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Super league row heads for ECJ

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, the three clubs behind the Super League, are taking legal action against Fifa and Uefa.   In a case at the European Court of Justice which could be as significant as the Bosman ruling, the clubs will accuse the game's governing bodies of breaking EU competition rules.

The court will be asked to rule whether Uefa can continue to act as a regulator that is able to place sanctions on clubs, while also acting as a participant, profiting from tournaments such as the Champions League.

The Super League accuses Uefa and Fifa of abusing their dominant position.  They claim that the governing bodies defend a monopolistic position in European football that goes against competition law.

16 European governments plan to intervene in the court hearing, most of them to defend 'the European model of sport'.  The European Commission will also comment on the compliance of Uefa and Fifa rules with EU competition and internal market rules.

Uefa said that the dual role of sports governing bodies had been endorsed and recognised by European institutions and described the court challenges as 'self-serving and desperate.'

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