UEFA supports demand for reform of European football

A fundamental reform of European football is necessary if the traditional values of sport are to survive the ever increasing impact of commercialisation and strong economic forces.

This is the conclusion of the “Independent European Sport Review” – a thorough analysis of European sport with special emphasis on football.

The recommendations for reform receive strong support from UEFA President Lennart Johansson following a meeting between UEFA, other European team sport associations and the Portuguese José Luis Arnaut, who chaired the review process.

UEFA and the other European team sport associations are faced with quite similar problems. “We are determined to work together to implement the findings and recommendations of the Independent European Sport Review and safeguard the future of sport in Europe”, says Lennart Johansson in a press release following the meeting. 

Tighter control of economic interests

In his final report, José Luis Arnaut underlines that football lead by UEFA should tighten regulation of the sport and its economic players.

Simultaneously, The European Union should give active support and form partnerships with UEFA in order to defend the democracy of the European sports model where formally there is a straight line from small local clubs to giants such as Chelsea and Barcelona.

The report presents several concrete proposals:  

• That UEFA must strengthen the club licensing system, introduce regulation of salary cost for players and establish a European Code of Conduct of Corporate Governance and in this connection also sharpen rules for club ownership
• That UEFA to a larger extent should recognise or involve other organised institutions including the large clubs, leagues, gambling organisations and supporters’ trusts in their daily work and its strategic considerations.
• That UEFA should introduce a system of surveillance and collaborate bookmaking companies on tracing match-fixing.
• That UEFA together with the national federations monitor that leaders in sports, including club owners and directors live up to certain specified standards.
• That EU and the member countries grant official recognition to UEFA and establish a formalised collaboration to prevent crime in the world of sport.
• That EU makes higher demands on player agents and allows professional clubs to present a certain number of locally developed players.  

 A helping hand to UEFAThough the report recommends stronger political involvement in football, the report can be considered a helping hand for UEFA who like FIFA is under pressure from both commercialisation as well as large clubs fighting to gain more influence such as the G-14 organisation.

The development in English football where Chelsea rides at the very top of the Premier League with a team of international stars purchased by Russian partners led the British EU presidency to set up the review commission.

Another contributing factor was the revelation of quite a few match-fixing scandals.

In addition, a proportion of the recommendations of the Independent European Sport Review is already in line with UEFA’s own initiatives.

Amongst other initiatives, this includes the recommendation of guaranteeing a certain number of locally developed players on the teams.