- Brazil probes Supreme Court bomb blasts as 'terrorist act'
- Sotheby's to pay $6.25 mln in tax fraud case
- McIlroy shares Dubai lead with Ballesteros mark in sight
- Lebanon army redeployment in south crucial to war solution: UN peacekeeping chief
- US stocks wobble as traders weigh future Fed cuts
- Trump fills out cabinet as divisive picks shock Washington
- Son hits 50th South Korea goal in win, Australia-Saudi stalemate
- BHP, Vale cleared by Brazil court over 2015 dam disaster
- Satirical US outlet The Onion buys conspiracy site Infowars
- Scotland must emulate Croatia's 'conveyor belt of talent': Clarke
- Legal migration to OECD reaches new record in 2023
- Robinson edges Benazzi to succeed Beaumont as head of World Rugby
- India's capital shuts all primary schools due to smog
- Central bank independence 'fundamental' for good policy: Fed official
- Fritz beats De Minaur to eye ATP Finals last four, Sinner through
- Doris expecting a 'proper test' against Argentina
- Russia's exiled opposition hopes for rebirth with Berlin rally
- EU fines Meta $840 million for 'abusive' Facebook ad practices
- Springboks boss Erasmus expects England to 'play for Borthwick'
- Before Leicester, Ranieri's brush with glory with his beloved Roma
- Stock markets rise as traders weigh future Fed cuts
- Australian Robinson edges Benazzi to head World Rugby
- US director Haynes to lead Berlinale 2025 jury
- Iran tells UN nuclear chief willing to resolve 'ambiguities'
- Coach owner Tapestry calls off Capri bid on regulatory blocks
- UK government announces ban on new coal mines
- US ski star Lindsey Vonn, 40, to attempt competitive return
- Ranieri comes out of retirement to lead hometown club Roma
- England recall Steward and Van Poortvliet for South Africa Test
- EU fines Meta 798 mn euros for Facebook ad antitrust breach
- Australian Brett Robinson graduates to rugby's top post
- Brazil looking for motive after attempted Supreme Court bombing
- Hotels on Booking.com can offer better rates elsewhere: EU
- EU deforestation ban in chaos as parliament loosens rules
- Springboks make 12 changes to team for England clash
- All Blacks fly-half Barrett returns from concussion against France
- UEFA launches investigation into Premier League referee Coote
- Monaco Formula One GP extended until 2031
- Climate finance: who is being asked to pay what at COP29?
- 'Terrible' AI has given tech an existential headache: activist
- COP29 host tries to calm waters after diplomatic turmoil
- Late drama as Saudis hold Australia in World Cup qualifier
- Stock markets diverge as traders weigh future Fed cuts
- Israel warfare methods 'consistent with genocide': UN committee
- 'In-form leader' Fickou starts for France against New Zealand
- Iran activist kills himself after demanding release of prisoners
- Russia shuts Moscow's famed gulag museum
- London mayor says Trump attacks due to his ethnicity and religion
- Japan expect tough Indonesia test with World Cup spot in reach
- Uganda TikToker convicted for insulting president
RBGPF | -1.59% | 59.25 | $ | |
CMSC | 0.1% | 24.635 | $ | |
GSK | -0.04% | 35.095 | $ | |
NGG | 0.74% | 62.58 | $ | |
BP | 1.18% | 28.91 | $ | |
SCS | -1.65% | 13.153 | $ | |
BTI | 0.7% | 35.67 | $ | |
RELX | 0.02% | 46.13 | $ | |
CMSD | 0.07% | 24.747 | $ | |
RIO | -0.41% | 60.375 | $ | |
AZN | 0.81% | 65.82 | $ | |
RYCEF | -3.34% | 6.88 | $ | |
BCC | -1.84% | 139.977 | $ | |
JRI | -0.3% | 13.2 | $ | |
VOD | -0.34% | 8.72 | $ | |
BCE | -0.46% | 27.085 | $ |
European court opens hearing into whether UEFA can block Super League
Lawyers for the rump of the Super League, the short-lived rival to the Champions League, on Monday denounced the "monopolistic" aims of European football's governing body (UEFA) at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg (CJEU).
The dispute over the alleged abuse of UEFA's dominant position is being heard by the CJEU on Monday and Tuesday. A decision is not expected before the end of 2022 or even early 2023.
The court is hearing the case at the request of a Madrid judge.
"We are here to defend the freedoms that make the EU a unique jurisdiction in the world, by proposing to fight against anti-economic practices," said Miguel Odriozola Alen, who is defending the Spanish-based Super League company.
He criticised UEFA, which had helped dissuade the "rebellious" clubs from embarking on the adventure, for being a "monopolistic entity", which should not be able to "arrogate to itself regulatory powers over a market in which it is in competition".
The Super League, a competition restricted to 12 major European clubs, was announced with great fanfare in April 2021. But in the face of fan fury and the threat of political action, the deal fell apart within 48 hours as nine clubs withdrew.
The three clubs who have refused to abandon the project, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, are challenging UEFA's threat of sanctions in a separate action in a Spanish court.
For UEFA, "a league closed to the richest clubs is incompatible with the European sporting model, which is based on merit," its lawyer Donald Slater said on Monday.
He argued that the Swiss-based organisation was "not seeking to maximise its income" but simply to ensure "through the application of common rules ... that sport fulfils societal functions", in accordance with the European treaties.
The stakes go far beyond the Super League, and even beyond football.
On Monday, on appeal, the CJEU dealt with another dispute between the International Skating Federation and two Dutch speed skaters, whom it had wanted to ban for life to prevent them from participating in a South Korean private competition.
That project was nipped in the bud by the reluctance of the athletes to take such a risk.
Earlier on Monday, 15 European supporters' associations, including fan groups from France, Spain, England and Germany issued a joint statement reiterating their "opposition" to the Super League, which they called "an existential threat to European football."
"The project is a billionaire's concept. It is anti-competitive in nature and, if implemented, would destroy the key principles on which the European model is based, such as sporting merit, promotion and relegation, qualification for Europe through success (in competitions at national level) and financial solidarity," said the statement.
H.Seidel--BTB