European Superleague Company
Case C-333/21
Top of the page Documents in the Case
Document Date Name of the parties Subject-matter Curia EUR-Lex Autres Liens
National decision following the preliminary ruling
ECLI:ES:JMM:2024:25		 24/05/2024 European Superleague Company
External Link
Judgment (OJ)
15/03/2024 European Superleague Company
Competition
  • Competition
  • Freedom of establishment
  • Free movement of capital
  • Freedom of movement for workers
  • Freedom to provide services
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Judgment
ECLI:EU:C:2023:1011		 21/12/2023 European Superleague Company
Competition
  • Competition
  • Freedom of establishment
  • Free movement of capital
  • Freedom of movement for workers
  • Freedom to provide services
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Abstract
ECLI:EU:C:2023:1011		 21/12/2023 European Superleague Company
Competition
  • Competition
  • Freedom of establishment
  • Free movement of capital
  • Freedom of movement for workers
  • Freedom to provide services
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Application (OJ)
03/09/2021 European Superleague Company
Competition
  • Competition
  • Freedom of establishment
  • Free movement of capital
  • Freedom of movement for workers
  • Freedom to provide services
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Request for a preliminary ruling
26/05/2021 European Superleague Company
Competition
  • Competition
  • Freedom of establishment
  • Free movement of capital
  • Freedom of movement for workers
  • Freedom to provide services
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Opinion
ECLI:EU:C:2022:993		 15/12/2022 European Superleague Company
Competition
  • Competition
  • Freedom of establishment
  • Free movement of capital
  • Freedom of movement for workers
  • Freedom to provide services
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Top of the page Legal analysis of the decision or of the case

Reports of Cases

published in the electronic Reports of Cases (Court Reports - general)

Subject-matter

Information not available

Systematic classification scheme

1.
-
3 Legal proceedings
  3.04 Reference for a preliminary ruling
    3.04.01 Reference to the Court of Justice
      3.04.01.03 Exclusive nature of the role of the national court in making the reference
-
3 Legal proceedings
  3.04 Reference for a preliminary ruling
    3.04.02 Jurisdiction of the Court of Justice
-
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.01 Sources of EU law
    1.01.00 General
-
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.01 Sources of EU law
    1.01.00 General
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.00 EU competition rules
      4.08.00.03 Matters covered
-
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.01 Sources of EU law
    1.01.00 General
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.04 Free movement of persons and services
    4.04.00 General
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.00 EU competition rules
      4.08.00.00 General
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.00 EU competition rules
      4.08.00.06 Definition of undertaking
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.00 General
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.01 Definition of abuse
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.01 Definition of abuse
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.00 General
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.02 Examples of abuse
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.01 Agreements, decisions and concerted practices
      4.08.01.04 Adverse effect on competition
        4.08.01.04.02 Restrictions by object or by effect
          4.08.01.04.02.01 Restrictions by object
            4.08.01.04.02.01.00 General
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.01 Agreements, decisions and concerted practices
      4.08.01.04 Adverse effect on competition
        4.08.01.04.02 Restrictions by object or by effect
          4.08.01.04.02.01 Restrictions by object
            4.08.01.04.02.01.00 General
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.01 Agreements, decisions and concerted practices
      4.08.01.04 Adverse effect on competition
        4.08.01.04.02 Restrictions by object or by effect
          4.08.01.04.02.02 Restrictions by effect
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.01 Agreements, decisions and concerted practices
      4.08.01.02 Agreements between undertakings, concerted practices and decisions by associations of undertakings
        4.08.01.02.03 Decisions by associations of undertakings
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.01 Agreements, decisions and concerted practices
      4.08.01.02 Agreements between undertakings, concerted practices and decisions by associations of undertakings
        4.08.01.02.03 Decisions by associations of undertakings
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.01 Agreements, decisions and concerted practices
      4.08.01.06 Exemption from the prohibition
        4.08.01.06.00 General
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.01 Agreements, decisions and concerted practices
      4.08.01.03 Single and continuous infringements
        4.08.01.03.01 Single and continuous infringements: constituent elements and imputation
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.01 Agreements, decisions and concerted practices
      4.08.01.03 Single and continuous infringements
        4.08.01.03.01 Single and continuous infringements: constituent elements and imputation
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.02 Examples of abuse
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.01 Agreements, decisions and concerted practices
      4.08.01.06 Exemption from the prohibition
        4.08.01.06.00 General
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.01 Agreements, decisions and concerted practices
      4.08.01.03 Single and continuous infringements
        4.08.01.03.01 Single and continuous infringements: constituent elements and imputation
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.02 Examples of abuse
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.04 Free movement of persons and services
    4.04.03 Freedom to provide services
      4.04.03.01 The various services


