European Union law has been criticised for its role in the rising cost of football tickets and for weakening competition within the sport. According to Tsjalle van der Burg, an assistant professor of economics and researcher at the University of Twente, EU law has been used too little to support football fans and has instead helped large clubs increase their market power.
Football ticket prices have become expensive, with Paris Saint-Germain topping the European ranking in 2024-25 with an average admission price of €139 per seat. Barcelona, Real Madrid, and four English clubs followed, while Bayern Munich was eighth at €79. Signs suggest these prices have continued to climb this year.
The Bosman ruling in 1995, which allowed players with expiring contracts to move without a transfer fee, is highlighted as a key moment that benefited wealthy clubs and reduced competitive balance. More recently, the European Court of Justice's 2023 Royal Antwerp ruling, concerning UEFA's 'homegrown' player quotas, could further undermine competitive balance. A Belgian court is expected to rule on this case this week, potentially weakening or ending the rule.
The attempted European Super League, though aborted, also contributed to declining competitiveness. The European Court largely agreed with investors seeking to prevent UEFA from imposing sanctions on similar future projects, a decision that reportedly ignored consumer markets.