Super League: A bruising ruling for UEFA – but breakaway league a non-starter without Premier League clubs
Unlike every other football match – this is one fixture where both sides are claiming victory.
The Super League ruling from the EU’s top court is bruising for UEFA – concluding the Champions League organisers abuse their dominance of the European football market by blocking rival competitions.
And the dwindling number of public Super League backers – just Barcelona and Real Madrid remaining – now see some prospect of reviving the rebellion that collapsed within 48 hours in 2021.
But UEFA seems sure its lucrative competitions aren’t under threat of being usurped.
The bullish and sarcastic dismissal of the new-look Super League from UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin was as much a reflection of the power he has accumulated across the continent than confidence in being able to bat away the Court of Justice verdict.
Even if UEFA’s ability to ban clubs who join a Super League has now been neutered, there is no sign of more signing up – beyond the Spanish duo.
Mr Ceferin suggested changes could be needed to how UEFA operates and regulates the Champions League after being found in breach of EU competition law but couldn’t offer any specific response.
UEFA has already conceded some control of the Champions League by linking up with elite clubs to sell the television rights.
And that keeps Paris Saint-Germain, in particular, away from the lure of the Super League given it is run by Nasser Al-Khelaifi – the Qatari who also controls leading Champions League rights holder beIN Sports.
And a revamped Champions League next season will give clubs what they sought with the attempted Super League split in 2021 – more European games.
The group stage is growing and giving teams eight rather than six matches before potential knockout round fixtures.
The Super League proposition is at least 14 continental fixtures each year, but it is vague how they would fund the competition when planning to stream every game for free.
UEFA is projecting to earn around £4bn each season from its overhauled Champions League.
And that is a competition without guaranteed annual slots. Qualification can only be achieved based on the previous season’s ranking domestically or by winning the Champions League.
But even though the Super League has scrapped lifetime places for founding members – including six from England – its new format of three divisions locks in places for years.
The dream that one successful Premier League season could earn qualification to play against the best in Europe is removed.
But this is a Super League that cannot happen as long as the Premier League clubs won’t have anything to do with it.
And they are now banned from doing so if they want to stay in the Premier League.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham sneakily joined the Super League without consulting their fans in 2021.
The toxicity of the reaction that forced a U-turn means they wouldn’t dare risk a repeat.
But the Court of Justice ruling will allow many clubs to deploy the threat again that they dangled in Champions League cash talks with UEFA for years – the threat to go it alone.
For sure, UEFA’s dominance suits many clubs.