Clubs still supporting the European Super League have been dealt a major blow after Europe’s top court ruled that Fifa and Uefa’s power to block teams from joining a breakaway league is compatible with EU competition law.
In a significant moment for the future of European football, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) backed Uefa over their opposition to the European Super League, after Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus brought forward a case accusing European football’s governing body of running a “monopoly” over the sport.
Advocate General Athanasios Rantos, an advisor to the CJEU, said: “The Fifa-Uefa rules under which any new competition is subject to prior approval are compatible with EU competition law.”
A Uefa statement followed: “Uefa warmly welcomes today’s unequivocal opinion recommending a ruling of the CJEU in support of our central mission to govern European football, protect the pyramid and develop the game across Europe.”
The European Super League collapsed in less than 48 hours last year after fierce backlash by fans, governments and players forced Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid to pull out of the breakaway competition.
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