The prospects of a future European Super League have been boosted after judges said UEFA rules blocking the formation of such a competition were contrary to EU law.
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Justice had been asked to decide whether UEFA and FIFA acted against competition law by blocking the formation of the European Super League in 2021 and then seeking to sanction the clubs involved.
The court has now ruled that UEFA and FIFA rules granting prior approval for new competitions are contrary to EU law, but added that the competition may still not be approved.
A release issued by the court said such rules were "contrary to competition law and the freedom to provide services".
A non-binding decision delivered by the Advocate General in the case last December found rules allowing UEFA to have prior approval of new competitions were compatible with EU law.
The original 2021 Super League proposal was criticised for its 'closed' format, with 15 founder clubs set to have been immune from relegation.
A22, a company formed to assist in the creation of that competition, has announced it will release details of its latest Super League concept on Thursday which will include men's and women's midweek competitions featuring promotion and relegation.
Following the earlier ECJ ruling, A22 CEO Bernd Reichart posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: "We have won the #RightToCompete. The UEFA-monopoly is over. Football is FREE. Clubs are now free from the threat of sanction AND free to determine their own futures.
"For fans: We propose free viewing of all Super League matches.
"For clubs: Revenues and solidarity spending will be guaranteed."
There are many obstacles in A22's path even if the judgement suggests it does have the right to pitch a new competition to UEFA that can operate under UEFA's auspices, and for UEFA to give that competition full and fair consideration.
These include the will of clubs, existing agreements between the European Club Association and UEFA, and the fact that the existence of a joint venture between ECA and UEFA on commercial matters at the very least challenges A22's assertions about a monopoly.
In England, clubs are set to be forbidden from joining unapproved competitions as a licensing condition to be set by the English game's new independent regulator, while the Premier League's Owners' Charter agreed in 2022 also contains undertakings not to "engage in the creation of new competition formats outside of the Premier League's rules".
Supporters in England took to the streets despite coronavirus restrictions when the initial Super League plans became known, and played a key part in its collapse.
The Grand Chamber judgement's interpretation of EU law will be passed back to a Madrid commercial court to make a decision, after the Spanish jurisdiction made the referral in 2021.
That court also placed an injunction on sanctions UEFA imposed on the nine clubs who joined Super League but who later withdrew. It remains to be seen whether UEFA will press on with those sanctions, and potentially investigate more serious charges against Real and Barcelona.
Skysports