European Court of Justice verdict: FIFA, UEFA blocking Super League was against EU law.

The European Court of Justice has ruled that FIFA and UEFA’s decision to block the European Super League was against EU law.

In the ruling, the court said,

“The FIFA and UEFA rules making any new interclub football project subject to their prior approval, such as the Super League, and prohibiting clubs and players from playing in those competitions are unlawful.”

The verdict added,

“Similarly, the rules giving FIFA and UEFA exclusive control over the commercial exploitation of the rights related to those competitions are such as to restrict competition, given their importance for the media, consumers, and television viewers in the European Union.”

The Super League venture

A group of 12 European football clubs acting through a Spanish company European SuperLeague Company wished to set up a new football competition dubbed the Super League.

FIFA and UEFA objected to the project threatening to impose sanctions on clubs and players who might decide to participate.

European SuperLeague Company brought action against FIFA and UEFA arguing that their rules on approval of competitions and the exploitation of media rights are contrary to EU laws.

According to Goal.com, 12 clubs in April 2021 announced the formation of a new Super League but it fell apart following massive criticism and fan protests with teams withdrawing. Barcelona and Real Madrid remain as the only clubs backing the Super League plan.

However, the court explained that,

“That does not mean a competition such as the Super League project must necessarily be approved. The court does not rule on that specific project in its judgment.”

Real Madrid’s reaction to the verdict

As the BBC reports, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said that today’s judgment made by the European Court of Justice, ruling that UEFA and FIFA’s ban on clubs joining a breakaway league is unlawful, represented a “great day for the history of football and for the history of sports”.

“In the coming days we will carefully study the scope of this resolution, but I do anticipate two conclusions of great historical significance,” said Perez in a statement.

“Firstly, that European club football is not and will never again be a monopoly. And secondly, that from today the clubs will be the masters of their destiny.”