The Return of the European Super League?
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Is the European Super League about to make a comeback? Here are 5 key details in under 5 minutes. I'm Kellyanne Ginnishie and this is the Nada Ponda Podcast.
Legal Battles Against FIFA and UEFA
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This morning FIFA and UEFA rules that were blocking the formation of a European Super League have been ruled unlawful. But how did we get here? In April 2021, 12 of Europe's biggest clubs, including Man United, Chelsea and Barcelona announced plans to launch a Super League. The Breakaway League would have effectively replaced the Champions League and weakened domestic divisions.
The Collapse and Persistence of the Super League
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This led to a devastating fallout where the 12 clubs resigned to their positions at both UEFA and the European Club Association. However, after backlash from protests from fans, pundits and league organisers, all but three of the clubs returned and stood back from the Super League plans. Only Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona held on.
New Proposals and Legal Victories for the Super League
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Then two years after the original idea collapsed, the Super League promoters presented a new proposal for a multi-division competition operating outside of UEFA's control. Number two. In the wake of the Super League's collapse, both FIFA and UEFA made rules to block a revival of the proposal, including restricting teams and players that joined. Think live golf and PGA. However,
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A22 Sports Management, the company promoting the Super League, started legal action to protect its position, asking the courts to rule on EU law, and accusing FIFA and UEFA of abusing their market dominance of football competitions. This morning, the European Court of Justice delivered their verdict.
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Despite an initial non-binding verdict back in December that sided with UEFA, the final decision from the court has said that both UEFA and FIFA are abusing a dominant position and are in breach of competition laws. In their ruling, the court said, FIFA and UEFA's rules making any new inter-club football project subject to their prior approval, such as the Super League, and prohibiting clubs and players from playing in those competitions are unlawful.
Implications of the Court Ruling
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there is no framework for the FIFA and UEFA rules ensuring that they are transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate. In its ruling, the court also noted that the rules giving FIFA and UEFA exclusive control over the commercial exploitation of the media rights related to their competitions are
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such as to be harmful to European football clubs, all companies operating in media markets and, ultimately, consumers and television viewers, by preventing them from enjoying new and potentially innovative or interesting competitions.
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We have won the right to compete. The UEFA Monopoly is over. Football is free. Clubs are now free from the threat of sanctions and free to determine their own futures, said Bernard Reichart, the CEO of A22 Sports Management, the company promoting the Super League.
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In a statement, UEFA says it takes note of the judgements delivered today by the ECJ in the European Super League case.
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a technical aspect that has already been acknowledged and addressed in June 2022. UEFA is confident in the robustness of its new rules and specifically that they comply with all relevant European laws and regulations. UEFA remains resolute in its commitment to uphold the European Football Pyramid, ensuring that it continues to serve the broader interests of society.
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We will continue to shape the European sports model collectively with national associations, leagues, clubs, fans, players, coaches, EU institutions, governments and partners alike. 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.
Relaunch Strategy and Challenges
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Following the ruling, the Super League has now relaunched with a brand new format, proposing men and women's midweek European competitions, with promotion and relegation included, and all Super League matches being free to watch. Regardless of this, we're not sure as of yet which teams will be taking part.
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as Premier League clubs may still be unable to join as they're no longer bound by EU laws since Brexit, and the UK's Department of Culture, Media and Sports released a statement that indicated a bill about to pass into law which sets up a new independent football regulator which could stop English clubs from joining. As this is a breaking and ever-evolving story, keep an eye on the Not Upon It podcast for more. I've been Killing Ginnity and this has been 5 in 5. Chat to you the next one. I'm not into podcasts.