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European Super League wins case against UEFA and FIFA
The European Super League (ESL) management has won the case against FIFA and UEFA. On Thursday the EU court decided on that the European Football Association (UEFA) and FIFA, the world governing body, committed illegal acts when they threatened to impose fines on players and clubs that joined the European Super League in 2021. The new league will consist of 64 teams with 3 divisions(Star, Gold and Blue) with the league having promotions and relegations as well.
There will be 14 games each season per team in the home and away format and it will be an open format with two phases league and playoffs. The elite clubs of different nations would have owned and operated an alternative to UEFA'slucrative Champions League. However, following a strong outcry from fans, national governments, and domestic leagues, the league was closed a few days before the announcement.
The majority of the participating clubs did not agree with this ESL and moved themselves out from the league, but Real Madrid and Barcelona have remained strong in taking their case to court, claiming that UEFA and FIFA organisers of the World Cup run their competitions but serve as restrict the entry for new players.
ESL wins case against FIFA and UEFA
The European Court of Justice sided with ESL, stating "The rules making any new interclub football project subject to their prior approval . . . are unlawful. There is no framework for the Fifa and Uefa rules ensuring that they are transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate. Moreover, given their arbitrary nature, their rules on approval, control and sanctions must be held to be unjustified restrictions on the freedom to provide services."
Uefa said the ruling was a reflection of an earlier “shortfall” in its system, "We trust that the solidarity-based European football pyramid that the fans and all stakeholders have declared as their irreplaceable model will be safeguarded against the threat of breakaways by European and national laws."
Mark Orth, a sports competition lawyer and lecturer, said, "door for the Super League is now wide open, and would have implications beyond football. The organisation of sports competition is no longer under the monopoly of the sports federations."