The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled this Thursday that FIFA and UEFA abused their dominant position by blocking the birth of the Super League by threatening sanctions against clubs and players participating in the Super League. This represents a support for the idea, not the project itself. Led by Real Madrid and Florentino Pérez. Reactions to the decision were immediate. From LaLiga’s warning calls “because the CJEU has not decided on a specific project” to the “new time of freedoms in Europe” declared by the top white leader.
“Today, more than ever, we remember that the Super League is a selfish and elitist model,” LaLiga said through its corporate channel. Likewise, the Spanish football federation, headed by Javier Tebas, assures: “Any format that is not completely open, with direct access through domestic leagues each year, is a closed model.” and concludes: “European football has already spoken, do not insist.” The first communication is accompanied by the slogan “Win on the pitch” but is written in English.
Tebas: “Doubts and misrepresentations must be avoided”
Tebas posted his own comments on the punishment via his ‘X’ account. “There must be transparent, clear and objective rules on the approval of competitions. There must be a regulatory structure that requires conditions comparable to the entire sector but does not leave certain leaders of FIFA and UEFA to free discretion. This would be an abuse of dominant power. Already in 2022, UEFA has established a procedure to allow new competitions in which the Super League can participate.“The president of LaLiga announced.
In his analysis, Tebas refers to the penultimate paragraph of the CJEU press release, “to avoid doubts and misrepresentations that already begin with ‘carriers’ and ‘influencer friends’.” The text is as follows: “However, a competition such as the Super League project does not necessarily have to be allowed. Since general questions have been raised about FIFA and UEFA rules, The Court of Justice does not rule on this specific project in its decision.“.
In a longer official statement, LaLiga insists on the ideas put forward by Tebas. “As the only person at the procedure, he celebrates these words as they coincide with the official position expressed. 23 EU national governments -referring to the position of the Spokesperson General of the CJEU in December, who joined the community in defending the football pyramid against separatist movements such as the European Super League,” he explains.
From the club federation’s perspective, “The decision confirms what we have always said: Anyone can organize competitions that cannot be banned outside the UEFA and FIFA environment, and no one has questioned this. The question of jurisdiction is the conditions under which these competitions will be held.” UEFA and FIFA ecosystem, that is, There must be transparent, clear and objective regulations for the approval of new competitions“.
In its positioning, LaLiga cites an expert report by KMPG, which states that “a project like the European Super League would cause LaLiga and its clubs to lose 55% of its global revenue in Spain alone and put it at risk.” An industry that generates more than 194,000 jobs and €8.39 billion in taxes annuallyIt represents 1.44% of GDP”.
Florentino: “A great day in football history”
Real Madrid made a corporate statement through its president, Florentino Pérez, who started his speech by saying “Welcome.” tremendous satisfaction The decision taken by the ECJ, which is tasked with guaranteeing our principles, values and freedoms.” For the highest white leader, “European football will never be a monopoly again. Because we see that our right to promote competitions that modernize sports has been recognized.”
Judicial decision for the President ““The victory of the Europe of freedoms against the oppression that imposes law and reason that we have been experiencing for years.”. Likewise, he compares the Super League process to the process initiated 70 years ago to introduce the European Cup. “We will continue to defend a modern and open project based on sporting merit, which will impose ‘financial fair play’. This will bring economic sustainability,” he insisted.
Florentino emphasized the following in his statement: Campaigns we have and will intensify After ending decades of monopoly.” Finally, the Real Madrid president said that European football “faces a new era of constructive dialogue, without threats or actions to anyone to feed fan pressure in the present and the future.” In terms of the history of football and sports a wonderful day.”
Barça: “Super League project has been approved”
FC Barcelona issued a statement congratulating itself on the CJEU decision “We support the Super League project.” “FC Barcelona, one of the driving forces of the Super League, considers that the decision paves the way for a new top-level football competition in Europe. against the monopoly figure in the football worldand wants to propose a dialogue on what the European competition model of the future should be,” defends the club headed by Joan Laporta.
Likewise, Barça reiterated its full support for the Super League project.encourages constructive discussion between all football organizations “As it has been approved by today’s decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union, both at home and abroad.”
Y22: “All matches in the Super League will be free”
A22 Sports Management, the company responsible for sponsoring and assisting the establishment of the Super League, was very happy with the CJEU’s decision. “We qualified for the competition. UEFA’s monopoly is over. Football is free. Clubs will no longer be subject to threats and sanctions. They are free to decide their own future,” celebrated Bernd Reichart, CEO of A22.
Likewise, this German professional with extensive experience in the media wanted to send two messages. First to the fans: “We will broadcast all Super League matches for free“. The second is for the clubs: “The income of the clubs and payments for solidarity with football are guaranteed.”