The European Court of Justice has made a ruling that could change the future of European football.
The court gave the green light to the creation of the Super League after a 17-month trial, finding that FIFA and UEFA’s rules on prior approval of club competitions contradict European law.
The rules of the international associations therefore violate European competition law and represent an abuse of power. Accordingly, the threat of sanctions up to and including exclusion from competition by UEFA or FIFA is not legally compliant.
An exclusion of Madrid’s Antonio Rüdiger or Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen for the European Championship or World Cup? This makes it impossible! The associations’ position was weakened.
“The rules of FIFA and UEFA, which make any project for a new club football competition such as the Super League dependent on their prior approval and prohibit clubs and players from taking part under threat of sanctions, are unlawful,” it said.
Agency A22: “We have won the right to compete”
The sports marketing agency, which represents the Super League around the last two supporters FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, celebrates the decision as a liberation of football. “We have won the right to compete. The UEFA monopoly is over. Football is FREE. The clubs no longer have to fear sanctions AND can now determine their own future,” commented A22 managing director Bernd Reichart on the ECJ’s decision on X.
The agency announced a press conference at 12 p.m. at which it will present its new proposal for European club football. Reichart had already addressed the fans and claimed: “Our proposal stipulates that all Super League games will be shown free of charge.” In addition, income and solidarity payments for the clubs are guaranteed.
The judgment therefore contradicts the final submission of Attorney General Athanasios Rantos. This meant that the Super League was generally allowed to start its own operation, but could not demand simultaneous participation in the associations’ competitions without their consent. The 15 judges of the Grand Chamber overturned this second part on Thursday and gave the drivers hope.
Big blow for UEFA
The ECJ ruling does not per se require the introduction of new competition. “This does not mean that a competition like the Super League must necessarily be permitted,” said the statement from the court, which did not rule on this project itself.
Nevertheless, the verdict is a serious blow for UEFA and its highest body, the UEFA Executive Committee around the two German representatives Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Hans-Joachim Watzke. The day before, Rummenigge had expressed his confidence that the court would decide in UEFA’s favor.
But even if the highest European legal authority approved the football competition, “it wouldn’t go far,” the 68-year-old told Gazzetta dello Sport: “30 years ago the system would have welcomed the innovation, today it’s different. The English, Germans and French would never join in.”
He also believes “that the Italians and the Spanish will not join in unless there is a president who thinks about going to bed and waking up the next day covered in gold,” said the member of the UEFA Exco . A clear swipe at Real’s president Florentino Perez: “Real Madrid and Barcelona could host the tournament.”
Victory for Barcelona and Real Madrid
After the resounding failure of its founding in April 2021, the drivers of a Super League sued the unfair monopoly position of UEFA and FIFA, and a Madrid court referred the case to the ECJ. The sports marketing agency A22, behind which the remaining supporters Real Madrid and FC Barcelona stand, joined the lawsuit and ventured again with a changed concept.
Since the dispute is not just about antitrust issues, a counterclaim from UEFA and FIFA could now follow in another area.
with sports information service (SID)
2023-12-21 10:33:59
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