The European Court of Justice issued a notable ruling on Thursday, declaring that UEFA’s control of European football represents an unlawful monopoly under EU competition law. This ruling stands as a major victory for the Super League project and its supporters, A22 Sports. The court determined that FIFA and UEFA’s regulations mandating prior approval for new football competitions were in violation of EU law. Additionally, it highlighted that their exclusive control over the commercial exploitation of the rights associated with those competitions restricts competition, thereby contravening EU law. Notably, this decision provides significant support for the Super League project’s objective of supplanting UEFA’s Champions League.
This verdict contradicts a non-binding opinion asserting that UEFA and FIFA’s regulations complied with EU law. The court observed that FIFA and UEFA were “abusing a dominant position” in their regulation of the football market. However, it clarified that its ruling “does not mean that a competition such as the Super League project must necessarily be approved,” emphasizing that the judgment pertains to FIFA and UEFA’s regulations in general, rather than any specific project.
The ruling comes in the aftermath of an initial 12 clubs signing up as members of the breakaway Super League for its launch on April 18, 2021. Nevertheless, vocal opposition from football’s governing bodies, fans, and politicians prompted nine of these clubs to announce their withdrawal from the project, leaving only three remaining as public backers.
The Super League project, spearheaded by Real Madrid’s Florentino Perez and Juventus’ Andrea Agnelli, emanated from frustration with UEFA’s predominant role as Champions League organizers, as well as discontent with the competition’s format and revenue model.
In October 2022, A22 Sports commenced the relaunch and rebranding of the Super League, proposing a more open, meritocratic format. On Thursday, Reichart announced, “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.”
In conclusion, this ruling signifies a significant pivot for the Super League project and may establish a precedent for the future of football competitions in Europe.