European Court rules that blocking the European Super League violates European competition law

By Andrew Warsaw

December 21 – In A bomb decision that could to have significant consequences, THE European Court of Justice governed Today that UEFA And FIFA is broken EU competition rules by to attempt has block THE apparently sentenced to break up Great League.

THE judgement, questionably THE most seismic Since THE Bosman decision of 1995 that amended THE confront of European soccer, surprisingly went against THE advice of THE ECJ own lawyer general of which without engagement notice A year There is find In service of UEFA post.

THE ECJ decision, describe by supporters of THE Great League project as Judgement Day, will breath new life In their offer has together up A rival has THE Champions League and will be seen as A blow has THE authority of UEFA And FIFA And how they governs THE Thu.

UEFA president Alexander Ceferin had ridiculed those has THE heart of THE original Great League project as "snakes" while UEFA threat has to forbid players Since Great League clubs Since It is own competitions.

But the 15th Grandiose Bedroom judges In Luxembourg said In their verdict that the FIFA And UEFA rules manufacturing any of them new interclub soccer project subject has their Before approval, such as THE Great League, And to forbid clubs And players Since playing In those competitions, are illegal. »

FIFA And UEFA were “abuse A dominant position", THE court declared. "There East No frame For THE FIFA And UEFA rules ensure that they are transparent, objective, non-discriminatory And proportionate. »

THE original Great League idea collapsed spectacularly In April 2021 When all but A handle of THE 12 clubs implied drawn out in the middle of A global Fans negative reaction.

That I invited three remaining rebel clubs – Barcelona, Juventus And Real Madrid – has start legal action And last FEBRUARY, A22, THE business together up has keep THE Great League concept alive, announced revised plans For A to break up event with 60 has 80 teams out of UEFA auspices which, he insisted Above all, would be be open has all And not A farm shop, with both promotion And relegation.

A22 argued that UEFA And FIFA were breakup competition law by create A monopoly And threatening has sanction clubs And players WHO joined THE to break up league.

"After almost 70 years as THE alone regulator, porter And dominant commercial operator of THE European soccer walk, UEFA monopoly can Finally END! We are on THE threshold of A new, better time For #EuropeanClubFootball”, THE business tweeted following THE ECJ verdict.

Bernard Reichart, THE chief executive of A22, added: "We to have won THE RIGHT has compete. THE UEFA monopoly East on. Soccer East free. Clubs are NOW free Since THE threat of sanction And free has determine their own eventually. »

However, THE the judgment is not equivalent has A legal approval of any of them to break up league, instead confirmation that prohibition It is creation was In breach of EU law.

"That do not mean that A competition such as THE Great League project must necessarily be approved. THE Court, having has been request in general about THE FIFA And UEFA rules, do not ruler on that specific project In It is judgement," THE ECJ statement stressed.

If A RELAUNCH Great League In fact arrived East very questionable. For A to start, with Juventus having drawn out A little month There is, only Real Madrid And Barcelona stay as Drivers of THE project.

Not only that. In September, THE European club Association sign A joint Memorandum of Understanding with UEFA which short until July 2030. In THE Protocol of agreement East A business that THE CEA "ensure that none of It is member clubs participate In any of them competition that East not organized Or recognized by UEFA Or FIFA".

Not surprisingly both UEFA And THE CEA violently defended their positions following THE ECJ verdict.

"This decision do not mean A approval Or validation of THE supposedly 'great league'; he instead underlines A pre-existing miss to win In UEFA pre-authorization frame, A technical appearance that has Already has been recognized And address In June 2022”, UEFA said, add he was "confident In THE robustness of It is new rules, And specifically that they conform with all relevant European laws And regulations. "

“UEFA remains resolved In It is commitment has defend THE European soccer pyramid, ensure that he keep on going has serve THE wider interests of Company. We will continue has shape THE European sports model collectively with national associations, leagues, clubs, Fans, players, the coaches, EU institutions, Governments And the partners same.

"We trust that THE united European soccer pyramid that THE Fans And all stakeholders to have declared as their irreplaceable model will be saved against THE threat of escapes by European And national laws. »

THE CEA was even more categorical In It is interpretation of THE ECJ judgment.

"HAS be absolutely clear, THE judgement In No path What...