Super League ruling set for December

A binding ruling in the Super League case will be handed down on 21 December.

The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Justice will rule that morning on whether or not UEFA and FIFA acted lawfully in blocking the creation of the Super League in April 2021, and in seeking to sanction the clubs involved.

The ruling is a binding interpretation of European Union law, and once handed down the case will then be referred back to the Madrid commercial court that will apply it to the facts of the Super League case.

Bernd Reichart, the chief executive of A22 which is promoting the concept of a new European league, said: "Club football is on the eve of major change. We hope the European Court of Justice will end the monopoly of UEFA and enforce the fundamental freedoms of the European Union in the world of football.

"Fans, clubs, players and the sport of football would be the winners in a market that is open for a competition of ideas and in which clubs could govern and organise a European football competition without fear of threats."

The Advocate General's opinion in this case was issued on 15 December last year, and was warmly welcomed by UEFA and FIFA.

The AG, Athanasios Rantos, said those bodies’ rules allowing them to block new competitions wishing to operate under their auspices were compatible with EU law.

UEFA described the AG opinion as "unequivocal" and a "clear rejection" of the efforts made by 12 of Europe’s top clubs in 2021 to form their own league.

AG opinions often – but not always – closely mirror the final Grand Chamber ruling.

The announcement of a new Super League featuring the Premier League’s 'Big Six' came late on the evening of 18 April, 2021. Within 72 hours, nine of the clubs, including all of those from