The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has appealed to the Provincial Court of Madrid, after its Commercial Court No. 17 ordered it to drop disciplinary proceedings against FC Barcelona, FC Juventus, and Real Madrid over their continued involvement in the European Super League (ESL) project. After being ordered to do so by the Commercial Court, UEFA’s Appeals Body dropped proceedings opened against the trio in May, after they refused to confirm their withdrawal from the project.

The Commercial Court considers UEFA’s actions in punishing clubs who wish to launch a tournament outside of UEFA’s monopoly on European club competitions as a violation of European Union competition law. However, it appears that UEFA disagrees, and wants Magistrate Manuel Ruiz de Lara removed from the case.

‘UEFA maintains its view that it has always acted in accordance with not only its Statutes and Regulations, but also with EU law, the European Convention on Human Rights and Swiss law in connection with the so-called Super League project’, read a 27 September statement, which also confirmed that financial penalties imposed on nine of the 12 clubs involved in the ESL had been suspended ‘as long as the Court proceedings in Madrid involving, among others, UEFA are pending’.

However, UEFA refused to leave it at that. ‘UEFA does not recognise the jurisdiction of the Court in Madrid and firmly believes that it has always acted in full compliance with the pending proceedings – UEFA has today made formal submissions to the Court in Madrid evidencing its ongoing compliance with the orders’, read a second statement issued a day later. ‘In addition, UEFA has filed a motion for the recusal [withdrawal] of the judge presiding over the current proceedings as it believes there are significant irregularities in these proceedings. In line with Spanish law – and in the fundamental interests of justice – UEFA fully expects the judge in question to immediately stand aside pending the full and proper consideration of this motion. Further, UEFA shall also be making a formal appeal to a higher court, the Provincial Court of Madrid (Court of Appeal)’.