The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that UEFA’s dominance in European football is against the law because it acts like a monopoly under EU competition rules, favoring the Super League.
The decision is seen as a significant victory for the Super League project and its backers, A22 Sports, marking a potential shift in the landscape of European football.
The legal battle centered around the Super League’s contention that UEFA’s prohibition of the competition, initially launched in April 2021, and the threatened punishments for participating clubs were incompatible with European laws on freedom of competition.
The ECJ sided with the Super League, finding that FIFA and UEFA’s regulations, requiring prior approval for new football competitions, were “contrary to EU law.”
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“The FIFA and UEFA rules making any new interclub football project subject to their prior approval, such as the Super League, and prohibiting clubs and players from playing in those competitions, are unlawful,” the court stated.
It further stated that the rules lacked transparency, objectivity, non-discrimination, and proportionality.
The court stressed that organizing football competitions is an economic activity and, therefore, must comply with competition rules and respect the freedom of movement.
Monopoly
It accused FIFA and UEFA of “abusing a dominant position” in their control of the football market.
While the ruling does not imply automatic approval for the Super League project or any similar ventures, it dismantles the regulatory framework that gave FIFA and UEFA exclusive control over the commercial exploitation of rights related to such competitions.
“We’ve won the right to compete. UEFA’s monopoly is over. Football is free. Now the clubs won’t suffer threats and punishments. They’re free to decide their future,” said Bernd Reichart, CEO of A22 Sports.
Initially comprising 12 major clubs from the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A, the Super League faced opposition from football governing bodies, fans, and politicians, prompting nine clubs to withdraw from the project.
UEFA’s Champions League Replacement
This legal victory is expected to reinvigorate the project, which seeks to challenge and potentially replace UEFA’s Champions League.
A22 Sports, led by Reichart, had begun the relaunch and rebranding the Super League in October 2022, proposing a more open and meritocratic format.
“For the fans: we’ll broadcast all the Super League games for free. For the clubs: club income and solidarity payments in football are guaranteed,” declared Reichart.