European Super League verdict LIVE: Latest news and updates in case against Uefa
Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free
Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
Thanks for signing up to the
Football email
The European Super League verdict is due on Thursday morning in a legal battle against European football governing body Uefa, which could be “bigger than Bosman”. In a landmark case at the European Court of Justice (ECJ), the football world is braced for a decision that could have huge repercussions.
After almost 1,000 days since the case was filed in May 2021, the hearing will decide whether Real Madrid and Barcelona can relaunch the ESL and if Uefa, and Fifa, do indeed hold a monopoly on the sport and if that contravenes EU law. The rapid backtracking from many of the 12 founding clubs from those initial plans released in April 2021 came after the furious backlash from fans, yet Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, until this summer, held firm.
Here’s everything you need to know about the ESL verdict and follow the latest updates and news from Luxembourg below:
Recommended
European Super League vs Uefa verdict
What is being decided?
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Justice will decide whether Uefa and Fifa acted against competition law by blocking the formation of the European Super League in 2021 and sanctioning the clubs involved.
A22, the company backing the European Super League, believe Uefa and Fifa are abusing a dominant position by acting as governing body, regulator, commercial operator and gatekeeper, while also having significant sanctioning powers.
They argue Uefa and Fifa should not be able to run a “monopoly” over football and want to have the right to launch new competitions without facing punishment under a free market.
A non-binding decision delivered by the Advocate General in the case last December found rules allowing Uefa to have prior approval of new competitions were compatible with EU law – now the European Court of Justice will now consider its own interpretation of the EU’s competition law and will deliver its verdict on whether Uefa acted lawfully.
European Court of Justice decision ‘bigger than Bosman’ and could change the face of football
“If it seems strange that there is still so much talk of the European Super League given what happened in April 2021, there are many involved in the case now that are making even grander statements about it all.
“They believe that Thursday is “bigger than Bosman”. That will be the day the entire episode either comes to a conclusion or a new start. The European Court of Justice [ECJ] will rule on whether bodies like Uefa and Fifa represent monopolies that must be broken up, or if that structure is necessary for the running of football. It all stems from the case the Super League planners took around the time of its launch.
“Put in simple terms, this will decide whether they can get the project properly going again, and change the face of European football.
“Thursday will also see two connected cases decided, making it a potentially landmark day in sport legislation. Those very words might sound dismally dry but the outcome will determine what the football we watch will actually look like. We will know whether the Champions League can be the same; whether the sport as a whole will stay a unified pyramid or potentially disperse into the same sort of chaos as boxing.”
Preview by Miguel Delaney
‘Bigger than Bosman’: Why European Court ruling could change the face of football
The European Court of Justice stands to rule on whether Uefa and Fifa are monopolies to be broken up in a landmark case which will have repercussions across the game
European Super League verdict: Everything you need to know about ‘judgement day’
It’s “judgement day” in the European Super League case, as a decision that could shape the future of football is set to be delivered on Thursday.
First launched in 2021, the European Super League proposed a breakaway competition involving some of Europe’s biggest teams in a “closed shop” format.
But the controversial plans were met with fierce opposition from fans and the football’s governing bodies, leading to its stunning collapse within days of being launched.
But like a monster from a horror movie, the European Super League wasn’t actually killed off, and now those backing the competition have taken Uefa and Fifa to court as they seek to relaunch their competition.
Now, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Justice is set to deliver a verdict on the case, in what is a huge moment for the sport. Here’s everything you need to know.
European Super League verdict: Everything you need to know about ‘judgement day’
A verdict on a landmark case that could shape the future of football is set to be delivered on Thursday
European Super League vs Uefa verdict
Welcome to the Independent Sport’s coverage of the European Super League’s case against Uefa at the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
Real Madrid and Barcelona remain steadfast in their belief that Uefa has a monopoly over European competitions and that it is against EU law.
The initial plans of the ESL arrived back in April 2021 and after almost 1,000 days, this landmark case, which is due to shape the future of the beautiful game, is nearing its conclusion.
Follow for all the latest news and updates out of Luxembourg, plus reaction from around the football world following the verdict.
Source: Read Full Article
