Nasser Al-Khelaifi has been appointed president of the European Club Association (ECA), the organization confirms through official channels on Wednesday. The president of Paris Saint-Germain will thus succeed Juventus president Andrea Agnelli, who left the ECA on Sunday at the same time as the announcement of the Super League.
In the press release, the ECA strongly distances itself from the Super League, which has already been canceled. “After the unprecedented events of recent days, which have led to attempts to undermine the entire European football community, the ECA, representing Europe’s leading football clubs, welcomes the decision of the former member clubs not to pursue their alleged Super League project. following the universal condemnation of the project by the entire football community and society as a whole, “the association of football clubs wrote.
Al-Khelaifi is pleased to be appointed as the new president of the ECA. “I am honored and humbled to have been appointed as chairman by my fellow members of the ECA board of directors,” said PSG’s president. “The leadership, integrity and cohesion of our organization has never been more demanded than at this crucial moment in European football. I will give my unconditional commitment to the entire football community: that means to all ECA clubs from every European country. , and to the fans and communities they represent.
Al-Khelaifi was not part of the Super League with Paris Saint-Germain. “Together with all my fellow ECA board members and clubs, I am looking to strengthen the role of the ECA as the legitimate and unique voice of European clubs,” said the Qatari. “Our game, adored by generations of supporters, will thrive only under unity, and it is our duty as football administrators to fulfill this commitment.”
Edwin van der Sar of Ajax remains active as one of the vice-chairmen of the ECA. Michael Gerlinger, director of legal affairs at Bayern Munich, has now also been appointed to this end. Dariusz Mioduski (Legia Warszawa) and Aki Riihilahti (HJK Helsinki) are also active as vice-chairmen of the body.