European football’s governing body UEFA have unveiled their latest intro for this seasons Champions League.
This new ‘intro’ is just as flashy as before and displays highlight moments from the 2017/18 competition.
Of course, it would be no Champions League intro without that signature anthem which features throughout. Written by English composer Tony Britten in 1992 it is sure to raise goosebumps in pubs all around the UK this season.
In the clip, we see dazzling moments of skill from the competition’s stars, including Mo Salah, Lionel Messi, and Neymar. We also see a beautiful volley from Edin Džeko and that bicycle-kick from Cristiano Ronaldo.
The qualification rounds for the 2018/19 tournament are well underway, with the group stage draw on the 30th of August and beginning on the 18th of September.
Next seasons final will take place at the Wanda Metropolitano, home of Atlético Madrid, on the 1st of June 2019.
Meanwhile, Former World Cup final referee Pierluigi Collina has stepped down as UEFA’s refereeing boss after eight years for personal reasons, European soccer’s governing body said on Wednesday.
The shaven-headed Italian is also head of FIFA’s refereeing committee, where he has been a firm supporter of the video assistant referee (VAR) system which was used at the World Cup for the first time this year.
UEFA, on the other hand, has decided not to use VAR during this season’s Champions League, with its president Aleksander Ceferin saying the new technology still needs more time to be developed.
There was no suggestion, however, that UEFA’s refusal to use VAR was behind Collina’s decision step down from his role.
“Pierluigi brought the same vision, understanding and flair to his role at UEFA that he demonstrated in the matches he refereed,” said Ceferin in a UEFA statement.
UEFA said that Collina, who retired from officiating in 2005 after a career in which he refereed the 1999 Champions League final and 2002 World Cup final, achieved major advances in the professional handling of referees.
