The Court of Justice of the European Union will announce its final decision regarding the Super League case this Thursday at 09.30. A capital decision that will determine whether the competition project led by Florentino Pérez and supported today only by Real Madrid and FC Barcelona It may or may not be publicly developed in the coming years, but in no case will it be certain: neither will the Super League completely end this Thursday, nor will it become an imminent reality.
It is worth noting that this is not a decision regarding the legality of the Super League or its compliance with European law. It is not a decision that will end the ongoing dispute. A22 Management SportsThe company that manages the competition project with UEFA and FIFA. In fact, instructions have been given in the case. Commercial Court No. 17 of Madrid and will continue there from this Thursday.
15 of the 27 judges of the CJEU They will decide according to the preliminary decision given by the Spanish court. This is the repository of the complaint lodged by the clubs supporting the Super League when they announced the creation of the project to prevent UEFA and FIFA from retaliating against them, such as the expulsion of teams and players from organized competitions. by the following institutions: national leagues, Champions, World Cup, European Cup…
Is the UEFA and FIFA monopoly legal?
Super League defends this UEFA and FIFA abuse powerBy trying to prevent the emergence of competition outside both institutions. Their respective statutes recognize them monopoly of the federated football organization A situation that the Super League considers to be contrary to the antitrust rules contained in community law in their field is a matter on which the Spanish court decided to consult the ECJ. This is the key to the decision this Thursday: Is this monopoly legal?
A year ago, the court’s general counsel Anasthasios RantosHe published his general conclusions, which he defended almost entirely. Theses defended by UEFA and FIFA In the face of the demands of the Super League (which is also supported by LaLiga, RFEF and almost all football managers in different countries). This is the CJEU’s previous non-binding procedure, but it is anticipated that in 80% of cases the Luxembourg-based court will make the final decision.
Rantos predicted that the establishment of the Super League was legal and that no one objected. Those who participate in them must face consequences such as expulsion from competitions organized by UEFA and FIFA.. In short, it finds that “the FIFA and UEFA rules that make the creation of a new competition subject to prior authorization are compatible with the Union Law on competition matters.”
This decision implies that the monopoly of these two institutions on the organization of federated football is legitimate, in accordance with EU rules, and that clubs that decide to participate in tournaments held simultaneously are likely to be excluded from competitions governed by both. Time difference between UEFA and FIFA. A22, through its general manager, Bernd Reicharthas been trying to downplay the strength of Rantos’ conclusions for a year. With little success.
What to expect from the decision?
The rumor mill predicts that the CJEU decision will be largely in line with the arguments defended by Attorney General Rantos, but will not be as strong in its consequences. But if Justice tries to protect the legality of UEFA’s monopoly at the continental level, Super League will be even more seriously injuredsince the institution he presided over Aleksander Ceferin has no intention of sharing the European football cake with other managers.
The Super League was launched in April 2021 by 12 of Europe’s leading clubs. But the list was whittled down to three just 48 hours later, following brutal pressure from the British Government on the six Premier League clubs involved: Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Juventus. The Turin team announced last July that it had abandoned the project, leaving Spain’s two biggest clubs as the sole proponents of the project. The project has been trying to persuade clubs in Europe’s second tier to join in recent months. Or so they say because no one has raised their hand so far.
Without Bayern and PSG
It was initially presented as an almost closed competition, with guaranteed places for the 12 founders as well as three other clubs. Bayern, Dortmund and PSGwho have never participated in the project. On the contrary, they strongly opposed its birth. The Super League stated the following in the past months, without going into further detail: The competition format will be open Rewarding the sports results achieved in national leagues is the main criticism of the project.
Super League CEO Reichart said that the new format of the tournament, which has not yet been presented, It will host “more than 60 teams”compared to the top 20 and their “Treated equally and fairly”Compared to the original preponderance of 12 (or 15) founders, it is assumed that according to the initial project they will distribute 3.525 million euros among themselves just to establish the Super League.