wasn't so sad & scary that someone with his power in the game feels we're all so stupid to believe such things https://twitter.com/dermotmcorrigan/status/1385008270469914629?s=20
How did he think we'd believe that?
Perhaps as @dermotmcorrigan so well put it:
"Having become so used to people just accepting whatever he said & doing what he told them to do, he had still not realised that his big idea was completely naked and over." https://theathletic.com/2529728/2021/04/22/crumbling-super-league-and-40-chelsea-fans-florentino-perez-and-his-week-to-forget/
Perhaps as @dermotmcorrigan so well put it:
"Having become so used to people just accepting whatever he said & doing what he told them to do, he had still not realised that his big idea was completely naked and over." https://theathletic.com/2529728/2021/04/22/crumbling-super-league-and-40-chelsea-fans-florentino-perez-and-his-week-to-forget/
Perez insisted fans just hadn't heard how much the 'smaller' clubs will benefit.
But then when asked how a club like RC Lens (who made it to the UEFA cup semi finals in 1999) would benefit, he responded with this: https://twitter.com/joe_in_espana/status/1384937127872540672?s=20
But then when asked how a club like RC Lens (who made it to the UEFA cup semi finals in 1999) would benefit, he responded with this: https://twitter.com/joe_in_espana/status/1384937127872540672?s=20
But why can't clubs like Lens be dream of playing with the best?
Perez: “A big guy wears a big suit, a small guy wears a small suit. Everyone has to be comfortable with the suit they wear"
Basically, even Ligue 1 winners with one of France's biggest fanbases, know your place.
Perez: “A big guy wears a big suit, a small guy wears a small suit. Everyone has to be comfortable with the suit they wear"
Basically, even Ligue 1 winners with one of France's biggest fanbases, know your place.
The most ironic part of such a statement?
Well, as Perez admits, the Super League project has been created because Madrid find themselves in €354.3m debt & need a new way to find more money.
Which begs the question... https://www.ft.com/content/9cfdbbb9-75e4-4374-8214-977a1ddfce68
Well, as Perez admits, the Super League project has been created because Madrid find themselves in €354.3m debt & need a new way to find more money.
Which begs the question... https://www.ft.com/content/9cfdbbb9-75e4-4374-8214-977a1ddfce68
Perhaps it's Madrid who've overestimated the size of *their* suit?
Maybe he needs to become comfortable with the suit they wear? Curb his club's spending? Accept just because he can't afford to keep up he can't just ruin our beloved domestic & European leagues for his benefit?
Maybe he needs to become comfortable with the suit they wear? Curb his club's spending? Accept just because he can't afford to keep up he can't just ruin our beloved domestic & European leagues for his benefit?
As @SkyKaveh so succinctly puts it "He says that our clubs are in trouble, the truth of the matter is that HIS club is in trouble" https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/1384417220953092099
But for Perez it's not just about money "Some games are hard to watch, even for me"
How can we let a person who feels this superior, decide certain clubs *he* isn't interested in watching don't deserve the equal right to qualify for Europe as others? https://twitter.com/Sporf/status/1385307918887759874?s=20
How can we let a person who feels this superior, decide certain clubs *he* isn't interested in watching don't deserve the equal right to qualify for Europe as others? https://twitter.com/Sporf/status/1385307918887759874?s=20
Look if he doesn't respect the wishes of other fanbases, surely he respects his own, right?
Well, here's his response when asked why he didn't ask his own members how they felt about joining the ESL completely rewriting their history & future. https://twitter.com/ReaIMadridOnly/status/1385206668737318913?s=20
Well, here's his response when asked why he didn't ask his own members how they felt about joining the ESL completely rewriting their history & future. https://twitter.com/ReaIMadridOnly/status/1385206668737318913?s=20
And how was he allowed to get away with this one? https://twitter.com/edflinkinp/status/1384995523271266307?s=20
Again, easy to laugh it off & say he's delirious..
But this man with such disregard for why we love football, convinced the biggest clubs in the game to follow him.
Bottom line. All of us must demand reform NOW in Uefa, our leagues & our government so Perez can't try this again
But this man with such disregard for why we love football, convinced the biggest clubs in the game to follow him.
Bottom line. All of us must demand reform NOW in Uefa, our leagues & our government so Perez can't try this again
To finish, 1 last Perez lie
He now says the ESL is on 'stand by'
No, it is Dead.
But not cause Perez & other shady owners have given up.
But cause football fans now know the power we wield when as @GNev2 said, we 'mobilise, organise' & fight for *our* game.
Don't stop now!
He now says the ESL is on 'stand by'
No, it is Dead.
But not cause Perez & other shady owners have given up.
But cause football fans now know the power we wield when as @GNev2 said, we 'mobilise, organise' & fight for *our* game.
Don't stop now!
If this has made you feel angry, cheated or just inspired, do something about it.
Lobby your MP & your club. Join the FSA & your local supporters group. Don't just accept 'that's modern football'
Strike while the iron's hot. The momentum is with the fans. Let's keep it going
Lobby your MP & your club. Join the FSA & your local supporters group. Don't just accept 'that's modern football'
Strike while the iron's hot. The momentum is with the fans. Let's keep it going
There's a reason German football clubs didn't even consider the Super League project
It's called the 50+1 fan ownership model. Unlike with Perez they have to answer to their fans.
Enough is enough, sign up to change football ownership here in the UK. https://www.change.org/p/the-fa-bring-the-50-1-rule-to-the-premier-league?recruiter=false&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=psf_combo_share_initial&recruited_by_id=cec9fb30-a2a1-11eb-b03f-b97b058506f8
It's called the 50+1 fan ownership model. Unlike with Perez they have to answer to their fans.
Enough is enough, sign up to change football ownership here in the UK. https://www.change.org/p/the-fa-bring-the-50-1-rule-to-the-premier-league?recruiter=false&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=psf_combo_share_initial&recruited_by_id=cec9fb30-a2a1-11eb-b03f-b97b058506f8
