Based on the ruling of a Spanish court, the duo of FIFA and UEFA didn’t act rightly by banning clubs from becoming part of the breakaway European Super League.
Madrid’s commercial court expressed that UEFA and FIFA were conducting anti-competitive actions and abusing the power they wield.
Anyway, the European governing body of football, UEFA, have shared that the ruling is not an endorsement of the European Super League or support of any proposal.
A similar decision on this topical issue was made by the European Court of Justice in December 2023.
The issue was tabled by A22 Sports Management, the company pushing for the emergence of the ESL.
The case was brought forward against UEFA, FIFA, Spain’s top-flight football division, La Liga, and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
UEFA has since altered its rules around new tournaments after the collapse of the European Super League proposal in April 2021 and the Spanish court indicates that those rules are unaffected by the ruling given on Monday, May 27, 2024.
UEFA expressed that the ruling “has not given the green light to, nor has it approved, projects like the Super League”.
Additionally, the Spanish La Liga also shared that the court did not approve the project.
A22 chief executive, Bernd Reichart, opposes the stance of these two bodies – UEFA and La Liga, saying the ruling meant “the era of the monopoly is now definitively over”.
Reichart also said that this ruling by the Spanish court based in Madrid was “an important step towards a truly competitive and sustainable club football landscape in Europe”.
Bernd Reichart has also blamed UEFA for thwarting innovation and clubs interested in joining the European Super League “should not have to fear threats of sanctions simply for having ideas and conversations”.
Twelve Teams Initially Signed Up To Be Part Of The European Super League
The saga started in April 2021, when reports came to the fore that 12 teams had agreed to join the breakaway competition.
Some of these teams include; Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, AC Milan and Juventus.
This news ignited a massive uproar, with several fans indicating their opposition to the breakaway tournament.
There were also pockets of fans, who had bought the idea and already began harboring hopes of seeing the competition come to life.
Anyway, the fury and widespread condemnation from fans and even the government led to plans regarding the European Super League collapsing within 72 hours.
Premier League clubs who had signed up to join the breakaway competition alongside Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, and AC Milan were fined by UEFA.
However, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus had no action taken against them during the legal process.
Anyway, Juventus had already indicated their intention to pull out of the breakaway project in July 2023.
This new ruling could aid the breakaway move, given it offers them the leeway to continue with the proposal without fear of suffering any repercussions whatsoever.
UEFA and FIFA are still watching the move closely and will certainly make more decisive steps to ensure the role they play in football is not diminished.
