the European Court of Justice rules in favor of the mutinous clubs against UEFA – Libération

The European Court of Justice ruled this Thursday, December 21 in the conflict between the European body and football giants, such as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, ​​Manchester United or Juventus, who wanted to create a closed league in April 2021 , causing an outcry.

The decision is brutal for Uefa. The European Court of Justice ruled this Thursday, December 21, in the conflict between the European body and football giants around the Super League, a project based on the very cash-friendly model of North American closed leagues. The CJEU rules in favor of the “mutinous” clubs, as they were nicknamed, by considering that the UEFA rules relating to the authorization of football competitions, such as the Super League, dissident of the Champions League, were contrary to competition law.

The court specifies, however, that the Super League project “must not necessarily be authorized”, stressing that it rules generally on the rules of FIFA and UEFA and not on this specific project.

In April 2021, twelve major European players (Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, ​​Atletico Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, Inter and AC Milan) had given their agreement in principle to launch this closed Super League. Faced with public outcry, particularly from English supporters, and especially the threats of heavy sanctions brandished by UEFA and FIFA, the project quickly deflated.

To the point that today only two dissidents remain: Real and Barça associated in a European Super League Company (ESLC). Supported by the A22 marketing agency, this entity brought the case before the commercial court of the Spanish capital, which in turn referred the matter to the CJEU.

More information to come…