Revealed: Super League chiefs expect legal U-turn as Tottenham discover fate
The organisers of the Super League project once backed by Tottenham expect the European Court of Justice to ultimately allow clubs to “manage their own destiny in Europe,” Football Insider has learned.
Their response comes after the European Union’s highest legal authority delivered a recommendation which appeared to back UEFA and FIFA in the case regarding the failed breakaway competition.
Athanasios Rantos, the court’s Advocate General, advised on Thursday (15 December) that football’s chief governing bodies do have the right under EU law to penalise clubs and players for joining breakaway leagues.
But A22 Sports Management, the firm established to supervise the relaunch of the Super League, believes that the ECJ will rule in their favour when they deliver a full verdict in spring next year.
In a statement sent to Football Insider, A22 CEO Bernd Reichart said: “The opinion of the Advocate General is one step in an ongoing case, and we are pleased with the recognition of the right of third parties to organise pan-European club competitions.
“The Advocate General made clear that UEFA has a monopolistic position which comes with important responsibilities for enabling third parties to act freely in the market.
“However, we believe the 15 judges of the Grand Chamber who are entrusted with the responsibility to examine this case, will go substantially further and provide the opportunity for clubs to manage their own destiny in Europe.”
The likes of Liverpool have publicly stated that their stance towards the Super League has not changed since they pulled out amid an unprecedented fan backlash in April last year.
But Tottenham refused to do the same when contacted by Football Insider in November.
The news that the UK government will introduce an independent regulator for English football in 2023 is seen by many analysts as another major blow to the Super League relaunch project.
In other news, Tottenham and Newcastle United in Jack Wylie race as “big-money offer” tabled.