Organisation of European football clubs
The European Club Association (ECA) is a body representing the interests of professional association football clubs☀️ in UEFA.
It is the sole such body recognised by the confederation, and has member clubs in each UEFA member association.
It☀️ was formed in 2008 after the merge between the G-14 and the European Club Forum,[1] which comprised a small number☀️ of elite clubs and was unrecognised by UEFA.
The ECA's mission statement is "to create a new, more democratic governance model☀️ that truly reflects the key role of the clubs".[3]
After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the ECA suspended its seven☀️ Russian members - Zenit St Petersburg, FC Spartak Moscow, Lokomotiv Moscow, CSKA Moscow, FC Krasnodar, Rubin Kazan, and FC Rostov.[4]History☀️ [ edit ]
Formed on the merge of the G-14 group with the European Club Forum, a task force created by☀️ UEFA in 2002 that reuned 102 member clubs,[1] in January 2008, as from the 2017–19 membership cycle, the European Club☀️ Association represented 232 clubs, made up of 109 Ordinary Members and 123 Associated Members, with at least one from each☀️ of the 54 national associations.
The precise number of Ordinary Member clubs from each member association will be established every two☀️ years at the end of the UEFA season on the basis of the UEFA ranking of its member associations according☀️ to the following principles:
National Association position
in UEFA ranking Number of ECA
Ordinary Member clubs 1 to 3 5 4 to 6☀️ 4 7 to 15 3 16 to 28 2 29 to 54 1
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was the acting chairman[5] before officially☀️ being elected chairman of the ECA when its 103 members met for the first time on the 7–8 July 2008☀️ at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.[7]
In addition to replacing the G-14, which was dissolved in favour of the ECA on☀️ 15 February 2008, the new ECA also replaces UEFA's European Club Forum (of which Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was also chairman).
[10] The☀️ European Club Forum utilized a similar membership selection process as the European Club Association, with 102 members picked every two☀️ years.[11]
In April 2021 following the announcement of the European Super League, several of the clubs involved resigned from the ECA.
The☀️ ECA had criticised the formation of the new league.
[12] On 7 May 2021, UEFA approved reintegration measures for nine clubs☀️ involved in that breakaway competition.[13]
After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the ECA suspended its seven Russian members - Zenit☀️ St Petersburg, FC Spartak Moscow, Lokomotiv Moscow, CSKA Moscow, FC Krasnodar, Rubin Kazan, and FC Rostov.
[4]Structure [ edit ]
At the☀️ creation of the European Club Association in January 2008, it was agreed that a transitional ECA Board would represent ECA☀️ and its 16 founding members until the next General Assembly met at the end of the season, when elections for☀️ a new executive board would be held.
It was decided that the ECA Board would comprise eleven members, in addition to☀️ the four representatives appointed by the executive board to the UEFA Professional Football Strategy Council.
The European Club Association will also☀️ provide half of the members of the UEFA Club Competitions Committee.
The transitional ECA Board was Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (chairman; Bayern Munich),☀️ Joan Laporta (Vice-chairman; Barcelona), John McClelland (Vice-chairman; Rangers), Umberto Gandini (Vice-chairman; Milan), Peter Kenyon (Chelsea), Maarten Fontein (AZ) and Jean-Michel☀️ Aulas (Lyon).
The ECA Executive Board (2017–2021) stood as: Dan Friedkin (AS Roma), Andrea Agnelli (Juventus), Pedro López Jiménez (Real Madrid),☀️ Edwin van der Sar (Ajax), Dariusz Mioduski (Legia Warsaw), Aki Riihilahti (HJK), Ed Woodward (Manchester United), Ivan Gazidis (AC Milan),☀️ Josep Maria Bartomeu (FC Barcelona), Nasser Al-Khelaifi (Paris Saint-Germain FC), Jean-Michel Aulas (Olympique Lyonnais), Domingos Soares de Oliveira (S.L.
Benfica), Michael☀️ Gerlinger (FC Bayern München), Michael Verschueren (Anderlecht), Niclas Carlnén (Malmö FF) and Peter Lawwell (Celtic).
