European Super League LIVE: A22’s breakaway format won’t include Premier League clubs after ‘ban’ claims
The European Court of Justice has dealt a blow to Uefa and Fifa in their efforts to kill off the European Super League, but there remain many obstacles in the way of the ESL’s ambitious plans
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The controversial European Super League is set to relaunch with new tournament plans this morning, after a landmark European Court of Justice ruling.
The ECJ ruled that Uefa and Fifa both acted “unlawfully” by blocking the rebel tournament when it initially launched in 2021. However, while the ruling stated that the governing bodies had “abused their dominant position” by forbidding the creation of any new club competitions, it also stressed that doesn’t mean the Super League project has to be approved in the future.
A22, the company backing the European Super League, gleefully declared that “the Uefa monopoly is over” and that “football is free”, while LaLiga released a statement condemning the Super League as “a selfish and elitist model”.
Following today’s ruling, A22 is announcing a new proposal for men’s and women’s midweek European Competitions at 11am GMT. In a change from the previous European Super League plans, participation will apparently be based on sporting merit, there will be no permanent members and the league will feature promotion and relegation.
Follow the latest updates and news from Luxembourg below:
What does this mean?
It is unclear what the ruling will mean in practice, although Uefa have been undermined and those in favour of the Super League emboldened.
But as of yet there is no clear path for a resurgence of the breakaway.
The ECJ judgement added: “That does not mean that a competition such as the Super League project must necessarily be approved. The Court, having been asked generally about the FIFA and UEFA rules, does not rule on that specific project in its judgment.”
What has been decided today?
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Justice ruled that Uefa and Fifa acted against competition law by blocking the formation of the European Super League in 2021 and sanctioning the clubs involved.
In its ruling, the ECJ stated: “The Fifa and Uefa rules on prior approval of interclub football competitions, such as the Super League, are contrary to EU law.
“They are contrary to competition law and the freedom to provide services.
“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. There is no framework for the Fifa and Uefa rules ensuring that they are transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate.”
A22, the company backing the European Super League, said on X, formerly known as Twitter: “We have won the right to compete. The Uefa-monopoly is over. Football is free.
“Clubs are now free from the threat of sanction and free to determine their own futures.”
The decision by the ECJ is binding and not subject to appeal.
Court ruling not all bad for Uefa and Fifa
Although the headlines of today’s court ruling seem to be, on the surface at least, a slap on the wrists for the two governing bodies Uefa and Fifa looking into the detail of the case some things have already changed.
The court has only decided its verdict based on facts as at the time of the European Super League’s announcement and new rules are now already in place.
Uefa can still organise its own competitions and there is no requirement to break up.
The Super League will still be subject to authorisation rules and procedures.
LaLiga call the Super League a ‘selfish and elitist model'
In light of the ruling, LaLiga put out a statement condemning the European Super League as a “selfish and elitist model”.
They wrote: “Today, more than ever, we reiterate that the “Super League” is a selfish and elitist model. Anything that is not fully open, with direct access only through the domestic leagues, season by season, is a closed format. European football has spoken. Listen. #EarnItOnThePitch”
A22, the company backing the European Super League, have spoken out about the judgement, saying that the Uefa monopoly is over and football is free.
On Twitter/X, they posted: “We have won the #RightToCompete. The UEFA-monopoly is over. Football is FREE. Clubs are now free from the threat of sanction AND free to determine their own futures”, our CEO Bernd Reichart comments the CJEU decision.”
Super League given fresh hope after court rules Uefa and Fifa ‘unlawfully’ blocked controversial project
The controversial European Super League was given fresh hope of revival after a landmark European Court of Justice ruling.
The Grand Chamber of the ECJ had been debating whether Uefa and Fifa acted against competition law by blocking the European Super League in 2021 and sanctioning clubs involved, but has ruled that the regulations at the time concerning the breakaway were inadequate and that the governing bodies acted “illegally” in blocking the rebel tournament.
In its ruling, the ECJ stated: “The Fifa and Uefa rules on prior approval of interclub football competitions, such as the Super League, are contrary to EU law.
“They are contrary to competition law and the freedom to provide services.
Read our full report on the monumental verdict:
Super League given hope after court rules Uefa and Fifa ‘unlawfully’ blocked project
The European Court of Justice made a landmark ruling over the future of the European Super League
Uefa and Fifa ‘abusing dominant position’ but Super League may still not be approved
As with all court rulings, this is fairly nuanced and doesn’t necessarily mean a European Super League has to be approved, just that Uefa and Fifa forbidding the clubs outright from forming a league was contrary to EU law.
The ECJ ruled that the governing bodies were “abusing their dominant position” but added that “this does not mean that a competition such as the Super League project must necessarily be approved”.
European Super League vs Uefa verdict - full judgement
Here’s the pertinent part of the ruling handed down by the ECJ, determining that Uefa and Fifa are in breach of competition law and the freedom to provide services by requiring prior approval of a European Super League.
“The FIFA and UEFA rules on prior approval of interclub football competitions, such as the Super League, are contrary to EU law. They are contrary to competition law and the freedom to provide services
“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. There is no framework for the FIFA and UEFA rules ensuring that they are transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate.
“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.”
European Super League vs Uefa verdict
Here’s some more information on the judgement - essentially the European Super League (under EU law at least) could be back on.
The prospects of a future European Super League have been boosted after judges said Uefa rules blocking the formation of such a competition were contrary to EU law.
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Justice had been asked to decide whether Uefa and Fifa acted against competition law by blocking the formation of the European Super League in 2021 and then seeking to sanction the clubs involved.
The court has ruled that Uefa and Fifa rules granting prior approval for new competitions are contrary to EU law.
European Super League vs Uefa verdict
Ok, we now have the verdict in the European Super League vs Uefa case and it’s A WIN for the European Super League.
The ECJ have deemed that Fifa and Uefa rules on prior approval of interclub football competitions are contrary to EU law. That really is one in the eye for football’s governing bodies
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