MADRID — A Spanish judge ordered football ruling bodies Fifa and Uefa to halt their opposition to a parallel European competition known as the European Super League (ESL), ruling they were practising anti-competitive behaviour and abusing their dominant position.
Judge Sofia Gil Garcia ruled that the governing bodies violated European Union law by banning clubs from participating in a proposed new professional football championship, a court statement said today.
In the ruling, Gil Garcia also ordered Fifa and Uefa to immediately reverse any anti-competitive actions committed in the past.
The case was brought by A22 Sports Management, the sports development company behind the plan to create the ESL, against the Spanish Soccer Federation, Spain’s La Liga, Uefa and Fifa, who had blocked the ESL.
Gil Garcia’s ruling followed a similar decision by the European Court of Justice in December.
In a Monday statement, La Liga insisted the ruling does not explicitly support the creation of the Super League.
The proposal in 2021 of a breakaway league by Europe’s 12 leading clubs sparked widespread protests among fans and threats of sanctions by Uefa, leading nine of them to pull out.
A22 had said Uefa and Fifa held a monopolistic position that breached the EU’s competition and free movement law.
The ECJ ruled against Uefa and Fifa, though it did not comment specifically on whether the ESL could go ahead.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and nine other top European clubs announced the plan in April 2021.
The move collapsed within 48 hours, however, after a public outcry that forced Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid to withdraw. — Reuters
