FIFA, UEFA rules are compatible with EU competition rules, EU court advisor says

BRUSSELS, Dec 15 (Reuters) – Rules by soccer bodies UEFA and FIFA that give them the right to ban clubs from joining a breakaway league and punish players who do so are in line with EU competition laws, an adviser to Europe’s highest court said on Thursday.

The case centers on a row between UEFA, FIFA and the European Super League last year, but could also affect other sports, clubs and players who are lured by lucrative contracts offered by rebel bodies and seek to cash in on relatively short careers.

The question is whether FIFA and UEFA’s rules, which allow them to block competitive events, prevent clubs and players from participating in the Super League or ban them from participating in national team matches, are companies or bodies abusing their dominant position under EU competition rules.

Europe’s Super League collapsed in less than 48 hours after Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid were outraged by fans, boards and players alike.

This left only Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus. The Super League took its case to a Spanish court, which later sought guidance from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Luxembourg.

“The FIFA-UEFA rules that all new competitions require prior approval are compatible with EU competition law,” said Advocate General Athanasios Rantos of the Court of Justice of the EU, Europe’s highest court.

While the Super League is free to establish its own independent football competition outside the UEFA and FIFA ecosystems, at the same time it cannot continue to participate in FIFA and UEFA football competitions without their prior approval, he said.

Rantos said that legitimate goals related to the special nature of sports may justify certain restrictions. The Court of Justice of the European Union, which abides by most such non-binding opinions, will issue its ruling in the coming months.

UEFA accepted the adviser’s recommendation.

“The statement reinforces the central role of confederations in protecting the sport, upholding the merits of the sport and the fundamental principles of open access for our members, and in uniting football with shared responsibility and solidarity,” the statement states.

The case is C-333/21 European Superleague Company.

Reporting by Foo Yun Chee in Brussels, Benoit Van Overstraeten in Paris, additional reporting by Alexander Huebner in Munich; Cut by Frank Jack Daniel and Christiian Radnedge

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