West Ham United are among Premier League clubs have agreed to oppose the European Super League (ESL) even if organisers of the breakaway league win their anti-competition case at the the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
The news is reported on Fabrizio Romano’s Daily Briefing by reporter Ben Jacobs who says Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea all announced they had joined the European Super League in April 2021 only to pull out within 48 hours.
A22 Sports Management, promoters of the ESLargue UEFA’s “monopoly” on European club competition is anti-competitive, and will now effectively find out if they have a legal mandate to operate on December 21.
An A22 statement said: “We hope the European Court of Justice will end the monopoly of UEFA and enforce the fundamental freedoms of the European Union in the world of football.
“Fans, clubs, players and the sport of football would be the winners in a market that is open for a competition of ideas and in which clubs could govern and organise a European football competition without fear of threats.”
FIFA-UEFA already saw a non-binding recommendation on the case go their way last December. Advocate general Athanasios Rantos wrote that, “The FIFA-UEFA rules under which any new competition is subject to prior approval are compatible with EU competition law.”
Rantos added that the European Super League has every right to exist, but if clubs chose to breakaway they would need to seek permission from their leagues or risk leaving them.
Sources indicate Chelsea and Manchester City were the most reluctant to join the European Super League at the time, whilst Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal were driving forces.
Since then, Premier League clubs have decided to collectively oppose the project regardless of the forthcoming legal ruling, which will be made by 12 judges.
Not just the ‘big six’, but all 20 clubs, are in agreement they don’t wish to join or endorse the project.