Real Madrid and the backers of the European Super League are pursuing more than $4 billion in damages from UEFA, accusing the governing body of unlawfully obstructing the breakaway competition, according to a source cited by AFP on Thursday.
The move comes after a Spanish court on Wednesday dismissed UEFA’s latest appeal related to the Super League case — a fresh legal blow to European football’s governing institution.
The Super League, unveiled in April 2021 by 12 of Europe’s top clubs — including Real Madrid, Barcelona, and six Premier League teams — was designed to be an elite, closed competition that rivalled the UEFA Champions League.
However, the project imploded within 48 hours following widespread fan protests in England, threats of sanctions from UEFA and FIFA, and political backlash across Europe. Only Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus continued to defend the concept publicly after other founding clubs withdrew.
In December 2023, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that UEFA and FIFA’s attempts to ban the Super League violated European competition law. The court determined that both organisations had abused their dominant market position by preventing rival competitions from emerging, a decision that significantly bolstered the Super League’s legal argument.
Earlier, in 2022, a Spanish judge had similarly concluded that UEFA and FIFA had engaged in anti-competitive practices, obstructing free market dynamics within European football.
The Madrid court’s latest decision also rejected appeals filed by LaLiga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), further reinforcing the legal stance of the Super League’s promoters.
With the court’s backing, Real Madrid and its partners are now seeking compensation exceeding $4 billion, claiming UEFA’s actions caused substantial financial losses and reputational damage to the proposed competition.
While UEFA maintains that its governance structure protects the integrity of European football, the latest developments suggest the legal confrontation is far from over. The Super League project — long dismissed as dead — continues to resurface through the courts, challenging the monopoly of Europe’s traditional football institutions.
For now, the ruling represents a major legal victory for Real Madrid and Super League advocates, marking another step in their ongoing effort to reshape the financial and competitive landscape of European football.
