{"id":11019,"date":"2023-12-23T13:31:41","date_gmt":"2023-12-23T13:31:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ugandaupdatenews.com\/?p=11019"},"modified":"2023-12-23T13:31:48","modified_gmt":"2023-12-23T13:31:48","slug":"european-super-league-eus-top-court-says-fifa-and-uefas-rules-against-controversial-competition-were-unlawful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/european-super-league-eus-top-court-says-fifa-and-uefas-rules-against-controversial-competition-were-unlawful\/","title":{"rendered":"European Super League: EU\u2019s top court says FIFA and UEFA\u2019s rules against controversial competition were unlawful"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The European Union\u2019s top court ruled against<\/a> FIFA and UEFA \u2013 two of soccer\u2019s top governing bodies \u2013 in the European Super League (ESL) case on Thursday, saying that their rules demanding prior approval for establishing a new competition, such as the ESL, and prohibiting clubs and players from playing in them were \u201cunlawful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) was considering whether FIFA and UEFA were legally permitted to block the formation of the controversial breakaway league in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The case was referred to the CJEU by a Madrid court and the CJEU\u2019s judgment had been keenly anticipated by a number of leading soccer clubs as well as fans and governing bodies given its profound implications for the future of European soccer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The court added that the ruling \u201cdoes not mean that a competition such as the Super League project must necessarily be approved,\u201d emphasizing that it was considering \u201cFIFA and UEFA rules\u201d rather than the legality of the controversial breakaway league.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ruling kickstarted the latest round in the fight for European soccer as Real Madrid and Barcelona, the clubs who most vehemently supported the original ESL, voiced their \u201csatisfaction\u201d while fan groups such as the Football Supporters Association<\/a> reiterated their opposition to an \u201cill-conceived breakaway super league,\u201d and other clubs including Manchester United<\/a> reaffirmed their commitment to existing competitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Political figures weighed into the debate too as Margaritis Schinas, the Vice President of the European Commission, seemingly opposed a new league,\u00a0posting on X<\/a>\u00a0that: \u201cOur consistent support of a values-driven European sports model is non-negotiable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added: \u201cEuropean football will always remain a vector of inclusion and cohesion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stephen Taylor Heath, Head of Sports Law at JMW Solicitors, told CNN Sport the court\u2019s decision means that FIFA and UEFA could still prevent clubs from joining a breakaway league, \u201cbut they would have to do so by means of a fairer process, a more reasonable justification for doing that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey can\u2019t just blanket restrict them simply because they don\u2019t want there to be a competitor league.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shortly after the ruling, A22, which was formed to sponsor and assist in the creation of the new ESL, proposed a new, mid-week, continent-wide competition that would include 64 teams across three leagues in the men\u2019s competition and 32 teams across two leagues in the women\u2019s competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also said there would be annual promotion and relegation between the leagues, and promotion into the lowest tier of the competition based on domestic league performance, though it did not say which clubs have agreed to the proposal during its launch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CJEU <\/strong>ruled that FIFA and UEFA are \u201cabusing a dominant position\u201d in terms of organizing football competitions, since their powers are not subject to any criteria \u201censuring that they are transparent, objective, non discriminatory and proportionate\u201d when any potential conflicts of interest arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It defined the \u201corganisation of interclub football competitions and the exploitation of the media rights\u201d as \u201ceconomic activities\u201d which must comply with the \u201ccompetition rules and respect the freedoms of movement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement, A22 said the decision was a \u201clandmark in football history,\u201d with Reichart adding<\/a>: \u201cThe UEFA-monopoly is over. Football is FREE. Clubs are now free from the threat of sanction AND free to determine their own futures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UEFA said in a statement<\/a> sent to CNN that it took \u201cnote of the judgement,\u201d adding that \u201cruling does not signify an endorsement or validation of the so-called \u2018super league\u2019\u201d but rather \u201cunderscores a pre-existing shortfall within UEFA\u2019s pre-authorisation framework, a technical aspect that has already been acknowledged and addressed in June 2022.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUEFA remains resolute in its commitment to uphold the European football pyramid, ensuring that it continues to serve the broader interests of society,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UEFA President Aleksander \u010ceferin noted in a press conference that the judgment \u201caccepts that UEFA maintains its role as the organizing and authorizing body\u201d and also \u201cembraces the key features of the European football pyramid \u2013 open competitions, sporting merit and solidarity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

World governing body FIFA said in a statement<\/a> that it too noted the ruling and will now \u201canalyse the decision \u2026 before commenting further.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFIFA firmly believes in the specific nature of sport, including the pyramid structure \u2013 which is underpinned by sporting merit \u2013 and the principles of competitive balance and financial solidarity,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIFA President Gianni Infantino later\u00a0said on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0that \u201ctoday\u2019s judgement does not change anything, really,\u201d and that his organization will \u201ccontinue to deliver the world\u2019s most spectacular, competitive and meaningful tournaments.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editors;msserwanga@gmail.com<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The European Union\u2019s top court ruled against FIFA and UEFA \u2013 two of soccer\u2019s top governing bodies \u2013 in the European Super<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11020,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[137],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-soccer"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/fifa.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14853,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/palace-demoted-from-europa-league-over-ownership-rules\/","url_meta":{"origin":11019,"position":0},"title":"Palace demoted from Europa League over ownership rules","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"July 12, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Crystal Palace have been demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League next season, Uefa have ruled. 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