SUMMARY
- Back in 2021, several top European clubs joined hands to start European soccer league.
- However, ten of the twelve teams withdrew from the projects.
FC Barcelona has received a lifeline to come out of their financial crisis after the European Court of Justice’s ruling. After months of deliberation, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has finally ruled on the controversial European Super League. However, FC Barcelona is among all the parties that are going to tremendously benefit from this ruling.
Back in 2021, several top European clubs joined hands to give birth to a new soccer competition, the European Super League. This venture was an act of rebellion by the clubs against FIFA and UEFA. Twelve clubs- Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, AC Milan, and Inter Milan signed up as members for the Super League.
🚨 The Super League project is well and truly ALIVE.
There have been contacts with more than 60 clubs this year to set up the competition.
Real Madrid and Barcelona will receive a €1BN injection for being the remaining founders.
Multiple investors want to inject money into… pic.twitter.com/Yasq28zuv0
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) December 21, 2023
However, after a huge public outrage from soccer fans and amid threats of prosecution by FIFA and UEFA, ten out of the twelve clubs withdrew from the project. However, following ECJ’s recent ruling, it appears as if the Super League will take place. The ECJ rules that FIFA and UEFA’s laws on the making of an interclub soccer tournament were contrary to the EU’s laws.
Moreover, since organizing a competition is an economic activity, FIFA and UEFA can’t block the Super League. Following the ruling, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are set to reap huge economic boosts for being the only remaining founding members.
This will go a long way to help the Catalan club come out of their economic crisis. Several fans have rejoiced at the ruling, with one fan even saying, “Barca won’t sell grass anymore.” With the legal rigmarole sorted, the date of the competition remains yet to be decided.
FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta welcomes the ruling on Super League
FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has spoken out after the European Court of Justice’s ruling came a few hours ago. Welcoming the decision, Laporta reiterated his stance on why the Super League is necessary for member-owned clubs like FC Barcelona. He said, “FC Barcelona would like to express its satisfaction with the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) endorsing the Super League project proposed by A22 Sports.“
President @JoanLaportaFCB discusses the Super League sentence pic.twitter.com/BVW8QJl3fl
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 21, 2023
Laporta further stated that the Super League is necessary for the sustainability of the clubs. Moreover, the new league will stand in the way of FIFA and UEFA exercising its monopoly in the soccer world. He also claimed that the league would help in providing a solution to the overloaded calendar and excessive national team fixtures, and promote financial fair play.
Lastly, Laporta insisted that the European Super League is not against any national soccer leagues. On the contrary, it will help provide the resources for the leagues to be more competitive. The Spanish giants are set to receive a whopping $1.9 billion from the Super League project. This will help FC Barcelona put an end to the economic woes that have been plaguing them since 2021.
