A Spanish court demands FIFA and UEFA to cease illegal behavior linked to the Super League case.
Judge Sofía Gil García concluded that FIFA and UEFA abused their authority and blocked free market competition by giving themselves the right to prevent participation in alternative events and imposing unjust limitations.
Both institutions were commanded to "quickly eliminate all the consequences of their anti-competitive behavior caused by this legal process."
This verdict aligns with the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in December 2023, declaring that FIFA and UEFA requirements demanding prior permission for launching a new competition and forbidding clubs and players from participating in such competitions were "unlawful."
A22, the company responsible for sponsoring and facilitating the formation of the ESL, applauded the decision calling it "a significant step toward a more competitive and long-lasting football landscape in Europe."
"UEFA's regulations and hostile actions to protect its monopoly have stifled innovation for years, and clubs should not be threatened with sanctions for just having ideas and engaging in discussions," A22 CEO Bernd Reichart stated in a statement on Monday.
"The monopoly era is now conclusively finished," Reichart further declared.
Nonetheless, in response to the judgment, UEFA declared, "the court has not endorsed or approved projects like the Super League."
"In reality, the judge has stated that the Super League project has been abandoned for a long time and should not expect her to rule on any abstract projects.
"To summarize, the judgment does not grant the liberty to establish competitions without authorization and does not pertain to any future concept or even an altered variant of an existing project," UEFA mentioned in the statement provided to CNN Sport.
"It might take some time to analyze the verdict before deciding whether any additional measures are warranted," UEFA added.
FIFA and UEFA can challenge the ruling in a different division of the Madrid Provincial Court.
CNN has contacted FIFA for comment.
The ESL situation commenced on April 18, 2021, when 12 of Europe's premier, wealthiest, and economically potent sports clubs announced their desire to separate from the existing UEFA association competition format and build a Super League. The concept was to ensure 15 clubs a place in a 20-team competition every season, independent of their performance on the field.
The 20 squads would consist of the 12 founding members, as well as three constant and yet unnamed teams and five others that would earn their way in annually.
However, following immense opposition from fans and the public at large, who viewed it as a power grab designed to ensure the Super League's founding members' standing and income, the plans were dropped 48 hours afterward, while Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona persisted in their support of the project.
CNN reached out to Real Madrid and Barca for comment.
This Spanish court's verdict is due before UEFA's marquee Champions League final between 14-time winner Real and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
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The Spanish court's decision also touches on the implications for football clubs participating in alternative competitions, as it emphasized that FIFA and UEFA's restrictions on such events were unlawful. This could potentially open up opportunities for new football leagues or tournaments to emerge.
Furthermore, the verdict might inspire football fan bases that have been longing for more diverse and inclusive competitions, as it challenges the traditional monopoly of UEFA and FIFA over the sport's major events.
Source: edition.cnn.com
