The ECJ will rule on the ‘compatibility of the UEFA monopoly’ later this year, but European Super League clubs seem to have learned from their mistakes with the 10 principles presented by A22 on Thursday, writes Lorenzo Bettoni.
It’s been almost two years since the original Super League project was trashed following the withdrawal of Premier League clubs, Inter, Milan and Atletico Madrid, leaving Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona as the only three clubs backing the ‘breakaway competition.’
The trio has continued working on the project naming Bernd Reichart new CEO for A22 Sports Management, the company behind the Super League, this past October.
The original project was strongly challenged by fans, especially in England, with people flooding in the streets, blaming their clubs for agreeing on the plan and ultimately convincing them to withdraw. The main reasons why they didn’t want to participate in the competition were that the original ESL would have been a closed tournament only involving elite European clubs who would participate regardless of their performance in domestic leagues.
The 10 principles presented by A22 on Thursday prove, at least, that Super League clubs have learned from their mistakes as the new project is open to 60-80 clubs and the qualification is based on domestic results.
So, does this mean the European Super League will take place? It is still too early to say as a legal battle involving UEFA and ESL clubs is still ongoing in different fields
On January 31, 2023, Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona won an appeal against UEFA in a Madrid court that ruled UEFA does not have the power to sanction clubs and players involved in the new competition. This will be valid until the European Court of Justice decides on whether UEFA and FIFA abused a dominant position under European competition.
Back in November, Advocate General Athanasios Rantos issued a non-binding ruling saying that it’s UEFA’s right to approve new European competitions.
Rantos explained that although clubs are free to set up their own tournament, they “cannot do it in parallel with the creation of such a competition, continue to participate in the football competitions organised by FIFA and UEFA without the prior authorization of those federations.”
“Later this year, the Court of Justice of the European Union will rule on the legality and compatibility of the UEFA monopoly with the framework of the fundamental freedoms, principles and values that are the basis of the EU. Their decision will impact not only football, but all European sports,” A22 said on Thursday.
A decision from the ECJ is expected in the coming months and will be the real turning point in the case which could forever change the shape of European football.