Spanish court orders FIFA and UEFA to halt opposition to Super League

A Spanish judge has ordered FIFA and UEFA to stop opposing the European Super League (ESL), ruling that they were engaging in anti-competitive behavior and abusing their dominant positions. Judge Sofia Gil Garcia determined that by preventing clubs from joining the proposed new league, the governing bodies were violating European Union law, according to a court statement released on Monday.

In her decision, Judge Gil Garcia also instructed FIFA and UEFA to reverse any past anti-competitive actions.

This case was initiated by A22 Sports Management, the company behind the ESL plan, against the Spanish Soccer Federation, LaLiga, UEFA, and FIFA, all of whom had blocked the ESL's formation.

This ruling aligns with a similar decision made by the European Court of Justice in December.

"The era of the monopoly is now definitively over," A22 CEO Bernd Reichart said in a statement following the ruling, describing it as "an important step towards a truly competitive and sustainable club football landscape in Europe."

Despite the ruling, LaLiga stated on Monday that it does not explicitly endorse the creation of the Super League.

The idea for a breakaway league involving Europe's 12 top clubs was proposed in 2021, sparking widespread protests from fans and threats of sanctions from UEFA, which led nine clubs to withdraw.

A22 had argued that UEFA and FIFA's monopolistic position violated the EU's Competition and Free Movement Law. The European Court of Justice ruled against UEFA and FIFA, although it did not specifically address whether the ESL could proceed.

In April 2021, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, and nine other top European clubs announced the ESL plan. However, it quickly fell apart within 48 hours due to public outcry, which forced Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Atletico Madrid to pull out.