A Spanish judge has ordered FIFA and UEFA to halt their opposition to a new competition known as the European Super League, saying the two entities are engaging in anti-competitive behavior and abusing their dominant position.
Judge Sofia Gil García ruled that the entities violated European Union laws by banning clubs from participating in the new professional soccer league that had been proposed, according to a court filing on Monday.
In the decision, Gil García also ordered FIFA and UEFA to immediately revoke any anti-competitive measures adopted in the past.
The case was brought by A22 Sports Management, the sports development company behind the plan to create the Superliga, against the Spanish Football Federation, La Liga, which runs the Spanish league, UEFA and FIFA, which blocked the Superliga.
“The era of monopoly is now definitively over,” A22 CEO Benrd Reichart said in a statement after the decision, calling it “an important step towards a truly competitive and sustainable European football landscape.”
La Liga and UEFA insisted that the decision does not explicitly support the creation of the Super League.
“The decision does not give any third party the right to develop competitions without authorization and does not relate to any future project nor, indeed, to any modified version of an existing project,” UEFA said in a statement.
A proposal for a breakaway league of 12 major European clubs, unveiled in 2021, has sparked widespread fan protests and threats of sanctions from UEFA. Nine of them ended up giving up on the idea.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
