Thread by @lewis_crofts

One-way traffic at ECJ today against the #EuropeanSuperLeague

Country after country is standing up and backing @UEFA 's right to block ESL attempt to set up a rival league. Small countries (Estonia, Ireland, Denmark etc) see themselves excluded from the 'closed competition.' /1

They also note the money they get from @UEFA which feeds into the grass roots. They reckon their clubs would never get into the closed-shop ESL.

They say the UEFA regime of authorizing rival events serves legitimate purposes of protecting European sport /2

Side note: Ireland did its pleading in Gaelic which was bloody lovely.

It said there would be "devastating consequences" if "large clubs" could grab all the revenues from the game. Estonia and Greece agreed. /3

Croatia weighed in, saying the #ESL was more like the US-style closed competitions with franchises, rather than the European style model (which pursues broader social interests).

It also said UEFA wasn't an "essential facility" for the #ESL & it shouldn't be granted access./4

Croatia gave numbers on the "solidarity" benefit. E.g. Dynamo Zagreb's participation in the @ChampionsLeague meant 9 other clubs in the country got 400k euros each. For half of them, that was 10pc of their income for that season. For others, it was 20pc /5

The Italian government argued strongly that @UEFA shouldn't be split up into two entities: one doing sport regulation, the other doing economic activity. It said #ESL hadn't proved this was necessary. There was no mention of Totti, Pirlo or Baggio in the pleadings. Shame. /6

Cyprus also weighed in to support UEFA. The current format meant that even teams from its small island could make it to the big competitions.

UEFA restrictions are justified to safeguard "sporting spirit" in European football, it said. /7

And they kept coming... Latvia, Greece, Cyprus, France... if someone has been orchestrating it, then they've done a good job. All countries were singing from the same hymn sheet. Just a shame none of them kissed their badge after finishing the pleadings /8

The court has had enough for today. President Lenaerts decided not to push it into extra time. Another 10 or so European governments will get their say tomorrow morning. They will back @uefa

When they are thru, it's question time. The most interesting bit. If you're weird. /9

15 judges sitting in the Grand Chamber is usually a sign the court is prepared to make a 'big' judgment, and make a significant statement.

But with 21 countries standing up and aligning behind one answer, those judges are getting a clear message not to dent @UEFA powers. /10

We won't know until next year what the result is. But on December 15th, a court advisor (known as an Advocate General) will deliver a non-binding opinion on how some of the questions might be solved.

That'll be your first taste of where things might be headed. /11

That's me done for today. Thanks to all those sending me DMs. @cesc4official @GaryLineker @didierdrogba @Ballack @Sanchooo10 Sorry I couldn't answer all od them.

I'm off for a shower and a rub down from the ECJ's masseur. I'll be back tomorrow. /ends