The European Court of Justice considers the ban on the Super League to be a violation of EU competition law. UEFA and FIFA abused their market power, the judges ruled. However, the ruling does not necessarily mean that a Super League must be approved.
The ban on the Superliga planned by several European football clubs was unlawful. The European Court of Justice ruled that football’s governing bodies, UEFA and FIFA, abused their market power and violated EU competition law by taking action against the Superliga.
The associations may not in principle make other competitions subject to their approval and may not prohibit clubs and players from participating in those competitions. However, the ruling does not necessarily mean that the Super League must be approved, the judges said.
The case was heard in court last year after the Super League failed to launch in April 2021. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin called the club bosses “snakes” and “liars” and threatened to ban players from Super League clubs.
The club-owned body, founded by 12 clubs – with only Real Madrid and Barcelona still in the lead after Juventus Turin withdrew this year – had taken legal action to protect its position, and a Madrid court had asked the European Court of Justice for a ruling on EU law issues.
The clubs had accused UEFA of violating European law by abusing its dominant position in football competitions.
“FIFA and UEFA rules that make any new inter-club football project, such as the Super League, subject to their prior authorization and prohibit clubs and players from participating in those competitions are unlawful,” the court said. ”There is no framework for the FIFA and UEFA rules to ensure that they are transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate.”
The rules that give FIFA and UEFA exclusive control over the commercial exploitation of the competitions also restrict competition in the EU, the ruling said. It said FIFA and UEFA were abusing their dominant market position.
The Super League initiators immediately celebrated the ruling as a major victory. “The UEFA monopoly is over,” said former RTL manager Bernd Reichart, who represents the project for the A22 agency. “Now the clubs will no longer be threatened and sanctioned. They can decide on their own future,” Reichart said in a message on the A22 X-account (formerly Twitter).
“For the fans: We will broadcast all Super League matches for free. For the clubs: The clubs’ revenues and payments in the context of solidarity with football are guaranteed,” Reichart adds.
According to an initial reaction, UEFA took note of the defeat calmly. The judgment of the European Court of Justice does not mean ‘endorsement or confirmation of the so-called Super League,’ the European Football Union announced. Newly introduced rules would counter the deficiencies listed by the court.
UEFA is confident that these new requirements for admission to competitions “are in line with all relevant European laws and regulations”. The association continues to support the so-called football pyramid, which is based on national leagues in which clubs can qualify for international competitions.
“We will continue to shape the European sports model together with national associations, leagues, clubs, fans, players, coaches, EU institutions, governments and partners,” said UEFA. It is confident that the current football model in Europe will be protected from danger by European and national laws.