Fifa, Uefa found to be ‘abusing position’ on Football super league

Football's world and European governing bodies have been accused of "unlawful" rules that stopped clubs from forming a breakaway "Super League", in a court ruling released on Thursday.

However, the ruling did not cover whether a league could actually be established, and many of Europe's major clubs quickly issued statements saying they were opposed to the idea and would not take part.

The European court of justice said European body Uefa and its international equivalent Fifa, imposed rules relating to the establishment of new competitions that were not “transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate”.

Manchester United said in a statement: "Our position has not changed. We remain fully committed to participation in UEFA competitions, and to positive cooperation with UEFA, the Premier League, and fellow clubs through the ECA on the continued development of the European game."

German giants Bayern Munich followed suit, with chief executive Jan Christian Dreesen "such a competition would be an attack on the importance of the national leagues and the structure of European football".

"The Bundesliga is the foundation of FC Bayern, just as all national leagues are the foundation of other European football clubs. It is therefore our duty and our deep conviction to strengthen them, not to weaken them."

"We are also committed to the European club competitions under the umbrella of UEFA. So let me make it very clear once again that the door for the Super League remains closed at FC Bayern.”

The Super League is backed by the A22 group, and wants to establish a competition featuring the the continent's top clubs.

Bernd Reichart, A22's CEO, said: “We have won the right to compete. The Uefa monopoly is over. Football is free. Clubs are now free from the threat of sanction and free to determine their own futures.”

The proposed men's competition would be split into three tiers - the Star (top tier of 16 teams), Gold (middle tier of 16 teams) and Blue (bottom tier of 32 teams) - with promotion and relegation between each tier. A women's competition would feature a similar structure but with 32 sides.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com