Real Madrid and “A22 Sports Management,” the driving force behind the European Super League, intend to seek financial compensation exceeding four billion dollars from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), accusing them of thwarting the project, according to a source close to the case who spoke to Agence France-Presse on Thursday.
The Madrid Court of Appeal announced on Wednesday that UEFA “abused its dominant position” when it sought to prevent the launch of this tournament, which competes with the Champions League, and which nearly caused a major crisis in European football in 2021 after it was proposed by 12 major European clubs.
A22 Sports Management welcomed in a statement this “third consecutive ruling” which considers UEFA’s “monopoly” to be “illegal” under European law, stressing that UEFA caused “serious damage to many clubs, players and other stakeholders.”
“A22” expressed its regret that UEFA “rejected all avenues of settlement” and “reforms” despite months of negotiations, stressing that it no longer had “any other option” but to “take legal action to obtain compensation for the damages it has suffered.”
However, the extent of the impact of this decision remains uncertain, because it penalizes laws that were in force at UEFA in 2021, when this case began, which were amended the following year.
UEFA said in a statement sent to Agence France-Presse: “This decision does not endorse the abandoned Super League project announced in 2021, nor does it object to UEFA’s current licensing regulations, which were adopted in 2022 and updated in 2024, and which remain fully in force. These regulations ensure that any tournament that transcends borders is assessed according to objective, transparent, non-discriminatory and balanced criteria.”
Real Madrid, one of the few remaining clubs that publicly supports the Super League project, celebrated this ruling as another important victory, as its president Florentino Pérez believes that the project is an urgent necessity in order to “save European football.”
The major Spanish club praised the ruling issued by the Court of Appeal, which indicated that UEFA “violated the rules of free competition in the European Union,” and considered that it grants it the right to demand compensation from UEFA.
Based on the first decision issued in May 2024 and the ruling of the European Court of Justice, a representative of A22 stated at the beginning of October to Agence France-Presse that the company is “authorized to create a tournament,” and that UEFA no longer has any way to prevent it.
Real Madrid statement
Real Madrid explained, in an official statement, that the court rejected the appeals submitted by the Union of European Football Associations “UEFA” and the Spanish League, and the League Association in the “Super League” case, announcing that this ruling paves the way for claiming compensation for the heavy losses incurred by the club.
The statement read: “Real Madrid expresses its gratitude for the Madrid Regional Court’s rejection of the appeals filed by the Union of European Football Associations, the Spanish Football Federation, and the Spanish League Association.”
The statement added: “UEFA, in the Super League case, has seriously violated the free competition rules of the European Union, in line with the European Court of Justice’s ruling on abuse of its position. This ruling opens the door to claiming substantial compensation incurred by the club.”
It continued: “Real Madrid reports that throughout 2025 it held numerous talks with UEFA to find solutions, without reaching any commitment on more transparent governance, financial sustainability, protection of the health of football players, and improving the fan experience, including free and universally available broadcast models as was the case in the Club World Cup.”
It concluded: “Accordingly, the club announces that it will continue to work for the benefit of global football and its fans, and at the same time seek compensation from UEFA for the serious damages it has incurred.”
For his part, the President of the European Union, Aleksander Čeferin, affirmed in previous statements the importance of unity among clubs and the continental union, saying: “There are those who are trying to change the existing model from the outside, but any real change must come from within the European house and in a spirit of unity.”
His statements came in defense of the new Champions League system, which will begin to be implemented next season, with the aim of enhancing competitiveness and increasing economic returns without compromising the balance and fairness of the game.
