Super League soccer has been revived after the European Union’s top court ruled governing bodies UEFA and FIFA had defied competition law by blocking the breakaway project.
The ruling was welcomed by Real Madrid who, along with Barcelona, are leading the fight to form a rival competition to the Champions League.
And the Super League promoters, Madrid-based A22 Sports Management, immediately announced new proposed competitions for men and women, saying young fans are “turning away” from soccer.
“It has been fully recognised that the clubs have the right to propose and promote European competitions that modernise our sport and attract fans from all over the world,” Madrid president Florentino Perez said.
“Today, a Europe of freedoms has triumphed, and also football and its fans have triumphed.”
The case was heard last year at the European Court of Justice after Super League failed at launch in April 2021. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin called the club leaders then “snakes” and “liars.”
The company formed by 12 rebel clubs — now led by only Real Madrid and Barcelona after Juventus withdrew this year — started legal action and the court was asked to rule on points of EU law by a Madrid tribunal.
“We have won the right to compete. The UEFA monopoly is over. Football is free,” said Bernd Reichart, the CEO of A22.
“Clubs are now free from the threat of sanctions and free to determine their own futures.”
In a presentation streamed on YouTube, Reichart said there would be no permanent members of the new competition and they would remain committed to their domestic leagues.
The league and knockout competition would also be played midweek so as not to impact domestic leagues.
The clubs accused UEFA of breaching European law by allegedly abusing its market dominance of soccer competitions.
“The FIFA and UEFA rules making any new interclub football project subject to their prior approval, such as the Super League, and prohibiting clubs and players from playing in those competitions, are unlawful,” the court said.
“There is no framework for the FIFA and UEFA rules ensuring that they are transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate.”
Real Madrid is one of the teams leading the fight for a rival competition to the Champions League. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
The court acknowledged FIFA and UEFA were abusing a dominant position and their rules on approval, control and sanctions “must be held to be unjustified restrictions on the freedom to provide services.”
While clearing the way for Super League, the court also said it “does not mean that a competition such as the Super League project must necessarily be approved.”
UEFA said it addressed last year “a historical shortfall within UEFA’s pre-authorisation framework” and pledged to continue defending the central role of governing bodies in the European sports model.
“UEFA is confident in the robustness of its new rules, and specifically that they comply with all relevant European laws and regulations,” it said.
The European Club Association, which represents Europe’s top football clubs, reiterated its staunch opposition to Super League.
“In short, the world of football moved on from the Super League years ago and progressive reforms will continue,” the group said.
English clubs are still unlikely to join a revived plan. The Premier League’s international appeal and financial power has grown in the past two years, and a UK government bill announced last month by King Charles proposed powers to block English teams from trying to join a breakaway league.
Aiden
Roar Rookie
Reminds me of Trump though. So much wrong with the status quo, can seem like a good idea to introduce a disrupter. But like Trump … I’d say to the ESL … not THIS disrupter. It would just enshrine everything that is already wrong. I’d rather see someone come along with a comp that promises heavy salary caps. The model is broken due to the escalation of player fees. Of course, nothing radical will EVER happen.
Aiden
Roar Rookie
Five years? Try 18 months. They’d be the Netflix of football streaming.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
continentals cannot handle the truth, England remains the home of football.
jamesb
Roar Guru
Not sure if Europe wants the English clubs in the ESL. I think this competition is a way of countering against the EPL. EPL is the richiest domestic league in Europe, while other leagues are picking up the scraps. Also, UEFA and FIFA are hardly saints. They could've prevented clubs from been sovereign state owned and have harsher FFP penalties, especially towards the bigger clubs. In some way, I wouldn't mind seeing the ESL get off the ground. But football did change when Abramovich purchased Chelsea.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Wow - some surprises. Arnold doesn’t mind mixing things up - Gethin Jones (not young, but a right back or cb), Iredale and Yazbeck. Deng is back and unfortunately Leckie is injured. It will be an interesting squad, but I’m not seeing it as the winning squad - time will tell.
chris1
Roar Rookie
Some interesting selections with the Socceroos. Good to see Bruno in!
Aiden
Roar Rookie
Not to mention their proposed comp now has play-offs, groups and promotion relegation. Sounds a bit like ... I don't know ... the Champion's League? They appear to be moving away from the totally closed shop model to a comp that there is literally no window to play. So as another wise poster has said, UEFA simply needs to wreck them with scheduling. I don't see how the clubs can fit in all the football, really they are asking for a total breakaway comp ... and what club's supporters will go for that? Club history has meaning precisely because of what they have done IN the established comps, why would you exit that? They seem deluded to me.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I think that name should be suggested to James - I like A Liga!
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
That’s actually not the case. UEFA is the governing body for football within Europe. FIFA’s authority is for global competitions only, UEFA owns and operates the Champions League & Euros, FIFA has no authority over those competitions.
chris1
Roar Rookie
They really are deluded if they think fans in Europe are going to support this. But I think they are trying to cash in on the Asian markets with their fake fans who only support the top 2 or so clubs from the 5 top leagues in Europe.
NickA
Roar Rookie
'free' until we get 5 years in and they start making people pay for it. If this happens, it's A-liga or nothing for me!
chris1
Roar Rookie
One disgusting organisation Super League group usurping another just as disgusting organisation UEFA/FIFA. They deserve each other.
Garry
Roar Rookie
I agree UEFA may have overstepped but FIFA is THE governing body. All competitions are under its oversight. It’s a bit like saying the UN can’t make rules. Oh and FIFA could easily schedule its comps to clash with super league for starters..then clubs would have an awkward ‘choice’
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
I think it's the answer OF greed
Stevo
Roar Rookie
"And the Super League promoters, Madrid-based A22 Sports Management, immediately announced new proposed competitions for men and women, saying young fans are “turning away” from soccer." That's a breath-taking, fact free comment! The Super League is the answer to what problem exactly???? Maybe it's simply the answer to greed.