European Union’s highest court rules UEFA and FIFA’s ban on Super League as illegal
The European Super League project has been a contentious issue in the world of football since its inception, with UEFA fiercely opposing the breakaway competition. However, in a significant ruling, the European Court of Justice has found that UEFA has been “abusing a dominant position” in its control of European football, in a move that could potentially change the landscape of the sport as we know it. This article will delve into the details of the court’s decision, and what it could mean for the future of football in Europe.
UEFA’s Monopoly Overturned by European Court of Justice, Super League Gets Boost
The European Court of Justice ruled on Thursday that UEFA has been “abusing a dominant position” in its control of European football, a major victory for the Super League project. The court found that FIFA and UEFA’s rules on new competitions and player participation were “unlawful” and restricted competition. The decision is a significant boost for the Super League project, which seeks to replace UEFA’s Champions League. The project has the backing of A22 Sports CEO Bernd Reichart, who declared, “UEFA’s monopoly is over. Football is free.”
UEFA released a statement arguing that the ruling does not signify an endorsement of the Super League and emphasized that it has already updated its rules following the Super League’s attempted launch. The initial 12 clubs that signed up for the Super League in 2021 faced vocal opposition and most of them withdrew from the project, leaving only Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus as public backers.
Real Madrid’s Florentino Perez and Juventus’ Andrea Agnelli, who lead the project, expressed their satisfaction with the ruling, presenting it as a win for the clubs, players, and fans. Barcelona also expressed its satisfaction with the court ruling, seeing it as paving the way for a new elite-level football competition in Europe.
A22 Sports, the group behind the Super League, has been looking to relaunch and rebrand the competition since October 2022, proposing a more open, meritocratic format. However, Spain’s LaLiga and its president Javier Tebas remain vocal critics, arguing that the competition would damage and undermine national leagues.
