JUVENTUS President Andrea Agnelli claims FORTNITE is the biggest threat facing football over the next two decades.
Agnelli, paymaster of Cristiano Ronaldo, is also head of the European Clubs Association, which is seeking to revamp club competition against the opposition led by the Premier League.
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Spurs star Harry Kane playing FortniteCredit: Refer to Caption
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Fans at the 2019 Fornite World Cup finals in New YorkCredit: AFP or licensors
And speaking at the Leaders Sports Business Summit at Twickenham, the Italian suggested that the sport had to adapt in the face of the success of online games.
Agnelli said: “When you look at supporters now, the bulk of fans are Generation X, millennials, or those in Generation Z, who are turning adult now.
“So you have to look at Generation Z and think that competitors of the game are eSports and Fortnite. They will be competitors going forward.”
Agnelli added: “Football is still growing in some countries but in others it is falling into irrelevance.
“There has been a story of growth in the last decade but also elements that need to make us stop and ask where the sport is going.
“European football will still be the relevant sport in five years. What we have in mind is we must think about 20-30 years and what things look like then.”
It comes after the reveal Premier League stars are currently seeking treatment for addiction to the PlayStation game as excessive “gaming affects their form”, it has been claimed.
The game came under fire from Prince Harry who called for it to be banned after one star admitted to missing training because of his marathon Xbox sessions.
Dele Alli, who recently announced a partnership with a gaming chair company, Harry Kane and Mesut Ozil are among the Prem stars known to be Fortnite fans.
One young pro – called Sam to protect his identity – revealed that following the England stars in their love of the battle royale game has now left his career hanging by a thread.
The claims come off the back of a SunSport investigation into the addiction.
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A top English footballer says his addiction to playing the Fortnite video game could cost him his career and relationshipCredit: Alamy
