CJEU: clubs will have to choose between Super League & UEFA competitions says Advocate General

"The FIFA-UEFA rules under which any new competition is subject to prior approval are compatible with EU competition law," said Athanasios Rantos, Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), on 15/12/2022.

The Greek magistrate delivered his conclusions (document available to download) in a case which sees the European Super League Company (ESLC) - "a company governed by Spanish law which was set up by prestigious European football clubs, plans to organise the first closed (or 'semi-open') annual European football competition, called the 'European Super League' (ESL), which would exist independently of UEFA but whose clubs would continue to participate in the football competitions organised by the national football federations and UEFA and FIFA" - challenging the behaviour of these two football bodies, which the company considers "anti-competitive and incompatible with EU competition law and the provisions of the FEU (Functioning of the European Union) Treaty relating to the fundamental freedoms."

"Whilst ESLC is free to set up its own independent football…