UEFA and Real Madrid reach an agreement of principles to end their Super League legal battle, closing a divisive chapter in European football.
UEFA and Real Madrid have reached an agreement of principles to end their long running legal dispute over the European Super League. The announcement was made jointly with European Football Clubs on Wednesday. It signals a formal step toward reconciliation after years of confrontation. Both sides framed the move as being for the good of European club football.
The dispute stems from the failed Super League project launched in April 2021. Twelve elite European clubs backed the breakaway competition at the time. Fan protests and political pressure caused the project to collapse within days. Real Madrid remained one of the last committed clubs, alongside Barcelona.
UEFA opposed the Super League from the outset and threatened sanctions against participating clubs. Legal action followed after organisers challenged UEFA’s authority to block new competitions. In 2023, the European Court of Justice ruled that UEFA’s prior approval rules breached EU law. That judgment reshaped the legal landscape but did not revive the project.
In October 2025, a Madrid court upheld a ruling that UEFA and Spanish football bodies had abused a dominant position. Real Madrid then sought substantial damages from UEFA. The legal threat raised tensions again, even as informal talks continued behind the scenes. Those discussions have now produced a compromise.
The joint statement emphasised sporting merit, long term sustainability, and improved fan experience through technology. UEFA, the EFC, and Real Madrid said the agreement will resolve their Super League related disputes once implemented. No financial details have been disclosed at this stage. It is also unclear if Real Madrid remains formally linked to any Super League entity.
Barcelona withdrew from the project last week, leaving Real Madrid isolated. That move accelerated efforts to reach a settlement. With both Spanish giants now aligned with UEFA, the Super League has effectively lost its final institutional support.
The agreement closes one of the most divisive chapters in modern European football. Florentino Perez had been a vocal supporter of reform, arguing existing models were unsustainable. UEFA countered by expanding the Champions League format to address revenue concerns. The new peace suggests dialogue has replaced confrontation.
Organisers attempted a relaunch in December 2024 with the Unify League concept. It proposed 96 clubs across four divisions. That plan failed to attract backing from major leagues or clubs. The latest agreement appears to end any immediate prospect of a breakaway competition.
UEFA can now focus on implementing its revamped European competition structure without legal uncertainty. The EFC strengthens its role as the main representative body for clubs. For Real Madrid, attention returns fully to the pitch.
Madrid host Real Sociedad in La Liga this weekend. They then face Benfica in a Champions League play off, with the first leg on February 17 in Portugal. With the courtroom battles over, European football moves forward on more stable ground.