Elections for the executive board for☀️ the 2017–2019 cycle took place at the General Assembly in Geneva in September 2017, the following elections took place in☀️ July 2021.
The European Club Association is made up of numerous bodies including working groups, expert panels and committees.
These are as☀️ follows:
Working Groups [ edit ]
Since the creation of ECA, Working Groups have been an important cornerstone of ECA's organisational structure.
They☀️ provide active advice and support to the ECA Executive Board and to ECA representatives participating in committees or working groups☀️ at UEFA, FIFA and EU level.
Their contribution is key and strategic to the association.
In addition, they drive membership engagement and☀️ communication across the organisation on key issues, challenges and opportunities.
[14] All working groups are made up of both Ordinary Member☀️ and Associated Member Clubs from all four subdivisions.
Competitions Working Group: Chaired by Umberto Gandini (AS Roma), the Competitions Working Group☀️ aims to lead the management and control of the club competitions through the relevant UEFA and FIFA club football committees.[14]
Finance☀️ Working Group: Chaired by ECA Executive Board Member Michael Verschueren (RSC Anderlecht), the Finance Working Group strives to address all☀️ issues related to club finance, to optimise resource allocation and club business management.[14]
Institutional Relations Working Group: Chaired by ECA Executive☀️ Board Member Ivan Gazidis (Arsenal FC), the Institutional Relations Working Group seeks to strengthen the ECA position and representation among☀️ different stakeholders in European football.[14]
Marketing & Communication Working Group: Chaired by Aurelio De Laurentiis (SSC Napoli), the Marketing & Communication☀️ Working Group oversees issues on club football marketing, communication and promotion, and aims to define a coherent and up-to-date strategy☀️ around commercial opportunities.[14]
Youth Working Group: Chaired by ECA Executive Board Member Edwin van der Sar (Ajax), the Youth Working Group☀️ attempts to stimulate, develop and protect the grassroots of European club football.[14]
Expert Panels [ edit ]
Legal Advisory Panel: tasked with☀️ bringing together legal experts and arbitration members of ECA Member Clubs in order to share expertise and knowledge and act☀️ as a mediator for any Member Club dispute.[15]
Financial Fair Play Panel: charged with collaborating with UEFA in order to further☀️ elaborate, implement and assess the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations.
Statutory Affairs Panel: Entrusted with dealing with and☀️ analyzing membership applications, issues of eligibility of Members and the interpretation and application of the ECA Statutes.
Committees [ edit ]
Social☀️ Dialogue Committee: Ensures a close relationship between ECA, European Leagues, FIFPro Division Europe, UEFA and the European Commission in order☀️ to agree common solutions on matters concerning employment in football.[16]
Women's Football Committee: Created in 2013, the overall objective of the☀️ Women's Football Committee (WFC) is to act as a platform where issues related to women's women's football, be it on☀️ a European or on a worldwide level, are discussed.
The WFC is composed of representatives from ECA Member Clubs with a☀️ Women's section, as well as representatives from Women's Football clubs without a direct link to ECA Membership.
The WFC Members are☀️ appointed by the ECA Executive Board based on a proposal by the WFC Chairman.
The committee is currently chaired by ECA☀️ Executive Board Member and Olympique Lyonnais President Jean-Michel Aulas.
The vice-chairwoman is Linda Wijkström from Elitfotboll Dam.
The 42 members, with the☀️ non-ECA member clubs marked in italics, are as follows:
KFF Vllaznia (ALB), Sturm Graz (AUT), RSC Anderlecht (BEL), SFK 2000 Sarajevo☀️ (BIH), AC Sparta Praha (CZE), SK Slavia Praha (CZE), Apollon Ladies FC (CYP), Brøndby (DEN), Fortuna Hjørring (DEN) Arsenal Ladies☀️ (ENG), Manchester City Ladies (ENG), Chelsea Ladies (ENG), Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP), Athletic Club (ESP), FC Barcelona (ESP) Nõmme☀️ Kalju FC (EST), HJK Helsinki (FIN), Olympique Lyonnais Féminin (FRA), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Montpellier Hérault Sport Club (FRA), Paris FC☀️ (FRA), 1.
