Real Madrid Seeks Damages from UEFA Over Super League Ruling
Real Madrid is pursuing substantial damages from UEFA following the European football governing body's unsuccessful court appeal regarding the European Super League.
A ruling issued on Wednesday by the Provincial Court of Madrid upheld a decision made in May 2024, which found that UEFA, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), and La Liga were engaging in anti-competitive practices and abusing their dominant position by prohibiting clubs from joining the breakaway league.
In response, UEFA stated that the latest judgment does "not validate" the Super League initiative and does "not undermine UEFA's current authorization rules."
Real Madrid was one of 12 European clubs, including six from the English Premier League, that supported the breakaway competition in 2021 before it collapsed under pressure from governments and fans.
In a separate ruling, the European Court of Justice declared in December 2023 that banning clubs from joining a European Super League was unlawful.
Real Madrid welcomed the Madrid regional court's decision, which dismissed appeals from UEFA, the RFEF, and La Liga. The club stated that this ruling confirms UEFA's serious infringement of European Union competition rules, consistent with the CJEU ruling, and highlights the abuse of its dominant position. "This ruling paves the way for the club to claim substantial damages from UEFA," the statement read.
However, UEFA responded by emphasizing that its rules ensure that any cross-border competitions are evaluated based on objective, transparent, non-discriminatory, and proportionate criteria. This development follows a recent resolution adopted by the European Parliament, which explicitly reiterated its opposition to 'breakaway competitions' on the grounds that they 'endanger the overall sport ecosystem.'
UEFA indicated it would carefully review the judgment before deciding on further actions and would refrain from additional comments at this time. The organization reiterated its commitment to "safeguard the unity of European football" and uphold the European sports model, which is based on sporting merit, open access, solidarity, and the protection of the football pyramid.