The Advocate General at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has dealt the European Super League (ESL) a huge blow after ruling that the current rules applied by FIFA and UEFA are compatible with EU competition law. This means the formation of the European Super League is unlikely as FIFA and UEFA now have the backing to prevent clubs supporting the ESL to participate in their competitions.
The initial announcement of the Super League in April 2021, where 12 clubs including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham, confirmed their intentions to form a breakaway league that would see the aforementioned six clubs and AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid compete regularly as the competition's founding members.
Just days after the announcement though fan protests and unrest caused most clubs including Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea to back out of the proposed league and over a year on just Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus remain as the clubs pushing for the ESL.
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However, that trio of European heavyweights still interested have been dealt a significant blow with regards to the potential of the league being established following the ruling that FIFA and UEFA are well within their rights to block any new competitions.
A complaint was presented to Madrid's commercial court with those supporting the ESL of the belief that 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, but it was referred to the ECJ.
However the opinion of the Advocate General in the case, Athanasios Rantos, was read out on Thursday morning at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.
Though this opinion is non-binding ahead of the final ruling next year, it appears to sink any hopes of a Super League operating within European football’s mainstream if it does not have UEFA and FIFA approval.
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.”
That would effectively mean clubs would be free to break away and join an unapproved Super League, but would not also be able to compete in domestic leagues.
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