Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez didn't hold back during the club's annual general meeting on Sunday, delivering a stinging critique of football's governing bodies and the sport's current state. The 77-year-old voiced his frustrations with UEFA and FIFA, especially over their handling of the expanded Champions League format and the controversial Super League project.
Pérez, who has long been an advocate for the Super League—a competition he claims would save European football—renewed his criticisms of UEFA’s revamped Champions League. The new format, which introduces eight group-stage matches instead of six, has drawn the ire of many top clubs, including Real Madrid.
"The Champions League format is simply unfair," Pérez stated. "It has become more complicated and harder to follow. With more games, the value of each match has dropped significantly—by nearly 30 percent. This competition will only grab attention towards the end, not in the early stages."
The Madrid president also took the opportunity to reiterate his belief that football is in a "critical" state, claiming that it has "never been in a more fragile situation." He remains staunch in his support of the Super League, especially after last year's landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice, which determined that UEFA and FIFA's efforts to prevent clubs from joining the Super League were unlawful. Pérez called the decision "historic" and pointed to it as a turning point in the battle against UEFA’s dominance over European football.
"The ruling has ended UEFA's monopoly," Pérez declared. "We’ve faced immense pressure and threats, but we're more optimistic than ever about the future of the Super League."
Another major point of contention for Pérez was the increasing number of matches players are being asked to play, which he claims is contributing to a worrying injury crisis. Real Madrid’s squad has been plagued by long-term injuries, including severe knee issues for key players like Dani Carvajal and Eder Militão. Pérez argued that the expansion of tournaments and the sheer number of games are leading to fatigue and higher injury rates.
"This season, we could end up playing as many as 82 matches," he noted. "That's 63 percent more matches than before, all organized by UEFA and FIFA. Already this season, La Liga has seen nine cruciate ligament ruptures—equal to the entire number from last season. Experts believe this is a result of player fatigue."
Adding to the list of grievances, Pérez criticized the Ballon d'Or voting process after Manchester City’s Rodri claimed the prestigious award, beating out Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior. While Pérez acknowledged Rodri’s talent, he felt the timing was wrong.
"Rodri is an exceptional player, and he absolutely deserves a Ballon d'Or—just not this year," Pérez remarked. "He should have won it last year, after his treble-winning season with Manchester City. This year, the decision doesn’t feel right."
Pérez’s remarks paint a picture of a football world in turmoil, one that he believes is being driven off course by overexpansion and excessive commercialism. His continued push for the Super League is rooted in a belief that European football needs a radical overhaul—one that puts more power back into the hands of clubs rather than governing bodies.
