BRUSELAS, 21 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The vice president of the European Commission responsible for Lifestyle, Margaritis Schinas, insisted this Thursday on his rejection of the Super League competition model, whose original idea came from a group of European clubs including Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, and has stated that European football represents “values” of cohesion and not something reserved “for the elites.”
“The fundamental principle of Europe is solidarity. Our constant support for a European sports model based on values is not negotiable,” Schinas wrote in a message on social networks collected by Europa Press, which the Greek politician published shortly after that the European Justice has pointed out the “abuse of position” of UEFA and FIFA and considered their veto of the Super League illegal.
“European football will always continue to be a vector of inclusion and cohesion. For many. Not just the elites,” Schinas stressed, in a message that does not expressly mention either the Super League model or UEFA or FIFA, but which repeats the arguments it used to censor the new competition project when it came to light in 2021.
Then, the 'popular' Greek advocated for “defending a sports model based on European values such as diversity and inclusion” and maintained that “it cannot be reserved for some rich and powerful clubs.”
In its ruling this Thursday, the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) reasons that the FIFA and UEFA rules by which any project for a new club football competition is subject to the prior authorization of these two associations which, in addition, prohibit clubs and players from participating under penalty of sanctions “oppose” Community competition law.
Specifically, the European High Court warns that these two international associations “are not subject to any criteria that guarantee their transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate nature” and, consequently, represents an “abuse of a dominant position.”
It also considers that the rules that give FIFA and UEFA exclusive control over the commercial exploitation of the rights derived from these competitions may restrict competition and may harm the media, fans and television viewers by preventing them from benefiting from new, potentially innovative competitions. or interesting.
The ruling recognizes that sport has “specific” characteristics, such as there being associations with the power to set rules and sanctions, but warns that the organization of club football championships and the exploitation of broadcasting rights “are clearly economic activities.” and therefore the rules of community competition and free movement must be applied to them.
In any case, the European Court warns that despite all these considerations, a competition such as the Super League project “should not necessarily be authorized” and clarifies that it does not rule on the specific project because the preliminary questions that were raised were of a general nature about the rules of FIFA and UEFA.