Court rejects FIFA & UEFA's attempt to prevent clubs from joining European Super League

The European Union's Court of Justice ruled FIFA and UEFA can't prevent clubs from enlisting in the Super League. The judgement arrives after both entities threatened to dismiss clubs and players who affiliated with the Super League from their existing tournaments.

The original Super League included household names like Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Tottenham Hotspur. However, faced with major backlash from fans, nine out of these twelve clubs withdrew their membership soon after.

Juventus had its departure in July 2023, yet Barcelona and Real Madrid keep asserting the Super League's upcoming establishment. This recent decision will likely uplift their spirits.

'FIFA and UEFA's regulations, which imply their preliminary approval for any new interclub football project such as Super League and prohibition of clubs and players from playing, are illegal,' the court’s statement confirmed.

The current system lacks the framework for FIFA and UEFA's regulations to be transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate.

Moreover, the rules that provide FIFA and UEFA exclusive rights over commercial exploitation related to these competitions restrict competition given their significance to the media, consumers and television audiences in the European Union.

The Court explains that the organization of interclub football competitions and monetizing media rights are essentially commercial activities and must adhere to competition rules and observe the freedoms of movement. FIFA and UEFA are abusing their dominant position.

However, these rulings do not indicate the guaranteed set-up of the Super League. The verdict enables the potential founding body behind the Super League a chance to establish the competition.

'Although this doesn't imply an imminent approval of a project like Super League,' the added statement read. 'The Court's query was about overall FIFA and UEFA regulations, not a judgement on that specific project.'