European Super League Clubs Plan Antitrust Suit Against UEFA

Three football clubs pushing for a European Super League are reportedly considering legal action. The clubs, which had hoped to stop other teams being promoted or relegated, accuse soccer chiefs of seeking a monopoly.

Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Juventus — the three clubs still behind the Super League — are reported to be planning legal action against football authorities. The three sides say they want to dismantle a “monopoly” that prevents the creation of rival contests.

Britain’s Financial Times newspaper has reported seeing documents that the clubs are filing with the European Court of Justice. The newspaper said the sides will ask judges to decide whether European football’s governing body, UEFA, can continue to act as a regulator.

According to the court documents, the Super League accuses Uefa and Fifa of abusing their dominant position. “Contrary to other sporting competition markets, Uefa and Fifa keep and fiercely defend a monopolistic position in European football that goes against competition law, despite efforts from other operators to access the market,” it said.

They claim the UEFA should not be able to sanction clubs while profiting from organizing tournaments such as the Champions League, according to the document.

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