Berlin, 21 December 2023 (dpa/MIA) - A possible European Super League moved closer on Thursday after judges ruled that UEFA and FIFA were going against EU law by trying to block such a competition.

The European Court of Justice, the EU's top court in Luxembourg, said UEFA and FIFA's stances "are contrary to competition law and the freedom to provide services."

The ruling could have further implications than just opening the door for a Super League.

"The rules giving FIFA and UEFA exclusive control over the commercial exploitation of the rights related to those competitions are such as to restrict competition, given their importance for the media, consumers and television viewers in the European Union," it said.

However, the ruling does not mean that a Super League outside of UEFA will be formed. A previous attempt was launched in 2021 by 12 top clubs only to fall apart amid supporter opposition - particularly in England.

The judges said that the ruling does not necessarily mean that the Super League has to be authorized. Analysts also pointed out that sporting merit was still recognized by the judges as legitimate.

European football governing body UEFA came out fighting.

"This ruling does not signify an endorsement or validation of the so-called ‘super league’; it rather underscores a pre-existing shortfall within UEFA's pre-authorization framework, a technical aspect that has already been acknowledged and addressed in June 2022," a UEFA statement said.

However, some legal commentators say the ruling from the EU's top court still stands despite UEFA's changes.

"UEFA is confident in the robustness of its new rules, and specifically that they comply with all relevant European laws and regulations," the UEFA statement added.

"UEFA remains resolute in its commitment to uphold the European football pyramid, ensuring that it continues to serve the broader interests of society. We will continue to shape the European sports model collectively with national associations, leagues, clubs, fans, players, coaches, EU institutions, governments and partners alike."

UEFA reacted to the 2021 Super League plans by revamping the Champions League for next season, with one giant 36-team division.

Now the Super League organizers have a new proposal, with 60 to 80 teams over several divisions after critics said the original idea was too exclusive and did not allow promotion.

Despite these changes, Spain's domestic league LaLiga still thinks the Super League will be a closed system.

"More than ever, we remind you that the 'Super League' is a selfish and elitist project," LaLiga wrote on X.

Any format that is not completely open and reshaped each year by the national leagues is a closed system, it added.

"European football has already spoken, don't insist on it," the league added, apparently addressing its top clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona, who have continued to push the project in recent months.

Fans are also still not interested.

Football Supporters Europe, an umbrella organization for supporters across the continent, posted on X: "FSE notes today’s decision by the CJEU & wants to reiterate that there is no place in European football for a breakaway super league."

Barcelona, Real and Juventus have continued to support the idea of breaking away from UEFA, despite sanctions from European football's governing body.

"We have won the #RightToCompete. The UEFA-monopoly is over. Football is FREE. Clubs are now free from the threat of sanction AND free to determine their own futures," Bernd Reichart, who runs the A22 sports agency trying to organize a Super League, said on X. Real Madrid retweeted his post.

"For fans: We propose free viewing of all Super League matches. For clubs: Revenues and solidarity spending will be guaranteed."

Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Milan, Inter, Atletico Madrid and Barca, Real and Juve all announced plans to enter a Super League in April 2021 in a hurriedly arranged deal.

But opposition from fans, leagues and football federations was so quick and vociferous that the idea was quickly dropped.

Clubs like Liverpool were forced to offer huge apologies to fans for even considering the plan and a former Bayern Munich chief executive, whose side had no part in the Super League proposal along with Borussia Dortmund, still does not think a breakaway is possible.

"The English, Germans and French will never join in. Then Real and Barcelona can organize the tournament on their own," Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told Gazzetta dello Sport this week.

UEFA had threatened Super League teams and their players with exclusion from all competitions, including the World Cup and European Championship.

"Nobody in Germany would enter the Super League, that would cause a revolt among the fans," added Rummenigge, who believes Spanish giants Real and Barca are jealous of the money in the English Premier League and therefore want to rival it.

The Premier League broke away from the rest of the English league in 1992 but that was backed by all teams, the FA and fans. It has meant the English top flight has become far richer than European counterparts.

Photo: MIA archive