S.L. Benfica CEO Domingos Oliveira says his side are not in favour of the mooted European Super League, but understands why clubs would be interested in establishing a league exclusively for the continents 'biggest clubs'.
Speaking to Ger Gilroy on Tuesday's #OTBAM live from the Web Summit in Lisbon, Oliveira insisted that creating a league which only included certain elite clubs would harm the 'foundations of European football'.
"The discussion that we're having at the European Club association: 'Don't talk about a European Super League,' he explained.
"There is interest for some clubs in a Super League, but I think we will miss the long history at European level with teams like [Benfica], Ajax and Anderlecht to name just a few important clubs that would eventually not be part of this league.
"We don't like the idea. We understand the financial impact for those big clubs, but I think at European level we will lose a lot of the foundations of European football."
Leaked documents reveal that a set amount of teams would be part of the league, with other 'guest teams' invited to join on a rotating basis.
European football would be miss one of the game's heavyweights if a European Super League was established in Benfica's absence, says Oliveira. Image: NurPhoto/SIPA USA/PA Images
Oliveira admits by establishing an elite league, clubs run the risk of alienating their supporter base - those people who contributed to the foundation of the club itself.
"When we say: 'We want more European matches and less domestic matches,' we're not saying we don't want domestic matches.
"When you ask Benfica fans who are their rivals, they will talk about Sporting [Lisbon] or Porto. They will not talk about Barcelona or Real Madrid.
"That's the foundation of football. Playing against teams in your country. If those clubs were eventually preparing [to create a Super League] - and I haven't seen any confirmation of that - those clubs will lose their impact at domestic level.
"They will lose the basis for their development."
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