The European Union gave a judicial setback against UEFA: it ruled in favor of the Super League

“The rules of the International Football Federation (FIFA) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) that make any project for a new club football competition, such as the Super League, subject to their prior authorization and that prohibit clubs and for the players to participate in it, they are punishable by sanctions, they are illegal”This court based in Luxembourg indicated in a statement.

He CJEUwhich pronounces on the rules of the FIFA and of the UEFA in force in 2021at the time the procedure was launched, estimates that the powers of these two organizations have not been accompanied by “criteria that guarantee its transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate nature”, which is why it considers that “they are abusing their dominant position.”

The UEFA had threatened to sanction the clubs of the european football who had proposed the creation of the league, which sparked protests from many fans and authorities, leading nine clubs to withdraw.

In its ruling, the highest court of the European Union states that the FIFA and the UEFA abused their dominant position by prohibiting clubs from competing in a European Super League (ESL).

He specifies, however, that this does not mean that the project of the Super League “must necessarily be authorized”emphasizing that it pronounces in a general way on the rules of the FIFA and the UEFAand not about that “specific project”.

But immediately afterwards, the company A22created to organize the Super Leagueannounced a tournament project with 64 teams, “without any permanent member”divided into three categories, with a promotion and relegation system, promising its dissemination through a streaming platform, but without specifying a calendar or which clubs will participate.

Before, the pattern of A22 reacted on the social network x congratulating himself on the decision of the CJEU: “UEFA’s monopoly is over. Football is free.”

The powerful Association of European Clubs (ECA for its acronym in English) assured that the european football this “more united than ever against the attempts of some individuals” to organize private tournaments and reiterated his support for the UEFA.

real Madrid and FC Barcelonathe big clubs that continue to defend the project of an alternative competition, received the news with great satisfaction.

“European football is not and will never be a monopoly again”celebrated the president of the real Madrid, Florentino Pérez.

For him FC Barcelonathe decision of CJEU “opens the way to a new top-level football competition in Europe by speaking out against the figure of monopoly in the world of football.”

But since UEFA The reading is different and the scope of this ruling was minimized, emphasizing that it refers to “a technical aspect” which he had already recognized and corrected in June 2022 with new rules.

“This ruling does not mean an approval or validation of the so-called Super League. It rather underlines a pre-existing gap” in the regulation of the UEFAhe said, pointing to his “trust” on the legality of the new rules.

Other entities reacted to the ruling CJEU reaffirming his position against the Super League.

The Spanish soccer league (LaLiga) also highlighted on social networks the character “selfish and elitist” that would have the Super League by being “a closed model” organized by a series of rich clubs, without access to the rest.

The fans association Football Supporters Europe I consider that “There is no room in European football for a separatist Super League.”