UFA has retaliated by calling for the removal of the judge in charge of the Super League case, Manuel Ruíz de Lara.
Following the legal inevitability of sanctions against Super League clubs, UEFA has defended its actions and sharpened its tone against the Spanish judiciary. A request was made to the court in Madrid to remove the judge in charge of the case, Manuel Ruíz de Lara, who is said to be close to Real boss Florentino Perez. The European Football Union has denied him impartiality. Until the matter is clarified, the referee has already had to suspend his work because of “considerable irregularities”.
“In accordance with Spanish law – and in the fundamental interest of justice – UEFA expects the judge in question to step aside immediately pending full and proper consideration of this request,” a UEFA statement said on Tuesday. In principle, the jurisdiction of the Madrid court would not be accepted, it added. An appeal has been lodged with a Madrid provincial court against the decisions taken so far in favour of the clubs. In addition, UEFA will appeal to the next instance.
UEFA had reacted to de Lara’s threat late on Monday evening and dropped the proceedings against the three Super League clubs Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Juventus Turin. He also said the European federation would not seek fines from the other nine Super League teams, who had quickly turned their backs on the project after massive protests.
UEFA has far higher goals
This action, however, was not a retreat on the Super League issue surrounding the desired re-establishment of a competition for the top clubs away from the Champions League. UEFA reiterated its stance that it had “always acted in accordance not only with its statutes and regulations, but also with EU law, the European Convention on Human Rights and Swiss law in relation to this so-called Super League project”. “UEFA remains confident and will continue to defend its position in all relevant jurisdictions,” it said.
After all, UEFA has far higher aims. The association is awaiting a landmark ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on the antitrust case. According to the SZ, the actual UEFA plan is to quickly reopen the proceedings against Real, Barca and Juve in the event of an ECJ ruling in favour of the association and to ban the trio for years.
This fits in with Aleksander Ceferin’s approach. The UEFA boss had recently let it be known that he is far from finished with the separatists. “These guys have tried to kill football,” the Slovenian said in the direction of the club bosses.
