“FIFA cannot control anything that affects the workplace without the agreement of players and employers. The decision of the ‘Super League’ case and the decision of the ‘Diarra case’ are clear. The decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union “They recognized the autonomy of UEFA and FIFA. It’s a big responsibility to lose.” Javier Tebas, President of LaLigaused, as partners in the case against the organization led by Gianni Infantino, the pioneering decision of December 21, 2023 that took place in Luxembourg.
‘Super League Case’, the return of the top clubs
The press conference in which to explain the complaints against the FIFA calendar was established, because it was established inconsistently, without the teams and the players, they left a strange agreement. The dominance that the Super League has gained is helpful to the European Leagues and LaLiga in their legal battle that is starting now. Both methods go in the same direction: disrupting the authority of supranational organizations which, according to local competition and organizations such as FIFPro Europe, affects the business of football itself.
In the ‘Super League’ decision, the opinion of the attorney general of the European Union conflicted with the possibility of creating a competition promoted by Florentino Pérez, the president of Real Madrid, was opened. That is to say, the CJEU recognized the association of UEFA with individual competitions, without the teams and players who could participate in them being recognized. “Today more than ever, we remember that ‘Super League’ is an example of self-interest and popularity”criticized Tebas, who in his complaint against FIFA mentioned several times the consequences of the decision in favor of the European league.
His spirit shows that the old equipment of football, fixed, with federal ladders and organically controlled positions, should be discussed. The main reason is that the clubs, and especially the players, claim to be the masters of the destination. From UEFA understood that one of the main reasons was capital and that is why the earthquake that started the Super League changed the shape of the Champions League. The money to be distributed increased, but the parties also grew, a union that is not happy “those in charge of business”as the top players are defined by the organizations they represent.
The original decision that was the basis of the ‘Diarra case’
The Super League did not take place, although A22, the company that manages the competition, took advantage of this decision to introduce a distribution format, more open than the original idea. The user was announced and the dates were set very close in time, while there were stories of many followers waiting to give people a ‘yes, I want’. This has not yet happened, with Real Madrid as the main flag of the project, and FC Barcelona on the other hand. Aleksander Ceferin, the president of UEFA, publicly criticized this: “Let them enjoy playing with each other.”
‘status quo’ completely and this comes from another hard hit with the sentence ‘Diarra case’, also mentioned by Tebas. Lass Diarra, who played for Real Madrid, as well as Chelsea, Arsenal and PSG, among others, could not sign in 2014 for the Belgian club Charleroi after terminating his contract with Lokomotiv Moscow, because FIFA refused him to move to the club. having unpaid debts with the Russians. The actor also charged him 10 million. The CJEU concluded that “some of FIFA’s rules on the international transfer of players are contrary to European Union Law and preventing the free movement of playersto prevent competition between clubs”.
The news caught the attention of the Super League. “The recent judgments of the CJEU have shown that international organizations must ensure that they no longer restrict their work and their rules to EU law. The pillars on which the stability of these organizations has been based until now are falling”, Bernd Reichart, CEO of A22 Sports Management, expressed his in conversation with Kicker. More because the judges of the ‘Diarra case’ They mentioned their Super League decision up to 35 timeswhich shows the size of the tests, something that was reinforced by the intervention of the representatives of the players and the teams against FIFA on the calendar.
The Club World Cup is a survival pyramid
At a press conference on the judicial process held in Brussels, including Tebas, on behalf of LaLiga, Lorin Parys, CEO of the Belgian Pro League; David Terrier, president of FIFPro Europe; Mathieu Moreuil, head of international relations with the EU at the Premier; Kristoffer Vatshaug, President of the Norwegian Players Association and Umberto Calcagno, President of the Italian Players Association. They all agreed to show two games based on FIFA, as the next one Club World Cup and World Cup 2026. Two examples of how often a calendar is placed.
But there were also comments about a new, expanded version of the Champions League, but which, according to the Italian Calcagno, does not solve the same problems. The objections of the plaintiffs include the protection of the top players – “health is not a matter of contract” – and that the modest clubs work for big projects and are concerned about their financial growth. Although from FIFA and UEFA, the main argument against the Super League he has been working on a pyramid scheme which connects youth football with elite clubs.
The European leagues know that if a project like the Super League goes ahead it will end as it is known. They would survive in a business model full of uncertainties. But the common enemy of FIFA and UEFA, who in their opinion prevents them from creating a paid calendar, has made the project they are fighting at the same time the basis of their legal dispute. “They are ruining the economy of the national league and the safety of the players”challenged what Tebas described as one of the “most important and historic days in football.” And what if it did, to the point of putting indifferent enemies in the same way.
