The Belgian Competition Authority (ABC) on Monday refused Excelsior Virton’s request to impose provisional measures against the Belgian Football Federation (URBSFA).
The Belgian Competition Authority (ABC) on Monday refused Excelsior Virton’s request to impose provisional measures against the Belgian Football Federation (URBSFA).
The College of the Belgian Competition Authority has decided that the refusal to grant a license for professional football to Virton by the URBSFA Licensing Commission on April 8, a decision confirmed by the Belgian Court of Arbitration for the Sport on May 12, was “motivated by prima facie elements that appear consistent with competition law,” the CBA statement said. “The College has noted in particular that the Applicant (Virton, editor’s note) has not, despite numerous invitations to this effect, used the possibilities offered which would have enabled the Commission or the Belgian Court of Arbitration for the Sport of grant the license, in particular by offering a bank guarantee or other instrument guaranteeing the continuity of the RE Virton club for the 2020-2021 season. “
Without a license for professional football, Virton was relegated to the amateur series. In the wake of the CBAS announcement, the Gaum club had announced its intention to initiate various legal actions.
One of them was a complaint to the Competition Authority. Speaking to her, Virton requested the suspension of the licensing regulations.
Here is the press release
“The Competition College refused to impose the interim measures requested by Royal Excelsior Virton.
The Competition College of the Belgian Competition Authority (ABC) refused on June 29, 2020 to RE Virton (the Applicant) the imposition of provisional measures against URBSFA.
The College decided that the refusal of a license to RE Virton by the URBSFA Licensing Commission in April 2020, confirmed by an arbitration award from the Belgian Court of Arbitration for Sport in May 2020, was motivated by elements which prima facie appear compatible with competition law.
The College noted in particular that the Applicant did not, despite numerous invitations to this effect, use the possibilities offered which would have enabled the Commission or the Belgian Court of Arbitration for Sport to grant the license, in particular by the offer of a bank guarantee or other instrument guaranteeing the continuity of the RE Virton club for the 2020-2021 season. “
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