The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled on Thursday that FIFA and UEFA cannot prevent the creation of the European Super League, accusing the two bodies of “abuse of dominant power”.
“The rules of FIFA and UEFA on the prior approval of inter-club football competitions, such as the Super League, are contrary to EU law,” the court ruled on the dispute between the two bodies and the European Football Super League, which in started in April 2021.
The CJEU found FIFA and UEFA’s decision to ban athletes and clubs from participating in closed competitions to be contrary to European law.
The EU’s top governing body found UEFA and FIFA were abusing their “dominant position” in their move against the creation of the controversial football super league.
Bernd Reichart, CEO of A22 Sports Management, the company responsible for the European Super League project, has already responded to the court’s ruling. “We have won the right to compete. UEFA’s monopoly is over. Football is free. Clubs are now free from the threat of sanctions and free to determine their own future”he declared.
“For the fans: we broadcast all Superliga challenges for free. For the clubs: club income and payments in solidarity with football are guaranteed,” Reichart said in the A22 Sports Management message shared on social media.
“We have won #RightToCompete. The UEFA monopoly is over. Football is FREE. Clubs are now free from the threat of sanctions AND free to determine their own future,” said our CEO Bernd Reichart in the CJEU ruling.
– A22 Sports (@A22Sports) December 21, 2023
The decision of the CJEU does not allow an appeal and must be applied by the Spanish court hearing the case, in response to the complaint filed in April 2022 by the companies managing the sports project: A22 Sports Management and European Super League.
The private and closed competition project had been launched in April 2021, but collapsed within just 48 hours, facing opposition from various sides, from the sports structures to national governments, including the fans themselves.
In October 2022, the company A22 was founded, promoter of the project, which is still supported by the Spaniards of FC Barcelona and Real Madrid and the Italians of Juventus, while the other nine of the twelve founding clubs have already given up on a future Super League.
The plan returned in February 2023, under new principles and a model with 60 to 80 clubs, which was open, without permanent members and based on sporting merit.
With Lusa
News updated at 10:18
Source: DN
