Europe’s top court, the European Court of Justice (ECJ), ruled on Thursday that UEFA broke EU law in blocking the rival Super League competition.
Court ruling
“The FIFA and UEFA rules making any new interclub football project subject to their prior approval, such as the Super League, and prohibiting clubs and players from playing in those competitions, are unlawful.” – ECJ
Governing bodies and government reaction
“This ruling does not signify an endorsement or validation of the so-called ‘super league’; it rather underscores a pre-existing shortfall within UEFA’s pre-authorisation framework, a technical aspect that has already been acknowledged and addressed in June 2022.” – UEFA
“In line with its Statutes, FIFA firmly believes in the specific nature of sport, including the pyramid structure –- which is underpinned by sporting merit –- and the principles of competitive balance and financial solidarity.” – FIFA
“With the greatest respect for the European Court of Justice, today’s judgement does not change anything, really. Historically, we have been organizing the best competitions in the world and this will also be the case in the future.” – FIFA president Gianni Infantino
“Today, more than ever, we reiterate that the ‘Super League’ is a selfish and elitist model. Anything that is not fully open, with direct access only through the domestic leagues, season by season, is a closed format.” – La Liga
“The ruling does not endorse the so-called ‘European Super League’ and the Premier League continues to reject any such concept. Supporters are of vital importance to the game and they have time and again made clear their opposition to a ‘breakaway’ competition that severs the link between domestic and European football.” – Premier League
“The DFL explicitly supports the European sports model and rejects competitions outside of those organised by the associations and leagues.” – DFL, which runs the Bundesliga
“To be absolutely clear, the judgment in no way whatsoever supports or endorses any form of Super League project. In short, the world of football moved on from the Super League years ago and progressive reforms will continue.” – European Clubs Association (ECA)
“The government stood with fans when a number of clubs attempted to join a breakaway competition in 2021. We stand by that decision & in 2024 we’re bringing forward legislation for a football regulator that can stop any similar attempts to do this in the future & protect the game.” – Lucy Frazer, UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
