The European Union’s top court has delivered a landmark ruling, declaring that football governing bodies UEFA and FIFA violated competition law by attempting to block the breakaway Super League.
The judgement asserts that FIFA and UEFA abused their dominant positions in running the sport and that their rules, requiring prior approval for any new interclub football project, are unlawful. The decision has sparked a potential battle for the future of football in Europe.
Real Madrid and Barcelona, supported by the Super League promoter company A22 Sports, had accused UEFA of running an illegal monopoly in European football. The ruling does not automatically approve the proposed league but questions the legality of UEFA’s laws at the time of the Super League’s launch. The court stated that FIFA and UEFA rules on approval, control, and sanctions are unjustified restrictions on the freedom to provide services.
While this decision opens the door for Real Madrid and Barcelona’s Super League aspirations, it does not guarantee the project’s approval. UEFA maintains that its rules have been amended to address the concerns raised by the court. The European Club Association, representing major football clubs, affirmed its commitment to working with UEFA and FIFA to develop the game positively.
Football fans, who played a pivotal role in opposing the Super League in 2021, continue to express concerns about the project. The court’s rulings challenge the notion that sports hold a special status in EU law, emphasising competition law principles.
The legal battle raises questions about the governance of European football and potential legislative actions by EU member states to regulate projects like the Super League.