CJEU Ruling Reignites Debates on UEFA Monopoly and Football’s Super League

In a recent ruling that has reignited debates about the European sports model and the potential for a Super League in football, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) did not invalidate the monopoly held by UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) and FIFA (International Federation of Association Football). However, it did critique the lack of transparent, objective, non-discriminatory, and proportionate criteria in the rules governing competition organization.

The Super League Vision

A22 Sports has announced a vision for a revamped Super League involving 64 men's teams and 32 women's teams across three separate leagues. Two clubs, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, remain steadfast in their support of the proposed competition, with Real Madrid's president, Florentino Perez, hailing the court ruling as 'a great day for the history of football'.

Financial Implications

Barcelona's commitment to the project is motivated by financial reasons, as they grapple with a debt of €552m. If the other 10 clubs that withdrew from the original plans do not have a change of heart, they could potentially face a compensation payment of €300m. A successful launch of the Super League could result in a financial windfall for Barcelona and Real Madrid, with each club potentially receiving €1bn owing to their loyalty to the project.

Opposition and Legal Battles

Despite the CJEU's ruling, the launch of a new Super League faces significant opposition from various stakeholders, including professional leagues, clubs, European club syndicates, fan organizations, and public authorities. Clubs such as FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund have expressed their opposition to the Super League, arguing that it would undermine the importance of national leagues and European football. The legal battle continues, with the matter returning to the Spanish courts and UEFA intending to defend the conformity of its regulations, which were modified the previous year.

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