The announcement of the Super League has led UEFA and the 12 founding clubs into a complex legal and political battle, rife with wider implications for European sports. Will the dispute between UEFA and the separatist clubs end up in court? According to Antoine Dufal, a European sports law expert at the "Asser" Institute in The Hague, "We are entering a phony war, where both camps are digging in their trenches and preparing for upcoming legal attacks."
In a letter to the European and International Football Federations (FIFA) on Sunday, which was seen by AFP, the Super League Association indicated that it "has already filed a petition with the relevant courts to ensure the establishment and smooth operation of the tournament in accordance with applicable laws." This step is seen as an attempt to preempt retaliatory reactions from UEFA and FIFA.
In January, both organizations threatened to exclude the dissenters from their competitions, meaning that, for example, players from those clubs would not be eligible to participate with their national teams in the World Cup or European championships.
Notably, the letter from the European Super League did not specify whether it was directed to a national or international court but simply indicated that the threats of "punitive actions" from UEFA and FIFA "would be illegal," while preventing the Super League from proceeding would result in "irreparable harm."
Dufal points out to AFP that the phrasing in the letter seems aligned with "a request for a court order seeking a temporary suspension of UEFA's sanctions from a national court." Indeed, the Madrid Commercial Court No. 17 ruled on Tuesday that it "orders FIFA and UEFA to refrain from taking any action, steps, or issuing any announcements or press releases that directly or indirectly prevent or hinder the preparation process for the football Super League."
