The Champions League draw, which was broadcast on Thursday afternoon by some sports networks and platforms, usually has unique preliminary events led by Aleksander Ceferin, president of UEFA. More than determining the competition's schedule and pairings, it is an opportunity for him to showcase his prominence and power. Last year, to present the competition's new format, he premiered a short film in which football stars such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gianluigi Buffon played Ceferin's supporting role, with a very well-directed theatricality. At that time, the UEFA president had already approved a script that portrayed him as a unique and charismatic leader, an omnipotent and authoritarian football ideologue. This year, he brought him back for another broadcast. And, turning it into a tradition, he presented a second part of what now appears to be a series. The film is worthy of analysis for everything it reveals. It is supposed to be a new episode of tension between Ceferin and Zlatan. In a television interview, the Swede boasts of having devised the competition system that debuted last season and assures that he has new changes in store. Ceferin enters UEFA headquarters, agile, determined, and powerful. The camera follows him up the stairs to his office, as if he were a hero about to take action. Only one woman appears in the building throughout the video: his secretary, to whom he gives an order without even wishing her a good day: "Everyone in my office and play Zlatan on the phone!" The Swede is getting a massage in a mansion on Lake Como and showing off his muscles. He appears naked with a towel tied around his waist while arguing on the phone with Ceferin. Meanwhile, in the office, the UEFA executives, all wearing shirts and ties, are arguing. Luis Figo is one of them, and he's about to get into a fistfight with someone who disagrees with him. It's a conclave of macho men. In the telephone exchange between Ceferin and Zlatan, they even insult each other. They call each other idiots and sarcastically belittle each other. A battle of egos ensues in which the former footballer tries to take credit and Ceferin claims responsibility. Finally, the Swede gives in in exchange for a secret condition, which the UEFA president accepts. And the short film puts an end to that mystery. The draw gala resolved the enigma live. The two protagonists appeared on stage. "What is the condition you have accepted, Mr. Ceferin?" the presenter asks. "The UEFA President's Award goes to Zlatan Ibrahimović," he admits. Because in the character's megalomania, the man has created an award with his own name to give to whomever he pleases.
A testosterone-fueled kick-off party for the football season, with alpha male comedy showing off their arrogance and marking their territory. Then, they reward each other to underline their power in the football world. It's so pathetic, betraying instincts in such a primal and obvious way, it's even funny.
