The European Court of Justice has disclosed that banning clubs from joining Super League was unlawful and UEFA, FIFA are “abusing a dominant position.
Recall that the news that 12 teams, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham, had signed up for the breakaway league marked the beginning of the ESL saga in April 2021.
However, the proposals collapsed in less than 72 hours due to intense criticism and condemnation from supporters, other European leagues, and even the government.
Meanwhile, UEFA penalized AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, and the six Premier League teams for joining the European Super League.
While other clubs bowed out of the idea, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus decided to take legal action against FIFA and UEFA for trying to halt the existence of the league.
READ MORE: European Super League: New Proposal Would Be Open Competition, Say Organisers
After a prolonged legal battle, the European Court of Justice concluded that FIFA and UEFA abused “a dominant position” and violated the law by preventing teams from joining breakaway leagues such as the ESL.
The court said: “That does not mean that a competition such as the Super League project must necessarily be approved”.
“Potentially entering the market,” Fifa and Uefa must ensure that their power is “transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate.”
“However, the powers of Fifa and Uefa are not subject to any such criteria. Fifa and Uefa are, therefore, abusing a dominant position.
“Moreover, given their arbitrary nature, their rules on approval, control, and sanctions must be held to be unjustified restrictions on the freedom to provide services.
“That does not mean that a competition such as the Super League project must necessarily be approved. The Court does not rule on that specific project in its judgment.”
