UEFA has stirred controversy with the release of its new Champions League television intro for the 2024-25 season, leaving fans wondering if the new theme music is some elaborate prank.
The governing body had made significant changes to the tournament, shifting from its traditional group stage format to a revamped league phase.
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Amid these updates, UEFA has also altered the iconic Champions League theme music, which has been a staple of European football since the 1992-93 season.
The original anthem, based on George Frideric Handel’s “Zadok the Priest,” has been replaced with a new composition featuring updated vocals.
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The revised intro, featuring top players like Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Vinicius Jnr, has been met with backlash from fans who are disappointed by the changes.
Skabash observed that online reactions have been negative, with many questioning whether the new theme is a joke.
One fan on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “Please tell me this is an April Fool’s joke in August, please tell me this isn’t true.” Others criticised the new intro as “terrible” and noted that it lacks phrases in Italian and Spanish, which are significant for the Champions League. Some reactions were more blunt, with one fan simply commenting, “WTF” accompanied by an angry face emoji.
See the post below:
https://twitter.com/centregoals/status/1826591550681612537?t=73h4gmeHF4YzC2m0tPBHzw&s=19
Netizens react:
@Udatw: “Changing the anthem without including the legends of the Champions League in your video won’t be acceptable. This is the only version we will recommend.”
@RMC: “Delete that shit and go back to the old one”
@Clint: “some things don’t need to be tampered with.”
@Tam: “On a Champions League night, I shall prefer to hear the “Hala Madrid” anthem than this mediocre one”
@Baxi: “It doesn’t have the energy and hype as the original one…. When the European Super leavue will come and save us.”