Because of the Super League blockade
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According to a media report, Real Madrid is preparing a claim for damages worth over four billion euros against UEFA following the legal success for the initiators of the controversial Super League. According to information from the “Financial Times”, the Spanish record champions estimate the losses caused by the blocking of the Super League plans by the European Football Union in 2021 at 4.5 to 4.7 billion euros and want to sue for these from the umbrella association. The paper cited a person close to the club as the source.
The total takes into account, among other things, lost income from match days, television broadcasts and sponsorship. Real Madrid is considered one of the main supporters of the Super League project and had already reacted positively to the Madrid regional court’s ruling in a statement on Wednesday. It rejected the appeal by UEFA, LaLiga and the Spanish football association RFEF against a 2024 commercial court decision.
Accusation: UEFA is abusing its dominant market position
The commercial court had partially upheld the lawsuit brought by the European Super League Company SL (ESLC), which is responsible for the planned competition, against possible sanctions by the world association FIFA and UEFA in May 2024.
UEFA said in a statement that it would carefully examine the ruling before deciding on further steps. The dispute concerns allegations of abuse by UEFA of its dominant market position in European football competitions.
In 2021, UEFA threatened the clubs involved with exclusion from UEFA competitions such as the Champions League and Europa League. In addition, club players should not be allowed to take part in international competitions such as the European Championships or World Cups. Ultimately, UEFA threatened disciplinary proceedings and financial penalties against both the clubs and those responsible.
Super League project remains questionable
Despite further success in court, it remains questionable whether and when the European Super League Company’s project can be realized. In 2021, twelve top European clubs rehearsed the big revolution. They founded the Super League practically from nothing – and failed. The outcry from leagues, fans and politicians was so great that most clubs quickly backed down. Apart from Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, no one is currently actively supporting the project.