30th October 2025
October 30 – A Madrid court has ruled in favour of the Super League, prompting Spanish giants Real Madrid to plan a $4 billion lawsuit against UEFA.
The court in the Spanish capital upheld the arguments from a local commercial court that European football’s governing body abused its dominant position by blocking plans for a breakaway. The idea of a 20-team Super League collapsed within 72 hours in 2021 following a backlash from football fans, stakeholders and politicians.
But following this latest court ruling, Real Madrid said that UEFA “seriously breached” EU competition law and that the judgment “paves the way for substantial claims to compensate for the damages suffered by the club”.
Madrid continued: “The club will seek compensation from UEFA for the substantial damages suffered.” The Financial Times reports that the Spanish giants are preparing to file a multi-billion lawsuit against UEFA.
In December 2023, the EU’s Court of Justice ruled that UEFA broke the law when it threatened to sanction players and clubs for joining the proposed Super League. The CJEU wrote: “The FIFA and UEFA rules on the prior authorisation of club football competitions, such as the Super League, violate EU law.”
A previous ruling by the commercial Court also emphasised that “UEFA and FIFA are hindering free competition in the market by imposing unjustified and disproportionate restrictions.”
UEFA said that the latest 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, which remain fully in force. These rules ensure that any cross-border competitions are assessed on objective, transparent, non-discriminatory and proportionate criteria.”
The Confederation reiterated its commitment to the European sports model and insisted it “will carefully review the judgment before deciding on any further steps.”
La Liga said: “The decision neither approves nor endorses any specific competition format, nor does it refer to the initial project announced in 2021, which was subsequently modified by its promoters.”
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, [moc.l1761826055labto1761826055ofdlr1761826055owedi1761826055sni@i1761826055tnuk.1761826055ardni1761826055mas1761826055](javascript:;)