Super League dealt a supposed final blow by EU’s Court of Justice

A response from advocate general of the EU Court of Justice (CJEU), Athanasios Rantos, suggests that UEFA and FIFA would be able to freeze out any club that takes part in a European Super League.

The breakaway league’s disastrous launch last year, had many football fans, UEFA and FIFA worried for the integrity of the sport, with UEFA leading the charge against it. From the initial 12 teams that were advocating for the league, only three (

,

and Real Madrid) are still keen on pursuing it but it seems their Super League dream has been dealt yet another blow.

The advocate general of (CJEU), Rantos, responded to a request made in the Commercial Court in Madrid that asked whether competition law and fundamental freedoms even allowed FIFA or UEFA to take any actions against teams that want to be part of the Super League.

Earlier Super League’s chief condemned any actions against the breakaway league as anti-competitive which is against the EU competition law.

Rantos relayed his opinion on the matter, saying:

"Whilst ESLC is free to set up its own independent football competition outside the UEFA and FIFA ecosystem, it cannot however, in parallel with the creation of such a competition, continue to participate in the football competitions organized by FIFA and UEFA without the prior authorization of those federations."

FIFA and UEFA had both threatened to ban any player or club that took part in the breakaway league and while clubs could in theory be able to form a new league, they cannot take part in the old leagues that are under FIFA or UEFA.

UEFA gave its own response to Rantos’ comments by saying:

"UEFA warmly welcomes today's unequivocal opinion recommending a ruling of the CJEU in support of our central mission to govern European football, protect the pyramid and develop the game across Europe."

They continued by describing the opinion as “

"an encouraging step towards preserving the existing dynamic and democratic governance structure of the European football pyramid.

"Football in Europe remains united and steadfastly opposed to the ESL, or any such breakaway proposals, which would threaten the entire European sports ecosystem."

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