Pedro Proença: ″We cannot just be big contributors to the State″

This Sunday, the Liga president took stock of the season and believes that Portugal will regain sixth place in the UEFA ranking.

After the championship was over – the last round was played on Saturday – the president of the League, Pedro Proença, took stock and highlighted the competitiveness of Portuguese football, giving an example of the decisions saved for the last rounds.

“Once again, the big decisions were saved for the last rounds, in both competitions, with constant uncertainty in the rankings, which clearly proves the competitiveness of professional football. It was a long season and all Sports Societies are to be congratulated for their resilience demonstrated in an atypical season, divided in half by an unprecedented World Cup played in winter, which turned the calendar inside out. Watching the indices go up day after day and, more importantly, players, coaches and referees contributing to this goal has to be praised. We cannot compete in the entertainment industry without presenting a differentiating and higher quality product. that this change of mentality is here to stay”, he stressed, also addressing the UEFA ranking, stressing that he believes in a return to sixth place.

“2022-23 will be marked by the loss of the 6th place in the UEFA ranking to the Netherlands. This descent does not reflect a possible difference in quality for our opponents, and it is never too much to mention the unfair system of tabulation of points, which puts the Champions League and the Conference League at the same level, and which made us drop one place on the list, a system criticized by Liga Portugal from the start. But, in every threat, an opportunity arises. We have full confidence in the teams we work with represent in Europe, knowing that they will always have a framework in the Competition Regulations that will give them all the conditions to present themselves at the best level, either due to the conditions in the draw or 72 hours of interval between matches. UEFA ranking – it is imperative to do so! – but our clubs cannot be asked to do the same or better in Europe without being granted the same conditions as our opponents. tough fiscal framework for Sports Societies. In 2021-22 professional football contributed more than 214 million euros in taxes, without this strategic importance being recognized. We cannot just be (large) taxpayers of the State”, he pointed out.