Soccer-Spanish FA wants domestic reforms, not Super League, says president

Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales hopes there will not be a breakaway European Super League, but admitted the continent's current domestic league format needs restructuring. "Yes, big clubs need to play games because they attract huge audiences, but I hope the Super League doesn’t happen.

Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales hopes there will not be a breakaway European Super League, but admitted the continent's current domestic league format needs restructuring. Rubiales, who is a member of the UEFA committee currently discussing planned changes for the Champions League in 2024, said that European football's governing body needs to be in charge of any reforms to the game.

"Football is evolving, and UEFA have to be the ones charged with that evolution," Rubiales told Cadena SER radio station. "Yes, big clubs need to play games because they attract huge audiences, but I hope the Super League doesn't happen. That means leagues need to think about how to reduce the number of games that are played.

"We've (in Spain) got a league with 38 games, and reform can only be done in two ways: either you reduce the number of sides in the league or you change the format." Spanish powerhouses Real Madrid and Barcelona are often reported as being two of the main advocates for a breakaway Super League, and Rubiales admitted that a delicate balance will need to be struck when it comes to appeasing different clubs.

"Clubs won't want to reduce the number of teams in the division, so you've got to look for another format with, say, 33 match days and perhaps that sees more than two Clasicos played. "We can sit down with La Liga and talk about the dreams that (president Javier) Tebas has.

"I'm an optimist. There's not going to be a breakaway Super League outside UEFA. (UEFA President Aleksander) Ceferin knows football inside out, he'll provide more support for the big boys but won't forget about the smaller clubs, either."

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