The European Court of Justice (ECJ) declared on Thursday that UEFA and FIFA contravened EU law by obstructing the formation of a Super League. While breakaway organizers welcomed the ruling, major football leagues and clubs swiftly expressed support for the existing status quo.
The court ruling has rekindled debates surrounding the original Super League plan in 2021. The ECJ stated that governing bodies restricting a new league goes against the principle of EU law, but crucially, the judgment does not mandate approval for such a league.
The 12 leading European clubs that proposed the breakaway league (ESL) faced sanctions from UEFA, leading to nine clubs withdrawing their support amid widespread protests from fans. A22, a sports development company assisting with the ESL, claimed that UEFA and FIFA held a monopoly position, breaching EU Competition and Free Movement Law.
Following the verdict, A22 released plans for a new competition featuring 64 men’s teams and 32 women’s teams, challenging UEFA’s flagship Champions League. The ECJ ruled that FIFA and UEFA abused their dominant position by forbidding clubs from participating in a European Super League.
In response, major football bodies issued a joint statement opposing any form of a ‘super league,’ emphasizing the importance of sporting merit. Despite the ruling, UEFA and FIFA expressed that it did not validate the Super League, addressing a shortfall in their own framework.
While the original Super League plan collapsed in 2021, A22 CEO Bernd Reichart outlined plans for a new, more competitive competition. Shares in Juventus surged on the prospects of a revived ESL.
Despite the ruling, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin stated they would not try to stop A22 and others, emphasizing that they had addressed the shortfall highlighted in their framework. FIFA President Gianni Infantino also downplayed the impact of the ruling.
Many clubs, including Manchester United and Bayern Munich, reaffirmed their commitment to UEFA competitions, while domestic leagues rejected the Super League concept. The UK government is working on legislation to prevent English clubs from joining a breakaway competition.
Spain’s LaLiga criticized the ‘Super League’ model as selfish and elitist. The ECJ ruling asserted that FIFA and UEFA must comply with competition rules, emphasizing the unjustified restrictions on the freedom to provide services.
Real Madrid and Barcelona, still interested in the Super League, took the case to a Spanish court, which will now consider the ECJ’s ruling. The verdict marks a significant development in football governance, with implications for future attempts to reshape the European football landscape.
