FIFA, the global governing body of soccer, will face part of a U.S. federal lawsuit alleging that it conspired to restrict sanctioned tournaments and matches in Puerto Rico, depriving players and the local league of crucial opportunities. On Monday, Chief U.S. District Judge Raúl Manuel Arias-Marxuach in San Juan ruled that the Puerto Rico Soccer League (PRSL) has presented enough evidence for its antitrust claims to proceed.
The lawsuit, filed by the Puerto Rico Soccer League, accuses FIFA of enforcing a policy that prohibits soccer tournaments outside of the control of the local soccer governing body, the Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol (FPF). The PRSL alleges that this policy has caused economic harm by limiting the league’s ability to host sanctioned matches, effectively reducing its revenue opportunities.
While the judge dismissed certain claims in the case, including a federal racketeering charge that accused FIFA and the FPF of a scheme to defraud the league, the antitrust claim will proceed. The PRSL’s legal team contends that FIFA and FPF orchestrated a boycott that unjustly restricted the growth of soccer in Puerto Rico, violating U.S. antitrust law by unlawfully limiting competition.
FIFA, in its response to the lawsuit, has denied the allegations, asserting that the dispute is a local matter and that the organization did not conspire to limit tournaments in Puerto Rico. The governing body further argued that its role in the issue was not relevant to the case.
However, Judge Arias-Marxuach found that there was sufficient evidence to link FIFA’s actions with the FPF’s enforcement of the contested policies. In his ruling, the judge noted that FIFA had repeatedly contacted FPF to ensure compliance with its policies, allowing the case to move forward on antitrust grounds.
The Puerto Rico Soccer League, established in 2008, has worked to organize and promote professional soccer tournaments both locally and internationally. This legal challenge represents a significant moment for the league as it seeks to secure a fairer competitive environment in Puerto Rico.
The case, titled Puerto Rico Soccer League NFP et al v. Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol et al, No. 3:23-cv-01203-RAM, will now continue its legal journey as both sides prepare for the next stages of litigation.
For the Puerto Rico Soccer League, the legal team includes Ibrahim Reyes of Reyes Lawyers and Jose Olmo-Rodriguez. FIFA is represented by H. Christopher Boehning of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, and Roberto A. Cámara-Fuertes of Ferraiuoli.
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