The football clubs behind the European Super League will accuse the governing bodies of football of violating EU rules on competitiveness, while trying to dismantle a “monopoly” that they claim blocks the creation of rival competitions, Mediafax reports.
Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Juventus, the three clubs behind the SuperLeague, are taking legal action against UEFA and FIFA in an effort to fundamentally reorganize the way football is organized. A victory could allow them to take more control over the finances of the competitions in which they play.
According to the Financial Times, A22, a Spanish company representing Super League clubs, will ask the European Court of Justice to decide whether UEFA can continue to act as a regulatory body that is able to impose sanctions on clubs, while he also acts as a participant, taking advantage of the organization of tournaments such as the Champions League.
The Super League project appeared to have collapsed shortly after it was unveiled in April amid protests from fans, experts and politicians. In a few days, nine of the secessionist clubs, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, AC Milan, Inter Milano and Atlético Madrid, have announced that they will abandon the project.
However, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus remain committed to this concept.
According to court documents, the SuperLiga accuses UEFA and FIFA of abusing their dominant position.
“Unlike other competitive markets, UEFA and FIFA fiercely maintain and defend a monopolistic position in European football that is contrary to competition law, despite the efforts of other operators to access the market,” the file said.
A Madrid court has referred the case to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to rule on whether UEFA and FIFA statutes, which grant exclusive rights to host football competitions in Europe, are compatible with EU law.
The ECJ ‘s preliminary ruling is unlikely to resolve the dispute, a similar case involving a ski competition has been in the courts for 7 years.
Super League officials say the key objective of court proceedings is to find out whether UEFA and FIFA are acting in accordance with competition rules and whether they can “legitimately exclude competition in a market that accounts for 1% of the European Union’s GDP.” .
The case refers to previous attempts to break the alleged monopoly held by the two institutions, such as the 1990 attempt by a group backed by Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian prime minister and owner of AC Milan, to launch a separate competition.
A UEFA spokesman said the dual role of governing bodies had been endorsed and recognized by the European institutions. This combination of roles helps “to ensure the correct, coherent and holistic positive development of European sport”.
“The challenges facing this model, currently pursued by several elite football clubs and their financial supporters, are selfish and desperate. They are a danger to European football and to the entire European sports ecosystem, “the UEFA spokesman added for FT.
