Real Madrid and UEFA Reach Agreement on Super League Dispute

Overview of the Resolution

Real Madrid and UEFA have come to a “principles agreement” aimed at resolving their long-standing conflict over the proposed European Super League, asserting that this decision is beneficial for European club football.

Background of the Disagreement

The dispute between Madrid and UEFA began with the announcement of the Super League initiative in 2021. The club took legal actions, arguing that UEFA was unlawfully attempting to inhibit the formation of this new competition.

Recently, FC Barcelona announced its formal exit from the Super League, leaving Real Madrid as the sole remaining founding member among the original twelve clubs.

Official Statement

In a joint declaration from Madrid and UEFA, it was noted: “After extended discussions aimed at serving the interests of European football, UEFA, European Football Clubs (EFC), and Real Madrid CF have come to an agreement of principles focused on the well-being of European club football. This includes the respect for sporting merit, the promotion of long-term club sustainability, and the improvement of fan experiences through technology.”

The statement also highlighted that this agreement will help address the ongoing legal conflicts related to the European Super League, contingent upon the implementation of these principles.

Recent Developments

In November, Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Pérez, who has been a strong advocate for the Super League, expressed renewed confidence in achieving a favorable outcome, stating that the club would continue to assert its right to organize its own competition and seek compensation from UEFA.

Additionally, in October, UEFA disclosed that informal dialogues had been held in recent months with A22 Sports Management, the group backing the Super League, in search of a mutually acceptable solution. A UEFA representative confirmed that general secretary Theodore Theodoridis met with A22 co-founder Anas Laghrari on several occasions without formal results.

Following UEFA’s attempt to halt the Super League and the warning of penalties for participating clubs, A22 escalated the matter to the European Court of Justice. In December 2023, the court determined that UEFA’s previous regulations on sanctioning new competitions were contrary to EU law. Following this, a Madrid court supported that ruling, prompting Real Madrid to announce in October that they would pursue “significant damages” related to UEFA’s handling of the situation.