UEFA sued for 'copying' Champions League format

UEFA faces a multi-million pound lawsuit, plunging the Champions League into controversy after just two seasons of its new format.

PSG are the first Champions League champions under the new format.

According to The Sun , MatchVision - a sports consulting company based in Chile filed a lawsuit against UEFA, accusing the organization of stealing the idea of ​​the "Swiss system" competition model, the format being used in the Champions League from the 2024/25 season.

MatchVision, founded by Leandro Shara, claims to have registered the copyright for the idea in 2006 and presented the model to UEFA in 2013. The company says it has presented its "36-team league table, each team plays 8 matches, 4 home and 4 away" at various international sports conferences, and claims FIFA has recognized the model as MatchVision's intellectual property.

Shara said: "I am the creator of this format, and FIFA recognizes its intellectual property and algorithm. I am not looking for wealth, I just want my rights and efforts to be recognized."

The lawsuit seeks £18 million in damages from UEFA. Under legal rules, UEFA has 20 days to respond before the Swiss court takes up the case.

UEFA confirmed to SPORTbible that it will defend its position to the end. MatchVision's legal filing was initially filed in the commercial court in Madrid (Spain) in April 2025, then moved to Lausanne (Switzerland), where UEFA is headquartered.

Under the new format, the Champions League includes 36 participating teams, playing against 8 different opponents, aiming to create many top matches, such as Liverpool beating Real Madrid 1-0 in the 4th round in the early morning of November 5.

Source: https://znews.vn/uefa-bi-kien-vi-dao-nhai-the-thuc-champions-league-post1600154.html