The participants are prepared. Tomorrow, Thursday, December 21, the CJEU (Court of Justice of the European Union) will rule – at the request of the Commercial Court No. 17 of Madrid – on whether Super League This is compatible with European law and therefore whether UEFA and FIFA can act against clubs and players participating in a competition whose main person and promoter is Florentino Perez, the president of Real Madrid.

The White leader held the presentation of the European Super League (ESLC) in April 2021. Real Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Atletico Madrid, Milan, Arsenal, Chelsea, Inter, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have announced the creation of a new format that will mortally wound the Champions League, which they will manage as founding partners. Without UEFA or FIFA interference.

The format was condemned from the outset by UEFA and FIFA, who declared their refusal to recognize the fledgling competition and warned that any player or club taking part would be excluded from tournaments organized by FIFA and its confederations. The decision was referred by the ESLC to the Commercial Court No. 17 of Madrid, which asked the Court to rule on the matter and subsequently issue a ruling.

Now, more than two and a half years after the outbreak of hostilities between the Super League and UEFA-FIFA (as well as the affected leagues), the CJEU decision will have important consequences for the organizational structure of European football.

Super League plans ahead of decision

Florentino Pérez’s speech in April 2021 spoke about ailing football, close to death in the Champions League format, with which he believes that UEFA and FIFA are taking advantage of the advantages created by the clubs: “We are doing this to save a football that is on the brink of death”. critical moment,” he said in his speech at Yugones Chiringuito.

On November 11, at the regular general assembly of Real Madrid, Florentino Perez noted that “the main problem is that there are a number of managers who act without thinking about the fans,” meaning Alexander CeferinUEFA President and Javier Tebas, President of La Liga. “We are going to continue to work to ensure that football can once again excite the greatest number of fans around the world,” he said.

Super League strategy To revive his plan, in which only Real Madrid and Barcelona are currently visible, but which the others have not officially been able to abandon, he considers this Thursday, December 21, as a key date.

What will happen after the court decision on the Super League

The CJEU will determine whether a system under which UEFA must approve new football competitions and can impose sanctions on players and clubs participating in competitions such as the Super League is compatible with European law.

A CJEU resolution can be adopted in three ways: negotiate with UEFA and allow them to restrict competition and therefore be able to impose sanctions on clubs; agree with the ESLC and point out that UEFA is exercising a monopoly and/or abusing its dominant position over the clubs; or demonstrate ambiguity and leave the entire decision to the Commercial Court No. 17 of Madrid.

Experts say the key to the decision will lie in the details, which in one case or another indicate the degree of power that UEFA and FIFA will have to sanction, or how much freedom the Super League will have to implement its plan.

Whatever happens on Thursday, whether the CJEU’s interpretation favors the viability of the Super League or UEFA and FIFA, the lawsuit will return to the No. 17 Commercial Court in Madrid, which will rule on the basis of the European interpretation.

EU Attorney General Athanasios Rantos has given the green light to the Super League, although this would prevent clubs from participating in UEFA and FIFA, as he non-committally understands that sanctions for the creation of any new competition are compatible. with Union competition law.

La Liga president and Florentino Perez’s rival in the Super League war, Javier Tebas, insisted ahead of the announcement that “he is not afraid of the Super League.” Tebas believes that “football does not need a Super League”, but rather that national leagues remain “in the status quo” and continue to “grow”, ensuring “continuity with current European formats.”