NYON, Switzerland — In a legal battle that could shape European football for decades, at least 15 EU countries are expected to submit written observations to the Court of Justice of the European Union against the rebel Super League.
Senior UEFA officials told POLITICO the countries include Spain (which has already made its submissions) and Italy (which is set to) — which are home of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, the teams waging the Super League’s ongoing legal fight.
Other member countries to have backed UEFA at Europe’s top court include France, Denmark and Portugal, plus non-EU Iceland, officials said.
The Super League clubs have complained that UEFA and FIFA, the European and world football governing bodies, run a monopoly on the organization and authorization of international competitions.
A central theme of the member countries’ submissions to the court has been protection of the sanctity of the European Model of Sport — a bulwark against American-style closed sports leagues.
The submissions are not binding on the court in Luxembourg, but represent a significant political signal against the proposal.
During a tumultuous 48 hours in April, the breakaway Super League launched and immediately collapsed, amid a huge political and supporter backlash.
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