European Super League wins ECJ case: reactions to ruling against FIFA, UEFA
Super League promoter Bernd Reichart says “football is free” after the European Court of Justice said FIFA and UEFA could not block clubs and players from the project.
The European Super League project secured a significant victory on Thursday, when the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that FIFA and UEFA are not within their rights to punish participants in a breakaway competition. The ECJ said football’s world and European governing bodies are acting “contrary to competition law and the freedom to provide services” by attempting to prevent clubs and players from taking part in the Super League.
However, the Luxembourg court also stressed that its ruling “does not mean that a competition such as the Super League project must necessarily be approved”.
#ECJ: The #FIFA and #UEFA rules on prior approval of interclub #football competitions, such as the Super League, are contrary to #EUlaw #EuropeanSuperleague 👉 https://t.co/ATb3CgbPxg pic.twitter.com/XCnLzwIKWb
— EU Court of Justice (@EUCourtPress) December 21, 2023
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Some of the key reactions to the Super League ruling
“UEFA monopoly over” - Bernd Reichart, CEO of Super League promoters A22:
„We have won the #RightToCompete. The UEFA-monopoly is over. Football is FREE. Clubs are now free from the threat of sanction AND free to determine their own futures”, our CEO Bernd Reichart comments the CJEU decision. 1/4
— A22 Sports (@A22Sports) December 21, 2023
Ruling “does not signify endorsement or validation” of Super League:
UEFA takes note of the judgment delivered today by the ECJ in the European Super League case.
— UEFA (@UEFA) December 21, 2023
Full statement: ⬇️
Super League a “selfish and elitist model” - Spanish LaLiga:
⚖️Today, more than ever, we reiterate that the “Super League” is a selfish and elitist model.
— LALIGA Corporativo (@LaLigaCorp) December 21, 2023
⚽️Anything that is not fully open, with direct access only through the domestic leagues, season by season, is a closed format.
🇪🇺European football has spoken. Listen. #EarnItOnThePitch
Super League “discriminatory” - LaLiga president Javier Tebas:
“[The ECJ] notes that the admission criteria for competitions must be transparent, objective and NOT DISCRIMINATORY - exactly the principles that are incompatible with the Super League.”
Para que quede claro , no haya dudas y alguno equivocadamente se vaya a reabrir el bar a beber cubatas hasta las 5 de la mañana como parece que ha estado Bern Reichart CEO esta noche.
— Javier Tebas Medrano (@Tebasjavier) December 21, 2023
El TJUE dice que las normas de admisión de competiciones de FIFA y UEFA sean transparentes,… pic.twitter.com/mEmzaUSyjU
“Today is a great day for the history of football and the history of sport” - Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez:
"Este día marcará un antes y un después. Es un gran día para la historia del fútbol y para la historia del deporte".#RealMadrid pic.twitter.com/YllFGQuyQD
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) December 21, 2023
Ruling “paves way for new elite level football competition in Europe by opposing monopoly over football world” - FC Barcelona:
FC Barcelona statement on CJEU sentence concerning the Super League https://t.co/uOKbjAI8Sl
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 21, 2023
“Earn it on the pitch” - joint slogan against Super League by FIFA, UEFA, Football Supporters Europe, LaLiga, European Club Association, European Leagues, FIFPro Europe:
The CJEU ruling does not approve the European Super League.
— LALIGA Corporativo (@LaLigaCorp) December 21, 2023
The CJEU states that "it does not mean that a competition such as the Super League project must necessarily be approved". #EarnItOnThePitch
👉https://t.co/QrrnONmEdr pic.twitter.com/HSPh1OZSaK
“No place in European football” for Super League - Football Supporters Europe
FSE notes today’s decision by the CJEU & wants to reiterate that there is no place in European football for a breakaway super league. 1/5 https://t.co/MXbWFWvnKJ
— FSE - Football Supporters Europe (@FansEurope) December 21, 2023
UEFA “caught completely unawares” - Simon Stone, BBC journalist:
Huge, huge news from Luxembourg. Big blow to UEFA and FIFA. https://t.co/VHzWlFGlUd
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) December 21, 2023
Fans “won’t have” Super League - Henry Winter, Times journalist:
Any @premierleague club owner feeling emboldened to resume European Super League plotting following the ECJ ruling would be very naive. Fans - and the incoming regulator - won’t have it as it would destroy PL and pyramid. Protests, boycotts, sanctions & vilification would ensue.
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) December 21, 2023
Super League remains “completely unviable” - Phil Kitromilides, LaLiga TV presenter:
The Super League did not collapse so spectacularly because of European law. It collapsed because fans around Europe rebelled so massively against the idea that it became completely unviable. That has not changed.
— Phil Kitromilides (@PhilKitro) December 21, 2023
“What a slap in the face for UEFA and FIFA” - Philippe Auclair, football journalist:
Quelle gifle pour l'UEFA - et pour la Fifa. Et quelle victoire pour les artisans de la Super League. Chronique à suivre plus tard dans la journée sur @Eurosport_FR. https://t.co/hZW8ZN8H3j
— Philippe Auclair (@PhilippeAuclair) December 21, 2023