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Published: 12:35, July 09, 2022 | Updated: 18:22, July 09, 2022
UEFA, FIFA to face off with Super League at top EU court hearing
By Reuters
Published:12:35, July 09, 2022 Updated:18:22, July 09, 2022 By Reuters

This file photo dated Feb 28, 2020 shows the UEFA logo at the organization's headquarters in Nyon. (Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

BRUSSELS - Soccer bodies UEFA and FIFA will next week seek to convince Europe's top court that they have the right to block clubs from joining a breakaway league and penalize players in a case that could break their monopoly power and lucrative media rights.

The dispute between UEFA, FIFA and the European Super League has ramifications for other sports, clubs and players eyeing lucrative deals offered by rebel bodies and hoping to cash in during relatively short careers.

Announced in April last year, the European Super League collapsed in less than 48 hours after an outcry by fans, governments and players forced Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid to pull out

Announced in April last year, the European Super League collapsed in less than 48 hours after an outcry by fans, governments and players forced Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid to pull out.

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, however, remain holdouts. The Super League took its grievance to a Spanish court which subsequently sought guidance from the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).

At issue is whether certain provisions in FIFA and UEFA's statutes allowing them to block rival events conform with EU competition rules against companies or bodies abusing their dominance.

ALSO READ: Agnelli: European Super League plan not a coup but a 'cry of alarm'

The CJEU will also have to decide whether the two bodies' threat to bar clubs and players from taking part in the Super League or ban them from taking part in national team matches is an abuse of their power.

UEFA and FIFA's media rights to competition is also another issue for the Court during the July 11-12 hearing. A ruling is expected next year or later.

This handout picture made available by FIFA on March 30, 2022 shows Al Rihla (which means "the journey" in Arabic), the official match ball for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. (MOHAMED ALI ABDELWAHID / FIFA / AFP)

At issue is whether certain provisions in FIFA and UEFA's statutes allowing them to block rival events conform with EU competition rules against companies or bodies abusing their dominance

UEFA has previously said that it remained confident in its position in all the relevant jurisdictions. "We are confident the European Court of Justice will properly interpret EU competition law and existing precedent," a Super League representative said.

It is time for changes in the system, said Mark Orth at law firm MEOlaw.

"The current monopoly position of sporting federations not challenged by competition but instead fortified by exclusivity provisions, which prevents the emergence of any kind of competition, is the source of numerous detrimental developments in the sporting world," he said.

"The question of ownership of media rights is the decisive question in every sport and decides the relationship between federation and club," Orth said.

READ MORE: UEFA begins disciplinary process against three Super League clubs

More than 20 European countries and the European Commission are backing UEFA and FIFA. The case is C333/21 European Superleague Company.

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