"Together, we fought and defeated the European Super League and the attempt to create an elitist competition for the benefit of a few," said Pedro Proença, during the opening speech of the 48th General Assembly of the LE, which is taking place in London. The president of the continental body, who also leads the Portuguese Professional Football League, warned that the competitions that are under the jurisdiction of the LE members "represent and sustain the entire base of the football pyramid". "We are the basis of the European sports model that all football 'stakeholders' embraced together during the turbulent days," observed Pedro Proença, referring to the attempt to create the Super League, announced on April 18, 2021 by some of the most important clubs in Spain, England and Italy. The competition, which would be played in a semi-closed circuit and would be a direct competitor to the Champions League, would have 15 founding clubs, although it was announced by 12: AC Milan, Arsenal, Atlético de Madrid, Chelsea, FC Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham. The strong reaction from the football world and the repudiation from the most varied sectors of society and even from the governments of several countries led to the fact that, three days after the announcement, in the face of opposition from their own fans, only Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Juventus remained in the project. "I would like this General Assembly to be remembered as the moment when, all together and with a deep sense of unity, we are affirming and positioning domestic competitions at the centre of the football ecosystem. Only with strong, sustainable and competitive football leagues will the entire industry and ecosystem benefit and prosper," defended Pedro Proença. Among the issues that will be debated at the magna meeting, the first under the presidency of Pedro Proença, the statutory changes stand out, with a view to adapting to the new governance model, which the Portuguese leader described as a "moment to turn the page" in the life of the body. "All General Assemblies are important, but there is no doubt that this one has a particular significance. After a period of turbulence and government turmoil, we are here today to empower our association with a new set of statutes and regulations that will guide the European Leagues towards a bright and influential future," he said. UEFA President, Slovenian Aleksander Ceferin, who also spoke at the event, argued that "it is crucial to strengthen the relationship" between the two bodies, with the aim of "establishing a new memorandum of understanding between UEFA and the European Leagues", praising the action of the LE in the fight against the Super League. "Your firm opposition to the so-called Super League was and continues to be crucial to combating this immoral project. We know that the consequences of this initiative would be disastrous, both sportingly and financially, for domestic leagues," said the leader of the European football regulatory body. Read Also: Álvaro Pacheco says that Vitória still dreams of an "extraordinary season" (Portuguese version)