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Court Ruling Favors European Super League Launch, UEFA’S Blocking Deemed Against EU Law
A groundbreaking decision by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has sparked fresh hope for the revival of the European Super League. Judges ruled against UEFA’s regulations that impeded the formation of such a league, stating that these rules went against EU laws.
The court scrutinized UEFA and FIFA’s actions in hindering the establishment of the European Super League in 2021 and their subsequent attempts to penalize the involved clubs. The verdict revealed that FIFA and UEFA’s insistence on pre-approval for new competitions conflicted with EU competition laws.
Highlighting this infringement, the court emphasized that these rules lacked transparency, fairness, and proportionality. It was noted that FIFA and UEFA’s monopolistic control over commercial rights significantly restricted fair competition in the European football landscape.
The European Super League, initially announced by twelve clubs, including the Premier League’s prominent teams, faced swift collapse amid uproar from fans, pressure from football authorities, and opposition from the government. However, the recent ECJ ruling seems to pave the way for a potential relaunch of such a league in the future.
Asserting the economic nature of football competitions and media rights, the court stressed the necessity for compliance with competition rules, affirming the importance of respecting freedom of movement.
Bernd Reichart, CEO of A22, the promoters of the Super League, celebrated the verdict, claiming it as a win for clubs’ autonomy and freedom from potential sanctions. He pledged accessible viewing of Super League matches for fans and guaranteed revenues and support for participating clubs.
The court condemned UEFA and FIFA’s dominance in determining access to the market, citing their actions as an abuse of power. UEFA’s new authorization rules for promoters, introduced in June 2022, faced criticism for potentially preventing the emergence of rival competitions, thus hindering existing events like the Champions League.
Despite the ruling not directly approving the specific 2021 Super League project, it challenges UEFA and FIFA’s regulations and sends the case back to the Madrid commercial court for a final decision. It’s anticipated that the organizers of the Super League have redesigned their proposal and won’t seek approval for the previous format.
The court’s observation on FIFA and UEFA’s control over media rights highlighted the negative impact on European football clubs, media companies, and consumers by limiting innovative or exciting competitions.
Efforts to reach comments from UEFA, FIFA, the Premier League, and Football Supporters Europe are ongoing, as this groundbreaking ruling sets a precedent for the future landscape of European football competitions.
