http://dx.doi.org/10.59704/b20c037057793adb https://verfassungsblog.de/fundamental-rights-score-a-goal/ Fundamental Rights Score a Goal - Manifest Breaches of Fundamental Rights as a Public Policy Exception in the Real Madrid Case Sandri, Emilia eng 2024-10-17 electronic resource text/html ddc:342 CJEU Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union EU EU France Spain mutual trust public policy recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments EU Verfassungsblog Verfassungsblog--2366-7044 CC BY-SA 4.0 Amid the significant number of rulings delivered by the ECJ on 4 October 2024, the long-awaited judgment pitting football against the media stands out. In Real Madrid vs Le Monde, the Court held that excessive defamation damages may breach the freedom of the press and trigger the public policy exception under Brussels Ia Regulation concerning recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In doing so, the ECJ allowed national courts to conduct a substantive review of foreign judgments despite the principle of mutual trust, to ensure the enforcement of fundamental rights across the EU.