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The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled that football's governing bodies, UEFA and FIFA, violated EU competition rules by attempting to thwart the breakaway Super League.
The court stated that the rules imposed by FIFA and UEFA on the prior approval of interclub football competitions, including the Super League, are inconsistent with EU law. The verdict emphasised that these rules breached EU competition law and impeded the freedom to provide services within the union.
The CJEU declared that both organisations were 'abusing a dominant position' when they cracked down on the breakaway league, citing that their rules lacked transparency, objectivity, non-discrimination, and proportionality.
The court's decision has far-reaching implications for the football landscape, challenging the regulatory authority exercised by FIFA and UEFA.
The legal challenge against the Super League crackdown is backed by football giants Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, and the CJEU is now providing its advice on EU law to a Madrid court. This court will ultimately determine the final details of the legal battle surrounding the Super League.
The Super League, launched by a dozen leading European football clubs in April 2021, faced a swift collapse as numerous teams withdrew following vehement opposition from fans, players, coaches, and political figures. The CJEU's ruling underscores the legal complexities surrounding the attempted formation of such breakaway leagues and the role of football governing bodies.
In a separate development, the CJEU backed a European Commission finding against the International Skating Union for preventing two skaters from participating in rival tournaments. This decision sheds light on broader competition and regulation issues within various sports federations.
The court ruled in favour of the Royal Antwerp Football Club's challenge to UEFA rules that mandated reserved spots for locally trained players. While the court acknowledged that the rule could lead to indirect discrimination against players from other EU states, it suggested that UEFA could still demonstrate the proportionality of these rules in promoting recruitment and training.
The Brussels court will consider the judges' recommendations when making a final ruling on this matter.
The CJEU's recent decisions signal a potential shift in the legal landscape of sports governance, challenging established norms and regulations imposed by governing bodies like UEFA and FIFA.
As legal battles unfold, the football world awaits further developments that could reshape the future of sports competitions and regulations.