Portugal’s highest court has affirmed the right of a foreign national to claim a domestic sporting title, rejecting an appeal against a ruling that found nationality-based restrictions violate European Union law.
The Constitutional Court dismissed an appeal from the Public Ministry, effectively confirming Northern Irish driver Kris Meeke as the 2024 Portuguese National Rally Champion. The court found that reviewing the constitutional argument would be “useless” because the initial decision was already sufficiently grounded in EU law.
The ruling, dated November 6, supports a prior judgment by the Sports Arbitration Court (TAD). That court had determined that denying the title based on nationality breached fundamental EU principles, including non-discrimination and the free movement of citizens.
The Portuguese Automobile and Karting Federation (FPAK) had initially refused Meeke the championship title, despite him accumulating the most points in the 2024 season. FPAK cited Article 62, No. 2 of the Legal Regime of Sports Federations (RJFD), which restricts national titles in individual sports to Portuguese citizens.
Meeke and his team, Sports & You, challenged this decision with the TAD. In February 2025, the TAD sided with Meeke, declaring the FPAK’s application of the national rule unconstitutional and incompatible with EU law.
The Public Ministry then appealed to the Constitutional Court, arguing that the national restriction was legitimate and did not violate the Constitution or European statutes. However, the Constitutional Court concluded that the TAD’s decision on EU law grounds provided an independent basis for its outcome.
Even if the court were to assess the constitutional validity of the rule, the EU law argument would still prevail, senior advisory judge Afonso Patrão stated in the ruling. The court is legally barred from performing “useless acts,” the decision noted.
Anticipating this legal outcome, the FPAK had already awarded the 2025 national rally title to Spanish driver Dani Sordo, who secured the most points in that championship.
Portuguese rally veteran Armindo Araújo, a record seven-time national champion, finished second in the 2024 championship and third in 2025, behind Meeke.