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Biden Administration Supports Antitrust Suit Against FIFA

By  |  March 18, 2024

In a significant development in the ongoing legal battle between Relevent Sports and two soccer governing bodies, the Biden administration has thrown its weight behind the promoter’s antitrust suit against FIFA and the US Soccer Federation (USSF). The administration, through Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar, filed a 23-page brief urging the US Supreme Court to allow the case to proceed to trial.

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    At the heart of the dispute is FIFA’s policy against hosting league matches from other countries, which Relevent Sports argues violates antitrust laws. The Biden administration’s brief asserts that the USSF was not acting independently but rather participated in a membership association that adopted the contentious policy.

    According to the government’s filing, the USSF “was not a randomly selected FIFA member” and actively invoked the policy as its rationale for denying approval of proposed matches, including a Spanish league match between Barcelona and Girona in Miami Gardens, Florida, planned by Relevent Sports.

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    Read more: Appeals Court Rules FIFA, US Soccer Must Face Antitrust Suit

    The case dates back to August 2018 when Relevent Sports, led by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, announced plans to host the Barcelona-Girona match in the United States. However, FIFA’s ruling council later adopted a policy emphasizing that official league matches should be played within the territory of the respective member association, prompting Barcelona to withdraw from the proposed fixture.

    In addition to the Barcelona-Girona match, Relevent Sports also sought to host a league match between two teams from Ecuador but was refused permission by the USSF in 2019.

    Relevent Sports subsequently filed suit, alleging violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act and tortious interference. The Biden administration’s support for allowing the case to proceed underscores the significance of the legal challenge and its potential implications for the regulation of international sports events in the United States.

    As the dispute continues to unfold, stakeholders in the sports industry await further developments, which could reshape the landscape of soccer governance and competition in the country.

    Source: ABC News