Real Madrid is suing UEFA for Super League money
Real Madrid is suing UEFA for compensation after the team announced on Wednesday that appeals against the Super League filed by La Liga, UEFA, and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) had been rejected by the Regional Court of Madrid.
Twelve European teams supported the breakaway competition in 2021, including Real Madrid, before public and governmental pressure caused support for the contentious event to crumble.
By threatening to punish clubs that joined the league, UEFA, the body that oversees European soccer, has also halted the Super League’s creation. In December 2023, however, the European Court of Justice ruled that FIFA and UEFA had violated EU law.
In order to halt opposition, UEFA
A Spanish judge ruled last year that FIFA and UEFA, the sport’s world governing bodies, were engaging in anti-competitive behavior and misusing their power by opposing a rival European competition.
“Real Madrid welcomes the decision by the Regional Court of Madrid to dismiss the appeals lodged by UEFA, the RFEF and LALIGA, confirming that UEFA, in the matter of the Super League, seriously infringed European Union competition rules in line with the CJEU ruling, abusing its dominant position,” it stated.
“This judgment paves the way for substantial claims to compensate for the damages suffered by the club.”
Real Madrid also stated that it had had lengthy talks with UEFA this year in order to come up with solutions that would accomplish the required modifications.
“No agreement has been reached regarding more transparent governance, financial sustainability, protection of players’ health, and improvements to the fan experience, including free and globally accessible viewing options such as those used for the FIFA Club World Cup,” said the statement.
“Consequently, the club announces that it will continue working for the good of global football and fans, while requesting compensation from UEFA for the substantial damages it has suffered.”
The Supreme Court’s First Chamber, which has jurisdiction over civil proceedings, may hear an appeal of the decision, the court stated, which is not yet final.
UEFA REVIEWING THE RULE
UEFA stated that it would examine the ruling before making a decision.
“This ruling does not validate the abandoned ‘Super League’ project announced in 2021, nor does it undermine UEFA’s current authorization rules, adopted in 2022 and updated in 2024, which remain fully in force,” according to UEFA.
“These regulations guarantee that any international contests be evaluated using fair, open, nondiscriminatory, and reasonable standards.
“This development comes after the European Parliament this month adopted a landmark resolution explicitly reiterating its opposition to ‘breakaway competitions’ as they ‘endanger the overall sport ecosystem’.”
WITHDRAW SUPER LEAGUE SUPPORT FOR CLUBS
Only Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus remain looking for a breakaway tournament after the six Premier League clubs left the Super League, rapidly reducing support for the proposal.
While attempting to rejoin the European Club Association, Juventus announced their withdrawal in July 2023, leaving Real Madrid and Barcelona as the only clubs remaining to support the Super League.
Joan Laporta, the president of Barcelona, stated earlier this month that the team was “in favor of pacification” and that the Super League teams should “return to UEFA.”
The A22 organizers, who relaunched their competition in December 2024 as the Unify League, a 96-club format over four leagues, urged UEFA and FIFA to acknowledge their new league.
The Premier League and La Liga, however, vehemently opposed the idea, therefore there was little backing for the competition.
