The representative body of 40 leagues and professional associations in 34 countries raised "concerns about the pressure being put on domestic football by the introduction of new international competitions and the dramatic increase in international matches".

The European Leagues expressed "disappointment at the lack of transparency and formal consultation in the decision-making process by FIFA", referring to the expansion of the Club World Cup, which will feature Benfica and FC Porto in the 2025 edition.

"Together, we must protect the match calendar of our competitions with the aim of safeguarding their sporting and economic value, but also to protect the health of our players", warned Pedro Proença, in the opening speech of the general meeting, in London.

The president of the English League, Richard Masters, who hosted the meeting, considered that the limit is being reached and that "the footballers complain about playing too many matches": "The Premier League has not changed. What has changed in recent years is international football".

The body led by the Portuguese leader, who also chairs the Portuguese Professional Football League, will work with UEFA - whose president, the Slovenian Aleksander Ceferin, was also present - in order to "manage the transition to a significantly expanded set of continental competitions, starting in 2024/25".

The European Super League was also in Pedro Proença's 'sights', who highlighted the way in which the European Leagues helped to defeat the "attempt to create an elitist competition", whose announcement, on April 18, 2021, shook the foundations of the sport.

"Together, we fought and defeated the European Super League and the attempt to create an elitist competition for the interests of only a few", said Pedro Proença, criticising the initiative launched 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 the fans themselves, only Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Juventus remained in the project.

The general assembly of the European Leagues was also used to approve statutory amendments, resulting from the need to adapt to the new governance model, and to debate the legislative package to combat money laundering, approved by the European Parliament, which, for the first time, from 2029, will cover football clubs.