Trouble over Super League plans: Investigators target UEFA deal with nine clubs
The protests against the Super League are diverse.
(Photo: IMAGO/Depositphotos)
A marketing agency is pushing ahead with plans for the Super League. UEFA is resisting the creation of a rival league, but will it do so legally? Officials are now investigating this issue once again.
In the ongoing dispute over a potential Super League, the Spanish competition authority CNMC has launched an investigation into the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). This was announced in a statement by the authority. The focus is on a 2021 agreement between UEFA and nine football clubs that allegedly prohibited them from participating in rival competitions. The investigation was initiated following a complaint from the marketing agency A22, which has been working on plans for a European Super League for years.
The Spanish competition authority says it is investigating possible violations of competition law. The CNMC statement states that UEFA has reportedly "taken a series of measures to ensure compliance with these restrictions by the clubs." The agreement was signed after UEFA threatened the clubs with exclusion from its competitions.
UEFA emphasized in a statement that it continues to "work constructively with the CNMC to bring this matter to a conclusion." The association remains convinced that the 2021 agreements are compatible with Spanish and EU competition law.
German clubs do not want to participate in the Super LeagueIn December, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) prohibited UEFA from preventing competitive competitions by threatening sanctions. The ECJ ruling found UEFA's monopoly position incompatible with European competition law.
The first attempt to introduce a Super League failed in 2021. Within a few days, initial supporters backed out under pressure from fans, sponsors, and politicians. Germany's top clubs have repeatedly emphasized their opposition to a Super League.
Since then, A22 has been leading the way in introducing a Super League. The promoters submitted their plans for a competition called "Unify League" to UEFA and the world governing body FIFA in December. A22 cited the ECJ ruling in this regard.
Source: ntv.de, tsi/sid
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