November 10 – The European Commission has endorsed UEFA and the continent’s sports model, renewing a cooperation agreement between the two parties.
The new agreement has reaffirmed UEFA’s exclusive mandate over European football, supporting an open structure driven by promotion, relegation and merit-based European qualification. The renewal confirms the principle that domestic league matches must take place in their home countries.
“Together with the Commission’s upcoming strategy to strengthen the European sports model, it reaffirms our support for open competitions, strong national team football and inclusive governance,” EU Commissioner for Intergenerational Equity, Youth, Culture and Sport Glen Micallef said in a statement. “Recent failures in the global governance of football make this partnership even more important. Alongside UEFA, the Commission stands up for the protection of the values and structures that have made European football a leading success story in Europe.”
The renewal also confirms the importance of a balanced international match calendar, inclusive governance, giving a voice to stakeholders in the game and financial distribution.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said: “Football in Europe has achieved extraordinary sporting and commercial success without abandoning its roots. A place in a competition is earned on the pitch. The strongest parts of the game contribute to those below them. Clubs and national teams reinforce each other. And no one owns football simply because they rule it globally.
The European confederation has led the charge against FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, who tried to sell a stake in the World Cup to private equity, leading to his resignation.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at (email protected)