A source told AFP on Thursday that Real Madrid and the Super League promoters are suing UEFA for more than $4 billion in damages after they falsely accused them of torpedoing the breakaway competition.
A Spanish court on Wednesday rejected UEFA’s contested league appeal.
The Super League project, which was proposed by 12 prestigious European clubs in 2021, quickly fell apart due to fierce opposition from English club supporters and threats from UEFA and FIFA.
The Super League’s ban was deemed unlawful by the European Court of Justice in December 2023.
A Spanish judge ruled that FIFA and UEFA were using their dominant position and engaging in anti-competitive behavior by opposing the Super League last year.
On Wednesday, the Madrid court rejected appeals from La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation.
A22 Sports Management, the project’s promoter, expressed regret over UEFA’s “refused any path of compromise” and “reforms” despite several months of discussions, and that it had “no other choice” but to “initiate proceedings to obtain compensation for the damages suffered.”
A22 CEO Bernd Reichart said, “UEFA can no longer ignore binding court decisions,” after years of legal proceedings.
They have caused significant harm to numerous clubs, players, and other stakeholders in Europe by abusing their monopoly and preventing new initiatives.
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Although the court’s decision addresses regulations that have been completely rewritten, its scope is uncertain.
The governing body of European football said in a statement sent to AFP on Wednesday that this decision does not support the abandoned “super league” project announced in 2021 nor does it violate UEFA’s current authorisation rules, which were updated in 2024 and adopted in 2022, which continue to be in force.
These guidelines establish objective, fair, impartial, non-discriminatory, and proportionate criteria for the evaluation of any cross-border competitions.
Real Madrid claimed that the decision “confirmed that UEFA seriously violated the European Union’s free competition rules” by “abusing its dominant position.”
Real Madrid stated in a statement that the club “agrees that it will continue to work for the good of global football and fans, and that it has received significant damages from UEFA.”
Source: Channels TV
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