From Europe a blow to the Super League

The rules of FIFA and UEFA which subject any new competition to prior authorization are compatible with EU competition law. This is the non-binding conclusion presented today by the advocate general of the EU Court in the case that the Super League has brought against UEFA and FIFA for the alleged illegal monopoly on the organization of international competitions.

In the note released by the Court of Justice of the EU it is observed that, although the European Super League company (Eslc) is free to establish its own independent football competition outside the UEFA-Fifa ecosystem, it cannot, at the same time, continue to participate in football competitions organized by the two organizations without their authorization. In the conclusions presented at the hearing held today, Advocate General Athanasios Rantos therefore proposed that the Court establish that, in addition to what has already been indicated, EU rules do not prohibit FIFA, UEFA, their federations or their national leagues from threatening sanctions against affiliated clubs if they participate in a project to establish a new competition which would risk undermining the legitimate objectives pursued by those associations of which they are members. Furthermore, according to the Advocate General, the European competition rules do not impose restrictions, in the statutes of FIFA, concerning the exclusive marketing of rights relating to competitions organized by FIFA and UEFA to the extent that such restrictions are inherent and proportionate to the pursuit of the objectives legitimate connected to the specificity of sport.

"An unequivocal opinion." UEFA "welcomes with great favour" the opinion of the EU court which considers its rules on the Superlega issue not contrary to EU law. The opinion recommends a ruling by the European Court of Justice in support of our central mission to govern European football, protect the pyramid and develop the game across Europe. UEFA welcomes the unequivocal opinion of Advocate General Rantos, which represents an encouraging step towards maintaining the current dynamic and democratic governance structure of the European football pyramid.