FFC Turbine Potsdam (GER), Bayern Munich (GER), Ferencvárosi TC (HUN), UMF Stjarnan (ISL), Fiorentina Women's FC (ITA), Juventus FC☀️ (ITA), Birkirkara (MLT), AFC Ajax (NED), Linfield FC (NIR), Stabæk FK (NOR), KKPK Medyk Konin (POL), PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS),☀️ MŠK Žilina (SVK), Elitfotboll Dam (SWE), Linköpings FK (SWE), Djurgårdens IF (SWE), Zürich Frauen (SUI).
Achievements [ edit ]
Under a Memorandum☀️ of Understanding signed by UEFA in 2008, the European Club Association was recognized as the sole body representing the interests☀️ of clubs at European level.
As part of the Memorandum of Understanding, UEFA also agreed to distribute every four years an☀️ amount from the UEFA European Championship to national associations for them to pass on to their clubs who have contributed☀️ to the successful staging of a European Championship.
The target distribution amount for Euro 2008 is €43.5 million (US$62.
8 million), with☀️ the payments made on a "per day per player" basis of approximately €4,000.
[5] As part of the planned moves, UEFA☀️ and FIFA will also enter into a series of commitments to the clubs, including financial contributions for player participation in☀️ European Championships and World Cups, subject to the approval of their respective bodies.
A renewed Memorandum of Understanding for the period☀️ 2012–2018 was signed on 22 March 2012 between ECA and UEFA at the occasion of the XXXVI Ordinary UEFA Congress.
The☀️ memorandum was signed by ECA Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and UEFA President Michel Platini.
It paves the way for a fruitful relationship☀️ between European clubs and Europe's football governing body, reflecting an improved balance between national team and club football.
The new MoU☀️ supersedes the 2008 MoU and is now in effect until 30 May 2018.
[18] The four key topics of the new☀️ MoU are as follows:
International Match Calendar
The International Match Calendar, a key topic of discussions, makes the release of national team☀️ players compulsory for clubs on the dates it highlights.
The 2014–18 International Match Calendar is based on a concrete proposal put☀️ forward by ECA, and the efforts of a dedicated working group comprising representatives from ECA, European Leagues, FIFPro, and UEFA.
The☀️ working group's recommendation, acknowledged by FIFA, offers a more balanced system of nine double-headers over two years with no single☀️ friendly matches and is beneficial for both clubs and national associations.[18]
Insurance for Players' Salaries
The Club Protection Program, initially put in☀️ place at the expense of UEFA to cover the Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, has since been taken over☀️ at FIFA's expense following the approval by the FIFA Congress in Budapest in May 2012.
[19] It now covers all clubs☀️ that release players for national A-team matches listed on the International Match Calendar, including a FIFA commitment to insure the☀️ football tournament of the Olympic Games.
[18] The Club Protection Program provides compensation for clubs in the event that national A-team☀️ players participating for their national association suffer a temporary total disablement (TTD) as a result of bodily injuries caused by☀️ an accident.
Players are insured up to a maximum of one year from the day of the excess period (= date☀️ of injury + 27 days) and a maximum of €7.5 million.[20]
Distribution for EURO Benefits
As stipulated in the 2008 MoU between☀️ ECA and UEFA, the UEFA Executive Committee agreed to set aside provisions of €43.
5 million for Euro 2008 in Switzerland☀️ and Austria, and €55 million for Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.
[21] With the renewal of the MoU, the benefits☀️ for clubs releasing players for the Euro 2012 have increased to €100 million and are set to increase again to☀️ €150 million for Euro 2016.
[18] In view of the increased amounts of benefits received by clubs, UEFA and ECA have☀️ elaborated a new distribution mechanism.
The main objective of this distribution mechanism is to have a fair and balanced system, ensure☀️ increased benefit for all clubs compared to previous tournaments, and guarantee more clubs are entitled to receive a share of☀️ the benefits.
For the Euro 2012, the total amount of €100 million was split between the final tournament (60%) and the☀️ qualifying phase (40%).
