UEFA faces a €20 million lawsuit from Chilean firm MatchVision, which alleges the governing body stole its copyrighted league-phase format for the revamped Champions League and other club competitions, a claim UEFA denies.
UEFA is facing a lawsuit for more than €20 million (£17.5 million) after Chilean sports consultancy MatchVision alleged the governing body stole the concept for the new league-phase format, according to reporting by The Athletic.
The format, an adaptation of the “Swiss model” now used across the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League since 2024, is the subject of the intellectual property claim.
MatchVision initiated the action in April, and the case has since been transferred from a Madrid court to a court in Lausanne, Switzerland, where UEFA is headquartered. The governing body will have 20 business days to respond once formally notified.
The claim centers on the “pots” concept used to draw fixtures. MatchVision founder Leandro Shara claims he copyrighted the idea in Chile in 2006 and presented it to UEFA in 2013.
The company is seeking exactly €20,005,551, plus €200,000 for Shara personally, and interest covering the last three seasons.
Shara, who describes himself as a “creator of mathematical algorithms applied in various industries, especially in sports,” accused UEFA of trying to disconnect the system from its creator. He stated:
“This misappropriation of intellectual property, made public during the official draw in August 2024, compels us to take action.”
UEFA previously dismissed the claims when first threatened with legal action. A spokesperson noted that “The claims made by MatchVision are baseless at best, and are just another entry on a list of similar actions.
UEFA will defend its position, though it is hardly the effort.” MatchVision has also threatened to widen the legal action to include anyone who “knowingly has facilitated this infringement.”