UEFA Faces $4bn Lawsuit from Real Madrid, Super League Organisers Over Competition Ban

Real Madrid and the promoters of the defunct European Super League have filed a legal claim seeking over $4 billion in damages from UEFA, accusing the continental football body of unfairly sabotaging the breakaway competition, a source confirmed to AFP on Thursday.

The development follows a Spanish court’s dismissal of an appeal filed by UEFA on Wednesday, marking another legal setback for European football’s governing body.

The Super League, proposed in 2021 by 12 of Europe’s top clubs including Real Madrid and Barcelona, collapsed within days after intense backlash from fans—particularly in England—and threats of sanctions from UEFA and FIFA.

In December 2023, the European Court of Justice ruled that UEFA’s attempt to block the Super League violated European competition laws. A year later, a Spanish judge concluded that both UEFA and FIFA had “restricted free competition” and abused their dominant position in the football market.

The Madrid court also rejected appeals filed by La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation.

A22 Sports Management, the company behind the Super League project, said it regretted UEFA’s “refusal to compromise” despite months of dialogue and claimed it had no alternative but to seek compensation.

“After years of legal proceedings, UEFA can no longer ignore binding court decisions,” A22 CEO Bernd Reichart said. “By abusing their monopoly and blocking new initiatives, UEFA has caused massive financial harm to clubs, players, and other stakeholders across Europe.”

However, the implications of the ruling remain unclear since UEFA has since revised its regulations.

“This judgment does not revive the abandoned 2021 Super League project, nor does it affect UEFA’s current authorisation rules, updated in 2022 and 2024,” UEFA said in a statement. “Our rules continue to ensure that all cross-border competitions are evaluated transparently, fairly, and proportionately.”

Real Madrid welcomed the court’s decision, saying it confirmed that UEFA “seriously breached EU competition law” through monopolistic practices.

“The club remains committed to advancing global football for the benefit of fans and will pursue substantial compensation from UEFA,” the Spanish giants said.