Real Madrid has announced plans to pursue compensation from UEFA following a Spanish court’s dismissal of UEFA’s appeals concerning a ruling that found the governing body in violation of EU competition laws by blocking a proposed breakaway Super League.
On Wednesday, the Madrid Provincial Court rejected appeals made by both the Spanish league and the Spanish football federation alongside UEFA.
In December 2023, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that regulations from 2021 used by UEFA and FIFA to obstruct the Super League were contrary to EU law and constituted an abuse of their dominant market position.
In a statement, Madrid expressed their satisfaction with the ruling, stating that it “opens the avenue for claiming the substantial damages endured by the club.”
This court ruling comes 4½ years after the Super League initiative, launched by 12 clubs from Spain, Italy, and England, collapsed within just 48 hours due to severe backlash from fans and lawmakers.
In response, UEFA remarked that the recent ruling “does not validate the now-defunct ‘Super League’ project announced in 2021.”
“It also does not undermine UEFA’s current approval regulations, established in 2022 and revised in 2024, which remain entirely applicable,” UEFA added. “We will thoroughly examine the judgement before determining our next course of action.”
LaLiga acknowledged the new court ruling but minimized its importance, asserting that “the decision does not endorse any particular competition format nor refer to the original project announced in 2021, which has since been altered by its backers.”
“The ruling pertains solely to procedural matters, indicating that authorization procedures must rely on transparent, objective, and reviewable criteria, without addressing the substance or feasibility of potential alternative tournaments,” the league stated.
While Madrid has not specified the amount of damages they seek, they emphasized their commitment to “continue working for the benefit of global football and its fans.”
It remains uncertain how much, if any, backing Madrid and A22 Sports Management have from clubs across Europe for any renewed initiative related to a UEFA Champions League alternative outside UEFA’s jurisdiction.
The record 15-time European champions appear to be the last remaining supporters of the Super League alongside A22. Juventus withdrew from the project last year, and Barcelona has recently shifted closer to UEFA.
The newly-rebranded European Football Clubs group, headed by Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al Khelaïfi, who also serves on UEFA’s executive committee and the government of Qatar, now boasts approximately 800 member teams.
This group wields significant influence over the sporting and commercial decisions related to the Champions League and other UEFA competitions. Notably, Real Madrid is not a member of the EFC.