It looks like a legal ruling could spoil several European football giants’ plans for their own Premier League. However, the final decision will be delayed until next year.
“UEFA welcomes today’s frank statement,” UEFA wrote in a commentary.
A public defender at the European Court of Justice has expressed his view on the possibility of establishing a men’s football super league in Europe.
In a statement, Attorney General Athanasios Rantos said that clubs are free to create the so-called Premier League, but “they cannot continue to participate in competitions organized by FIFA or UEFA without the consent of these organisations.”
The statement is not legally binding but is seen as a major victory for both UEFA and FIFA. Clubs have alleged that UEFA is abusing its special position within European football, while UEFA believes it is protecting the sport’s special status by setting up competitions based on the fact that everyone can move up or down the system on a sporting basis.
UEFA commented in a statement:
“UEFA welcomes today’s unequivocal statement recommending to the European Court of Justice a ruling that supports our central role in the governance of European football and the protection of the pyramid and development of the sport across Europe.”
Most often – but not always – the court will follow the attorney general’s suggestion to rule.
A legal ruling in this case is not expected until next year.
affected background
In April 2021, twelve football giants attempted to launch plans to create their own league. Among the clubs were Real Madrid, Juventus, Barcelona, Milan, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United.
The move was immediately criticized by a more or less unified world of football, and fans of the clubs involved as well as UEFA and FIFA saw the color red.
The European Football Association (UEFA) threatened to take legal action and expel the clubs from all their championships. FIFA was not happy either, saying that if the clubs went ahead with the plans, they would no longer be allowed to play in their domestic leagues.
Just days after the plans were revealed, club after club began to fold. The project appears to have collapsed.
Uncertain future
But in October this year, it appeared that Real Madrid, Juventus and Barcelona wanted to revive the plans. Work began investigating how the Premier League could exist in harmony with other existing competitions.
The opinion of the Prosecutor of the European Court of Justice is not the only degree in the Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus mechanism. At the end of November, the entire Juventus board of directors resigned, including Andrea Agnelli – who was a powerful driving force in the project to create the European Premier League.
The clubs involved have not yet commented on a statement from UEFA.