Real Madrid and the organisers of the European Super League (ESL) are demanding more than $4 billion in damages from UEFA, accusing European football’s governing body of abusing its monopoly and sabotaging the breakaway competition.
The demand follows a Madrid court ruling on Wednesday that dismissed UEFA’s appeal in the long-running legal dispute over the failed 2021 Super League project.
Launched in April 2021 by 12 top European clubs, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, and several Premier League giants, the Super League collapsed within days amid widespread fan protests and threats of sanctions from UEFA and FIFA.
In December 2023, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that UEFA’s efforts to block the competition breached European Union law. A Spanish court later expanded on that judgment, declaring that UEFA and FIFA had “abused their dominant position” by preventing fair competition in European football.
A22 Sports Management, the company behind the Super League, said that UEFA’s refusal to engage in dialogue or implement genuine reforms had left it with “no choice” but to seek legal redress.
“After years of legal proceedings, UEFA can no longer ignore binding court decisions,” said A22 CEO Bernd Reichart. “By abusing its monopoly and blocking innovation, UEFA has caused significant financial harm to clubs, players, and other stakeholders across Europe.”
Real Madrid also welcomed the latest ruling, saying it confirmed that UEFA had violated EU competition law.
“The club will continue to work for the good of global football and its fans, while pursuing compensation for the damages caused,” the club said in a statement.
UEFA, however, maintains that its revised regulations, updated in 2022 and 2024, comply fully with European law and ensure transparent governance and fair oversight of any new competitions.
