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Real Madrid to Seek Damages After Antitrust Ruling Against UEFA

By  |  November 2, 2025

Real Madrid announced plans to pursue compensation from UEFA after a Spanish court dismissed appeals by the governing body against a ruling that found UEFA had breached European Union competition law when it blocked the proposed Super League. According to ESPN, the Madrid Provincial Court rejected appeals filed not only by UEFA but also by Spain’s top football institutions, including LaLiga and the Spanish Football Federation.

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    The case stems from a 2023 decision by the Court of Justice of the European Union, which ruled that regulations enforced in 2021 by UEFA and FIFA to stop the creation of the Super League were contrary to EU law and amounted to an abuse of market dominance. Per ESPN, Real Madrid issued a statement expressing satisfaction with the decision, calling it a step that “opens the way to claim the substantial damages suffered by the club.”

    The ruling marks another chapter in the long-running legal and commercial battle over the failed 2021 Super League initiative, which collapsed within two days after facing backlash from fans, players, and governments. Twelve elite clubs from Spain, Italy, and England initially backed the breakaway competition designed to rival the UEFA Champions League.

    Read more: European Leagues and FIFPRO Europe to File Antitrust Complaint Against FIFA

    UEFA responded to Wednesday’s decision by emphasizing that it “does not validate the abandoned ‘Super League’ project announced in 2021,” and that its revised authorization rules, adopted in 2022 and updated in 2024, “remain fully in force.” The organization added that it would review the court’s judgment before determining next steps. According to ESPN, LaLiga also commented on the ruling, noting that while it respected the decision, the court had only addressed procedural issues and not endorsed any alternative competition model.

    Real Madrid, meanwhile, did not specify the size of the damages they intend to claim but reiterated their intention to “continue to work for the good of global football and fans.” The club remains one of the few still publicly aligned with A22 Sports Management, the company behind the Super League project. Juventus and Barcelona, once core members of the group, have since distanced themselves from the initiative.

    The debate over football governance and market fairness continues to divide opinion in European football. The newly rebranded European Football Clubs association, led by Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, now represents about 800 teams and plays a major role in shaping UEFA’s competitions. Real Madrid remains outside this body, further underscoring its independent stance amid a widening antitrust battle over the control of Europe’s football market.

    Source: ESPN