Attempts to launch a European Super League last year were met with widespread protests
(Picture: PA)Attempts to launch a European Super League have been dealt a major blow after a key legal opinion from the European Court of Justice backed UEFA and FIFA’s right to block new competitions.
Those behind the ESL, which tried to launch in April 2021, claimed UEFA and FIFA were abusing a dominant position under EU competition law by first blocking the league in April 2021 and then seeking to sanction the clubs involved.
Their case, however, was dealt a big blow on Thursday morning as the opinion of the Advocate General in the case, Athanasios Rantos, is that UEFA and FIFA approval is needed for new competitions.
A release from the court stated: “While ESLC (European Super League Company) is free to set up its own independent football competition outside the UEFA and FIFA ecosystem, it cannot however, in parallel with the creation of such a competition, continue to participate in the football competitions organised by FIFA and UEFA without the prior authorisation of those federations.”
Rantos’s opinion is non-binding and a final ruling on the case is not expected until spring of next year, but Thursday’s news is a huge setback for those behind the ESL. UEFA said it “warmly welcomed” the opinion, which it described as “unequivocal”.
When it tried to launch in April 2021, the ESL contained 12 clubs - including Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham - but now only Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid have remained and refused to distance themselves from the project.
