Spain’s National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) has launched a formal investigation into the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for allegedly violating Spanish and EU competition rules by obstructing the creation of rival football competitions, including the much-debated Super League.
The case centers on UEFA’s conduct in 2021, when a group of elite European clubs attempted to launch a breakaway tournament. The CNMC suspects that UEFA may have restricted competition by threatening sanctions and imposing conditions that discouraged clubs from participating in alternative competitions not sanctioned by the governing body.
Alleged Abuse of Power
According to the CNMC, UEFA’s actions may have infringed Articles 1 and 2 of Spain’s Competition Law (LDC) and Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). These articles prohibit anticompetitive agreements and abuse of a dominant market position.
The investigation stems from a complaint filed by A22 Sports Management, the company behind the Super League project. After conducting a confidential preliminary inquiry, the CNMC said it found sufficient evidence to open a formal case (S/0017/21).
At the heart of the case is an agreement UEFA reached with nine clubs — including Arsenal, Atlético de Madrid, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Manchester United, Milan, and Tottenham — who withdrew from the Super League shortly after it was announced. The clubs agreed to a series of commitments to remain under UEFA’s authority. They pledged to donate €15 million to grassroots football, accepted that 5% of one season’s UEFA competition revenues would be withheld, and committed to paying fines of up to €100 million if they joined any unsanctioned tournament.
The CNMC is now examining whether these measures constituted coercive or exclusionary conduct that prevented legitimate competition.
UEFA’s Response
UEFA maintains that the commitments were voluntarily signed by the clubs and framed them as part of a reconciliation effort following the backlash over the Super League announcement. It insists the measures are fully compliant with Spanish and EU competition law.
However, the CNMC appears to disagree, arguing that UEFA’s conduct may have breached legal limits — particularly in light of a 2023 judgment from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). That ruling found that UEFA and FIFA had abused their dominant positions by blocking new football competitions.
What Happens Next?
The opening of this case does not mean UEFA is guilty. It simply marks the beginning of a detailed investigation, during which UEFA will be able to present its defense. The CNMC has up to 24 months to reach a conclusion.
The outcome could reshape the landscape of European football governance, potentially opening the door for independent competition formats and curbing the power of UEFA to dictate the terms of participation.
A22, the complainant, welcomed the move. In a statement, it called the CNMC’s action “timely and consistent” with the December 2023 CJEU ruling, and a necessary step to “protect fair competition in European football.”
