MADRID, Oct 29 (Reuters) – Real Madrid have initiated compensation proceedings against the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) after Spain’s Regional Court of Madrid dismissed appeals filed by UEFA, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), and LaLiga concerning the long-running European Super League case.
The ruling, issued this week, marks another chapter in the legal dispute over the 2021 breakaway competition that aimed to challenge UEFA’s control of European football. The court’s decision confirms that UEFA infringed European Union competition rules, paving the way for possible financial claims from clubs involved in the project.
Legal setback for UEFA
Real Madrid welcomed the ruling, saying it validated the European Court of Justice (CJEU) decision from December 2023, which found that both UEFA and FIFA had breached EU law by blocking the Super League and threatening sanctions against participating clubs.
“This judgment confirms that UEFA, in the matter of the Super League, seriously infringed European competition law, abusing its dominant position,” Real Madrid said in a statement. “It paves the way for substantial claims to compensate for damages suffered by the club.”
The court’s decision follows a previous Spanish ruling ordering UEFA and FIFA to halt their opposition to any new European competition, deeming their restrictions anti-competitive. However, the latest judgment is not final and may be appealed before the Supreme Court’s First Chamber, which oversees civil cases.
Real Madrid calls for reforms
Real Madrid said it had engaged in discussions with UEFA earlier this year to propose reforms aimed at improving governance, financial sustainability, and player welfare, as well as enhancing the fan experience through transparent broadcasting and accessibility measures.
“No agreement has been reached regarding these reforms,” the club said, adding that it would continue to advocate for a more open and balanced football system while seeking compensation from UEFA for financial losses incurred.
Club officials said the decision strengthens their argument that Europe’s football governance structure requires modernization to ensure fair competition and protect smaller clubs from economic concentration.
UEFA response and political context
UEFA said it would review the court judgment before announcing its next steps. In a statement to Reuters, UEFA clarified that the ruling “does not validate the abandoned Super League project announced in 2021, nor does it undermine UEFA’s current authorisation rules, adopted in 2022 and updated in 2024.”
UEFA added that its regulatory framework ensures all cross-border competitions are evaluated on transparent and proportionate criteria.
The development comes just weeks after the European Parliament passed a resolution reaffirming its opposition to “breakaway competitions,” warning they could endanger the broader European sports ecosystem.
Decline of the Super League
Launched in 2021 by 12 elite European clubs, the Super League collapsed within days following public backlash, fan protests, and government criticism. Six English Premier League clubs withdrew first, prompting several others to exit the project.
Currently, only Real Madrid and Barcelona continue to support the concept, after Juventus officially pulled out in 2023 to rejoin the European Club Association.
In December 2024, the competition’s promoters, A22 Sports Management, reintroduced the project under a new name — the “Unify League” — proposing a 96-club multi-tier format. However, both LaLiga and the Premier League rejected the idea, effectively stalling its revival.
This news was originally published by Reuters.