Real Madrid makes a crucial decision regarding the Super League

Real Madrid and UEFA have come to a settlement to close the legal battle over the Super League initiative

Real Madrid and UEFA have agreed on a “principle agreement” to resolve the long-standing disagreement between the two parties about the breakaway European Super League project, describing the move as “in the best interest of European club football.”

The Royal Club has been at odds with the European football governing body since the Super League was announced in 2021, and has pursued legal action against what the club views as an unlawful attempt to block the launch of the competition.

Last week, Barcelona announced their official withdrawal from the Super League, leaving Madrid as the only remaining club among the original 12 founding members.

A statement released by Real Madrid and UEFA said: “After months of discussions carried out in the best interests of European football, UEFA, the European Football Clubs’ Association (ECA), and Real Madrid CF announce that they have reached a principle agreement for the sustainable development of European club football, respecting sporting merit with an emphasis on the long-term sustainability of clubs and enhancing fan experience through the use of technology.

This principle agreement will also help resolve the legal disputes related to the European Super League once these principles are implemented and enforced.”

Just last November, Real Madrid’s president Florentino Perez, one of the strongest supporters of the Super League, stated he was “more confident than ever” of winning the dispute, affirming that Madrid would “relentlessly pursue” the right to organize the club’s own competition and seek compensation from UEFA.

In October last year, UEFA revealed that it had held a series of informal talks in recent months with the backers of the Super League, A22 Sports Management, looking for a compromise solution.

“We can confirm that UEFA Secretary General Theodore Theodoridis met with Anas Laghrari, co-founder of A22, on several occasions in public settings. No formal outcome was reached from these discussions,” UEFA stated.

After UEFA blocked the attempt to launch the Super League and threatened sanctions against participating clubs, A22 took the matter to the European Court of Justice.

In December 2023, the court ruled that UEFA’s previous regulations requiring approval for new competitions violated European Union law, and following a similar ruling by a Madrid court, Real Madrid announced in October last year that they would seek “substantial compensation” related to UEFA’s handling of the issue.