Soccer Super League revived by European court's ruling
European soccer was rocked by a court ruling that revived the rebel Super League on Thursday, though it wasn’t clear whether any clubs were joining Real Madrid and Barcelona in the breakaway project.
The European Union’s top court said UEFA and FIFA acted unlawfully to block Super League. The ruling was praised by Madrid which, along with Barcelona, is leading the fight to form a rival competition to the Champions League.
“A Europe of freedoms has triumphed, and also football and its fans have triumphed,” Madrid president Florentino Pérez said.
The original project in April 2021 sparked vehement protests by fans across Europe, chiefly in England, that helped to scuttle Super League within 48 hours, and no new clubs immediately came forward on Thursday to support Perez’s vision.
Indeed, many big clubs — including Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Paris SaintGermain — and supporters’ groups repeated their staunch opposition to Super League, whatever its shape.
“The world of football moved on from the Super League years ago and progressive reforms will continue,” said the European Club Association which represents Europe’s top football clubs. “All the recognized stakeholders of European and world football — spanning confederations, federations, clubs, leagues, players and fans — stand more united than ever against the attempts by a few individuals pursing personal agendas to undermine the very foundations and basic principles of European football.”
The case was heard last year at the European Court of Justice after Super League failed at launch more than two years ago. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin called the club leaders then “snakes” and “liars.”
The company formed by 12 clubs — now led by only Real Madrid and Barcelona after Juventus withdrew this year — started legal action and the court was asked to rule on points of EU law by a Madrid tribunal.
Madrid-based A22 Sports Management, which promotes the Super League, immediately announced new proposed competitions for men and women, saying young fans are “turning away” from soccer.
“I hope they start their fantastic competition as soon as possible with two clubs,” Ceferin reacted sarcastically.
Centennial High products shine
Two former Centennial High Huskies played key rolls in helping their respective Top 25 teams to wins late on Wednesday night.
At New York’s Madison Square Garden, Jared McCain scored a team-high 21 points as No. 21 Duke upset No. 10 Baylor 78-70. McCain, a true freshman, knocked down a 3-pointer as part of a 9-0 run from a 61-all tie as the Blue Devils took control in the final six minutes.
McCain is a 6-3 guard who was a two-time Gatorade California Player of the Year. He has started all 11 of Duke’s games, averaing 10.5 points with 20 assits and 11 steals. He also scored 21 points in a win over Charlotte on Dec. 9.
In Phoenix, sophomore Kylan Boswell had 15 points and five steals as No. 4 Arizona used a massive second-half run to beat Alabama, 87-74. Boswell, who starred as a sophomore at Centennial before transferring to AZ Compass Prep in Phoenix, has started all 10 games for the Wildcats, and is averaging 12 points per game.
• UCLA’s men’s team, coming off a 76-72 loss to
Cal State Northridge, plays host to future Big Ten Conference foe Maryland (7-4) tonight at 6 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion.
Jagr still competing on the ice at age 51
Jaromir Jagr, the NHL’s second all-time leading point-scorer, has made his ice hockey season debut at age 51 for his hometown Kladno Knights in the Czech league.
Jagr began his 36th professional season with an assist to help Kladno come back from 3-0 down at league leader Pardubice. Kladno eventually tied the score but conceded a shorthanded goal to lose 4-3.
He skated for 13 minutes, 44 seconds. He didn’t talk to reporters after the game but coach Otakar Vejvoda called Jagr’s contribution “excellent.”
His return is expected to be a boost for Kladno, which is second to last on the table.
He has started the season in Kladno’s 26th game, but late starts are not uncommon for Jagr, who entered last season in game No. 27.
Jagr made his debut for Kladno as a teenager and returned to the club — which he now owns — in 2018 after he was released by the Calgary Flames.
• Joey Daccord matched his own Seattle franchise record with 42 saves — 21 in the first period — and survived a furious final three minutes to help the Kraken hold off the Kings 2-1 late on Wednesday night.
The Kings pulled goalie Cam Talbot with 2:52 remaining, but could not get the tying goal. That included a power play with 2:47 remaining after Seattle’s Will Borgen was called for high-sticking Kevin Fiala.
Daccord also made 42 saves against Carolina on Oct. 26. He’s the second NHL goalie this season to make at least 20 saves in the first period without allowing a goal.