Abstract
On the eve of April 18, 2021, twelve of the most important European football clubs announced the creation of the SuperLeague. Two days afterwards, the League had already collapsed, wounded by the withdrawal of the six English clubs.
What the clubs failed to consider before their decision to create a breakaway league, was the reaction of their fans. In contrast with the paradigm of football fans standing against each other in allegiance to their clubs, English fans joined together to protest against the creation of a commercial product that was perceived to be against the fundamental principles of European sports and football community. Rejecting the attempts to reduce football to a form of entertainment, English fans reminded us of the socio-cultural importance of football. The European Parliament has supported this stance, while a case has been brought to the Court of Justice to assess the reaction of UEFA and the National Federations.
Regardless of its faith, the SuperLeague led to questioning the traditional structure of governance of European sport and football. The ability of the governing bodies to exercise both regulatory and commercial powers will be scrutinised by the Court of Justice. However, a proposal to institute an Independent Regulator has been formulated in the United Kingdom in the context of the Fan-Led Review.
The paper will discuss the failed project of the SuperLeague, the approach of the EU institutions and the case law of the Court of Justice, and the Governance reform proposed in the United Kingdom.
What the clubs failed to consider before their decision to create a breakaway league, was the reaction of their fans. In contrast with the paradigm of football fans standing against each other in allegiance to their clubs, English fans joined together to protest against the creation of a commercial product that was perceived to be against the fundamental principles of European sports and football community. Rejecting the attempts to reduce football to a form of entertainment, English fans reminded us of the socio-cultural importance of football. The European Parliament has supported this stance, while a case has been brought to the Court of Justice to assess the reaction of UEFA and the National Federations.
Regardless of its faith, the SuperLeague led to questioning the traditional structure of governance of European sport and football. The ability of the governing bodies to exercise both regulatory and commercial powers will be scrutinised by the Court of Justice. However, a proposal to institute an Independent Regulator has been formulated in the United Kingdom in the context of the Fan-Led Review.
The paper will discuss the failed project of the SuperLeague, the approach of the EU institutions and the case law of the Court of Justice, and the Governance reform proposed in the United Kingdom.
| Translated title of the contribution | SUPERLEAGUE & ENGLISH FOOTBALL |
|---|---|
| Original language | Undefined/Unknown |
| Pages | 400-423 |
| Number of pages | 23 |
| No. | 2 |
| Specialist publication | Rivista di Diritto Sportivo |
| Publication status | Published - 18 Apr 2023 |
Keywords
- SuperLeague
- Governance
- Solidarity
- Redistribution
- Conflict of Interests
- Restraint of Trade
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