One of the European Court of Justice’s most senior legal advisors has delivered yet another blow to the European Super League by ruling that UEFA does have the right to sanction clubs if they try to form a breakaway competition.

The case came about after Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid continued the push to create their own competition in order to create a closed shop – and all the media rights that come with that.

However, advocate general Athanasios Rantos at the European Court of Justice sided with supporters who have always opposed the concept of a European Super League which guaranteed entry based on the prestige of a club, rather than what its team had achieved on the pitch.

He has advised the court, set to deliver its final verdict in the coming months, that while clubs are free to set up their own independent competitions outside UEFA and FIFA, they cannot simultaneously demand that the football authorities also have to allow them entry to their own affiliated competitions.

Although an the advocate general’s opinion is not binding, it is influential and is often followed by the court. In effect this gives domestic leagues, such as the Premier League, the right to expel clubs from their competition if they try to form a European Super League. 

Football Supporters Europe (FSE) – to thom the FSA is affiliated – welcomed today’s announcement and reaffirmed its commitment to opposing a breakaway league.

“Last year, 12 obscenely wealthy clubs tried to destroy European football by creating a closed breakaway league. They failed because fans across the continent stood in solidarity against their plans,” said FSE.

“Three clubs continue to cling on to their ill-conceived plan in a strained attempt to save themselves from their own apparent financial mismanagement.

“Giving even more money and power to a few would be catastrophic, enriching a handful of clubs at the expense of all other levels of the game. It would also destroy important principles such as sporting merit, promotion and relegation, qualification to Europe via domestic success and financial solidarity.”

What does the FSA think?

We agree entirely with FSE’s analysis.

The FSA has a long track record of campaigning against the European Super League – the concept of which was widely despised by supporters. 

Today is another blow for greedy billionaires trying to carve up football for themselves and the club owners still pushing for this need to accept defeat before they do any more damage.