The final verdict on the proposed Super League by the European Court of Justice has sent ripples in the football world and has shocked UEFA, FIFA and other football bodies.
The European Court of Justice stated that the decision to halt the formation of the Super League is unlawful. The judgement which was delivered today, Thursday, December 21, 2023, read, “The FIFA and UEFA rules making any new interclub football project subject to their approval, such as the Super League, and prohibiting players from playing in those competitions, are unlawful.”
In a recent ruling, the European Court of Justice has found FIFA and UEFA guilty of breaching EU law by preventing the creation of the European Super League in 2021. The court stated that the governing bodies had abused their dominant position, leading to this ruling.
A22, the supporters of the ESL, filed a lawsuit against FIFA and UEFA alleging that the governing bodies violated competition laws in order to prevent the proposed league.
The entire statement read, “The FIFA and UEFA rules making any new interclub football project subject to their approval, such as the Super League, and prohibiting players from playing in those competitions, are unlawful. where an undertaking in a dominant position has the power to determine the conditions in which potentially competing undertakings may access the market, that power must, given the risk of conflict of interest to which it gives rise, be subject to criteria which are suitable for ensuring that they are transparent, objective, non discriminatory and proportionate. However, the powers of FIFA and UEFA are not subject to any criteria. FIFA and UEFA are, therefore, abusing a dominant position.”
UEFA reacts to the European Court of Justice ruling on the Super League
UEFA has released an official statement regarding the recent judgement of the European Court of Justice.
The statement reads, “UEFA takes note of the judgment delivered today by the ECJ in the European Super League case. This ruling does not signify an endorsement or validation of the so-called ‘super league’; it rather underscores a pre-existing shortfall within UEFA’s pre-authorisation framework, a technical aspect that has already been acknowledged and addressed in June 2022. UEFA is confident in the robustness of its new rules, and specifically that they comply with all relevant European laws and regulations. UEFA remains resolute in its commitment to uphold the European football pyramid, ensuring that it continues to serve the broader interests of society. We will continue to shape the European sports model collectively with national associations, leagues, clubs, fans, players, coaches, EU institutions, governments and partners alike. We trust that the solidarity-based European football pyramid that the fans and all stakeholders have declared as their irreplaceable model will be safeguarded against the threat of breakaways by European and national laws.”
