Clifford Chance
Clifford Chance secures groundbreaking victory for the European Superleague project
21 December 2023
- Luis Alonso, Fernando Irurzun, Miguel Odriozola, Belén Irissarry, Fernando Giménez-Alvear, Pablo Murcia
- Madrid
Clifford Chance secures groundbreaking victory for the European Superleague project
Clifford Chance has acted as exclusive advisor to the European Superleague Company and A22 Sports Management on all legal aspects of the Superleague project, including the legal proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) which evaluated the monopoly on football exercised by UEFA and FIFA.
In a groundbreaking judgment, the CJEU has ruled that the market for organisation of sports tournaments is not a monopoly held by UEFA and FIFA and that this market should be open to alternative proposals in accordance with the general principles of competition law; and consequently, European football clubs are free to create their own competitions.
The team advising the European Superleague Company and A22 Sports Management was led by partners Luis Alonso, Fernando Irurzun and Miguel Odriozola, in collaboration with jurist Jean-Louis Dupont who worked with our team to support the clients on this matter, and the support of Counsel Belén Irissarry, Pablo Murcia and Fernando Giménez-Alvear.
Luis Alonso, Head of Corporate / M&A at Clifford Chance in Spain and Global Co-Director of the Sports & Entertainment practice says: "Today is a historic day for European sport, and in particular for football clubs, who, going forward, will be able to create their own tournaments."
Fernando Irurzun, Head of Litigation at Clifford Chance in Spain: "We celebrate the recognition of our clients' rights with the confirmation that in the European Union there are no spaces excluded from the application of the law."
Miguel Odriozola, Head of Competition Law at Clifford Chance in Spain: "We celebrate the fact that the Court has confirmed that the right to free competition is an essential pillar of the European Union, which must be respected by all, without exceptions."
Jean Louis Dupont, consultant: "Almost 30 years ago the Bosman ruling freed the players. Today, the Court of Justice of the European Union has done the same for the clubs".
