State aid for professional football clubs and sports infrastructure

Abstract

On 4 July 2016, the European Commission concluded its investigation into alleged State aid given to several Dutch and Spanish professional football clubs. The central question that the Commission had to decide in each case was whether the behaviour of the Dutch and Spanish authorities had been in line with the so-called ‘Market Economy Operator’ test. With the exception of two Dutch football clubs, the Commission found that all clubs under investigation had been the recipient of State aid, which in respect of the Spanish clubs was not compatible with the internal market.