Citations of case-law or legislation

References in grounds of judgment

Operative part

Opinion


Dates

Date of the lodging of the application initiating proceedings

  • 27/05/2021

Date of the Opinion

  • 15/12/2022

Date of the hearing

Information not available

Date of delivery

21/12/2023


References

Publication in the Official Journal

Information not available

Name of the parties

European Superleague Company

Notes on Academic Writings

  1. Bastianon, Stefano: Una lettura "europea" delle sentenze Superlega, Isu e Sa Royal Antwerp Fc, Il diritto dell'Unione Europea 2023, n° 3-4, p. 375-412 (IT)
  2. Picozza, Eugenio: Diritto internazionale o diritto eurounitario? Note in margine alla sentenza della corte di giustizia della Unione europea 21 dicembre 2023 C-333/2021, Rivista italiana di diritto pubblico comunitario 2023, n° 3, p. 453-468 (IT)
  3. Di Mauro, Biagio: “Strumentalizzare” il caso European Super League (Corte di giustizia, 21 dicembre 2023, causa C-333/21) per ripensare il calcio: verso un sistema aperto e orizzontale fondato su norme sportive comuni?, Rivista italiana di diritto pubblico comunitario 2023, n° 4, p. 792-826 (IT)
  4. Idot, Laurence: Circulation des travailleurs - Règles des fédérations sportives et entrave, Europe 2024, nº 2 Février, Comm. 56 (FR)
  5. Idot, Laurence: Concurrence - Règles édictées par les fédérations sportives, Europe 2024, nº 2 Février, Comm. 66 (FR)
  6. Callol, Pedro: The Court of Justice of the European Union adjudicates in the ‘Super League’ dispute (European Superleague Co (C-333/21) EU:C:2023:1011), European Competition Law Review 2024, Volume 45, Issue 3, N49-N52 (EN)
  7. Blin, Olivier: Arrêt « Superleague » : la victoire du marché contre le « modèle sportif européen », Journal de droit européen 2024, nº 3, p. 103-106 (FR)
  8. Idot, Laurence: Remise en cause ou contribution à l'édification d'un nouveau « modèle sportif européen » ? - À propos des arrêts de la Cour du 21 décembre 2023, Europe 2024, nº 3 Mars, Étude (FR)
  9. Monti, Giorgio: EU competition law after the Grand Chamber's december 2023 sports trilogy: European Super League, International Skating Union and Royal Antwerp FC - Derecho de la competencia de la UE tras la trilogía deportiva de la Gran Sala de diciembre de 2023: Superliga Europea, Unión Internacional de Patinaje y Royal Antwerp FC, Revista de Derecho Comunitario Europeo 2024, nº 77, p. 11-43 (EN)
  10. Choné-Grimaldi, Anne-Sophie: Association d’entreprises : La Cour de justice de l’Union européenne rend trois arrêts historiques qui apportent de nombreuses précisions sur la qualification et les possibilités d’exemption d’une entente jugeant de l’applicabilité des règles de concurrence à l’activité sportive (ISU ; ESLC ; Royal Antwerp), Concurrences : revue des droits de la concurrence 2024, nº 2, p. 70-73 (FR)
  11. Choné-Grimaldi, Anne-Sophie: Association d’entreprises : La Cour de justice de l’Union européenne rend trois arrêts historiques qui apportent de nombreuses précisions sur la qualification et les possibilités d’exemption d’une entente jugeant de l’applicabilité des règles de concurrence à l’activité sportive (ISU ; ESLC ; Royal Antwerp), Concurrences : revue des droits de la concurrence 2024, nº 2, p. 70-73 (FR)
  12. Mongouachon, Claire: Justification objective : La Cour de justice de l’Union européenne expose les critères de qualification et de justification de l’abus de position dominante applicables aux pouvoirs des instances européenne et internationale de football en matière d’organisation et d’exploitation des compétitions sportives (ESLC / UEFA ; FIFA), Concurrences : revue des droits de la concurrence 2024, nº 2, p. 83-89 (FR)
  13. Scheuch, Alexander: Vorgaben für die Zulassung von Konkurrenzwettbewerben durch Monopolsportverbände : ESL (Super League) : EuGH, Urteil v. 21.12.2023, C-333/21European Super, Juristenzeitung 2024 p. 353-360 (DE)
  14. Irurzun Montoro, Fernando: Derecho de la Competencia y deporte profesional: Comentario a la Sentencia del Tribunal de Justicia de la Unión en el asunto Superliga, Revista española de Derecho Europeo 2024, nº 90, p. 117-150 (ES)
  15. Buy, Frédéric: Concurrence et droit TV: réflexions à la lumière de l'arrêt Superleague, Revue Lamy de la Concurrence 2024, nº 140, p. 36-38 (FR)
