Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus could still be punished by UEFA for their involvement in the breakaway European Super League after a new judge in a Madrid court lifted an injunction on the continental governing body. The decision means UEFA can pursue action against the three rebel clubs - who have remained with the Super League project - should it wish to do so. But it is thought unlikely at this stage that UEFA will pursue punishment, with the European Court of Justice case yet to be heard. The ECJ will decide whether the Super League is protected by EU law. The lifting of the injunction comes more than a year after 12 breakaway teams announced plans to form their own Super League, which were met with widespread condemnation across the game. Six Premier League teams were among the nine clubs who withdrew from the plans just days after they came to light. Judge Manuel Ruiz de Lara had sided with the Super League and the three teams when they brought a lawsuit last year asking for UEFA's disciplinary proceedings against them to be halted. De Lara had ordered that the clubs should face no punishment while the ECJ case is ongoing. Discussions on how revenues from Europe’s new-look club competitions are split are set to formally commence after the decision on formats is taken. Competition revenues are projected to increase by almost 40 per cent in the next cycle between 2024 and 2027, to £3.8billion a season. UEFA and the European Club Association have signed a joint venture which aims to identify marketing partners to sell commercial rights for European club competitions in the 2024-27 cycle. ECA chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi claims the collaboration between the two bodies had led to an increase in projected value for the tournaments.
