FIFA and UEFA Lose "Match" Against Super League at CJEU

The major organizations of world football do not always emerge victorious. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled that FIFA and UEFA rules regarding prior authorization for club-level football competitions, such as the Super League, violate European Union law. The highest administrative body of the EU emphasized that UEFA and FIFA abused their "dominant position" in their action against the creation of the controversial Super League. The decision of the Grand Chamber, which responds to preliminary questions from the Commercial Court No. 17 in Madrid and cannot be appealed, contradicts the opinion of the designated Attorney General in the case, who, in his non-binding conclusions a year ago, argued that UEFA and FIFA acted in accordance with the law. "The rules of the International Football Federation (FIFA) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), which subject any project for a new club-level football competition, such as the Super League, to their prior approval and prohibit clubs and players from participating in it under the threat of sanctions, are illegal," the ruling states. However, the Luxembourg court adds that "a competition like the Super League project should not necessarily be authorized." "After being asked general questions about FIFA and UEFA rules, the Court of Justice does not express an opinion on this specific project in its decision," the court specifies.

In April 2021, twelve major European football clubs launched the Super League project, a private competition with enormous commercial potential, through a midnight offensive just before a major reform of the Champions League, in direct competition. UEFA and FIFA immediately threatened with sanctions, and the disastrous communication from the "rebels" and the strong opposition from supporters, especially in England, led several countries to consider legislative measures, forcing nine of the rebel clubs to throw in the towel and withdraw from the Super League project in less than 48 hours. Two years later, only Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have not disarmed, but Juventus Turin, which lost its former leader, Andrea Agnelli, at the end of 2022 due to legal proceedings in Italy for irregularities in the management of the club, withdrew from the project in July. The outcome of the EU Court of Justice procedure is crucial, especially since the promoters of the Super League launched a structure called A22 Sports Management in October 2022, aiming to challenge the UEFA "monopoly" in the interest of supporters, clubs, and football.