  16. Zglinski, Jan: Who owns football? The future of sports governance and regulation after European Superleague, European Law Review 2024, Volume 49, Issue 5, p. 454-477 (EN)
  17. Rizzuto, Francesco: The systemic implications of the European Super League ruling of the European Court of Justice, European Competition Law Review 2024, Volume 45, Issue 6, p. 240-267 (EN)
  18. Hecht, Lukas: Seizure of power or co-legislator? The Court of Justice of the European Union rulings on the one-federation-principle and the future of lex sportiva, European Competition Law Review 2024, Volume 45, Issue 8, p. 371-380 (EN)
  19. Zelger, Bernadette: Object Restrictions in Sports after the ECJ’s Decisions in ISU and Superleague, Journal of European Competition Law & Practice 2024, Volume 15, Issue 2, p. 90-101 (EN)
  20. Ritz, Christian ; Schreitter, Florian von: Wie Netzer und Delling – Das Verhältnis von Kartellrecht und Sport, Wirtschaft und Wettbewerb 2024, n° 2, p. 89-90 (DE)
  21. Pauer, Nada Ina: Die EuGH-Trilogie der Sporturteile – Unverhoffte Reformanstöße und versäumte Chancen, Neue Zeitschrift für Kartellrecht 2024, n° 4, p. 177-182 (DE)
  22. Bungenberg, Marc: Mehr als nur ein Warnschuss für die Sportverbände – Das Super League-Urteil des EuGH zum Sportkartellrecht, Neue Zeitschrift für Kartellrecht 2024, n° 5, p. 249-255 (DE)
  23. Heermann, Peter W.: Der Wouters/Meca-Medina-Test für wettbewerbsbeschränkende Verbandsstatuten, Neue Zeitschrift für Kartellrecht 2024, n° 6, p. 289-296 (DE)
  24. Pauer, Nada Ina ; Blaschczok, Johannes Melchior: Das Konzept der Fairness im Rahmen von Art. 101 AEUV – zu den dogmatischen Neuerungen der EuGH-Sporttrilogie, Neue Zeitschrift für Kartellrecht 2024, n° 6, p. 296-302 (DE)
  25. Leclerc, Stéphane ; Dumarçay, Marie: Lorsque la Cour de justice de l'Union européenne s'érige en man in black de l'organisation des compétitions sportives en Europe, Revue du droit de l'Union européenne 2024, nº 3, p.165-178 (FR)
  26. Schettino, Antonello ; Coni, Alessandro: La governance dello sport e le regole antitrust alla "VAR" dei giudici UE: i casi European Superleague Company e International Skating Union, Il diritto dell'Unione Europea 2024, n° 2, p. 383-424 (IT)
  27. Prieto, Catherine: XII. Ententes, abus de position dominante et concentrations - Cour de justice, 21 décembre 2023, European SuperLeague, aff. C-333/21, ECLI:EU:C:2023:1011, Jurisprudence de la CJUE 2023. Décisions et commentaires (Ed. Bruylant - Bruxelles) 2024, p. 524-527 (FR)
  28. Naso, Niccolò Maria: Le regole del gioco (della concorrenza): quale impatto sui poteri delle federazioni sportive?, La nuova giurisprudenza civile commentata 2024, n° 3, p. 666-674 (IT)
  29. Peeperkorn, Luc ; Wijckmans, Frank: "By object" or not "by object": issues resolved?, European Competition Law Review 2025, Volume 46, Issue 4, p. 132-149 (EN)
  30. Kellerbauer, Manuel: Does Article 102 TFEU no longer protect less efficient competitors? The challenges of a more Darwinian approach to abuse of dominance, European Law Review 2025, Volume 50, Issue 2, p. 197-207 (EN)
  31. Kuang, Lei ; Zhao, Zeyu: Antitrust restriction on football governance: the case of European Super League, European Competition Journal 2025, Volume 21, Issue 1, p. 1-24 (EN)
  32. Bantekas, Ilias: The enduring battle between the Lex Sportiva and EU competition law, Columbia Journal of European Law 2025, Volume 3 (Winter), p. 204-225 (EN)
  33. Van den Bogaert, Stefaan ; Van Rompuy, Ben: The New Testament for sports and EU competition law in European Super League, ISU, and Royal Antwerp, Common Market Law Review 2025, Volume 62, Issue 2, p. 577-622 (EN)



Procedural Analysis Information

Source of the question referred for a preliminary ruling

Juzgado de lo Mercantil de Madrid - Spain

Subject-matter

  • Competition
  • Freedom of establishment
  • Free movement of capital
  • Freedom of movement for workers
  • Freedom to provide services

Provisions of national law referred to

Information not available

Provisions of international law referred to

Information not available

Procedure and result

  • Reference for a preliminary ruling

Formation of the Court

grande chambre (Cour)

Judge-Rapporteur

Passer

Advocate General

Rantos

Language(s) of the Case

  • Spanish

Language(s) of the Opinion

  • French