European commissioner Micallef pledges support for European League’s battle with FIFA

September 19 – Glenn Micallef, the European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, has given his backing to The European Leagues Association and the key role of leagues as stakeholders in the European game and ensuring its sustainability.

European Leagues were meeting in Brussels for their first in-person meeting of the new season.

The leagues body with players’ union FIFPRO Europe have file a joint complaint to the European Commission regarding FIFA’s unilateral decisions on the international match calendar.

The European Leagues Association and the World Leagues Association have both been excluded from stakeholder discussions with FIFA on key calendar issues that affect the sporting integrity of their leagues and clubs. So far FIFA has shown no inclination to bring them meaningfully to the discussion table.

Commissioner Micallef (pictured right), speaking of the fundamental importance of protecting the leagues in Europe, said: “Their contribution to Europe goes much further than the football field and as European Commissioner responsible for sport I’m immensely proud to see them take a proactive role in promoting key values of our union through their work.

“My commitment to continue to support these leagues remains steadfast and unwavering. A strategic discussion on the future of European football is needed – one where we join forces with all stakeholders to anchor financial sustainability and good governance as the foundations that ensure competitive balance in competitions, fairness and integrity, and the best interest of our communities.”

European Leagues point to their position as “the backbone of the entire football pyramid in Europe” and have frequently called for an inclusive and transparent governance model that would see leagues represented in football’s decision-making bodies.

The leagues emphasised their support the commissioner’s agenda to safeguard the European Sport Model, “which is rooted in solidarity, integrity, sporting merit, and the openness of competitions”.

FIFA sees it quite differently as it desperately tries to build its relevance in the club game worldwide.

Where the European Leagues are focussed on the issues affecting the long-term sporting and financial stability and competitiveness of European football, FIFA seemingly wants to muscle in at the head of the table both in terms of political control and financial dominance. European football is not willing to let FIFA ‘eat their lunch’ as easily as FIFA believes it can via exclusion.

Claudius Schäfer (pictured left), president of the European Leagues, said of the meeting with Micallef: “We share the same passion for football and the goal to enhance the governance of our game that brings joy and excitement to millions of European citizens.”

Discussions were also held with representatives from FIFPRO Europe, the Union of European Clubs (UEC) and Football Supporters Europe (FSE).

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