This new distribution mechanism led to 578 clubs receiving varying amounts of compensation from UEFA for their part☀️ in releasing players for qualifying matches and the final tournament, a significant increase from the 181 clubs who received a☀️ share after the UEFA EURO 2008.[18]Governance
Finally, the new MoU has also granted a greater influence for clubs in the decision-making☀️ processes at UEFA.
In the future, clubs are guaranteed to have their voices heard and that no decision directly affecting club☀️ football will be taken without their prior consent.
ECA representatives from the executive board are appointed in both the UEFA Executive☀️ Committee, UEFA Club Competitions Committee, UEFA Professional Football Strategy Council and the UEFA Women's Football Committee.
[18]Education [ edit ]
Club Management☀️ Guide (CMG)
Published for the first time in 2015 the Club Management Guide[22] aims to spread the knowledge and know-how of☀️ club management between football clubs in Europe, as well as offering a practical benchmark in which clubs can learn from.
The☀️ CMG reviews different aspects of club management such as a club's sporting, business and community activities, as well as internal☀️ and external environments and strategy development.
The CMG is compiled using personal experiences, case studies, graphs, written content and key lessons☀️ learned.
The CMG does not claim to have a perfect template for how a football club should be run, it looks☀️ to offer effective insights and the sharing of real life examples for the benefit of clubs.
Club Management Programme (CMP)
The CMP[23]☀️ was created by the requests of clubs for clubs and as a follow-up to the Club Management Guide.
The CMP aims☀️ at strengthening the knowledge of ECA Member Clubs in all areas of club management through the sharing of relevant expertise☀️ and know-how.
The programme runs for over a year and a half, during this time there are six interactive seminars based☀️ around a different topic of club management in some of the top football venues around Europe.
The seminars are a mix☀️ of academic and professional presentations, club case studies as well as interactive group working sessions.
The programme enables participants to expand☀️ their knowledge on club football as well as sharing their personal experiences.
Publications [ edit ]
Community & Social Responsibility Report
In September☀️ 2011, the European Club Association published its first Community & Social Responsibility (CSR) Report.
The aim of this publication was to☀️ present the beneficial work of European football clubs in the field of CSR.
The report is a collection of 54 ECA☀️ Member clubs' CSR projects.
All projects underline that football, and sport in general, have an important social and educational role to☀️ play.
[citation needed]ECA Legal Bulletin
As of 2011, the European Club Association has published a yearly Legal Bulletin, outlining key recurrent legal☀️ issues faced by club representatives.
The legal bulletins aim to provide support and advice to clubs on how to deal with☀️ particular problems regarding training compensation, dealing with clubs in administration, third party ownership, etc....[citation needed]
ECA Report on Youth Academies in☀️ Europe
In September 2012, ECA published a Report on Youth Academies in Europe,[24] which acts as a benchmark and provides a☀️ comparable perspective that underlines different approaches and philosophies of youth academies across Europe.
ECA Study on the Transfer System in Europe
In☀️ March 2014, ECA published a study on the transfer system, which offers an in-depth overview of all the incoming and☀️ outgoing transfer transactions involving European clubs over a two-year period.
The ECA Executive Board mandated PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and LIUC University to☀️ carry out this work.[citation needed]
ECA Women's Club Football Analysis
In 2014, ECA published an analysis on Women's Football.
This report of the☀️ ECA analyses women's football from a club perspective.
Topics such as women's club structure, relations with stakeholders as well as key☀️ success and constraint factors in the women's game are addressed.[citation needed]
ECA Club Management Guide (see education)
Published in 2015, this publication☀️ is a unique mixture of practical and conceptual football club management, focusing on club core activities, environment and strategies.
The ECA☀️ Club Management Guide is a collation of club representatives' practical experiences in managing a football club.
An extract is available in☀️ 9 languages.[citation needed]
Founding members [ edit ]
The following 16 clubs founded the ECA in 2008.
Clubs currently being an Ordinary Member☀️ Club are marked in italics:
Current ECA members [ edit ]
Ordinary Member Clubs (110) are marked in italics[25]See also [ edit☀️ ]
