June 20 – Increasingly sidelined and excluded by FIFA in discussions concerning the international calendar and how it impacts the operations and financial structures of domestic leagues in Europe, the European Leagues organisation has instead moved closer to the European Union in a move to help protect the Europe’s football eco-system.
European Leagues president Claudius Schäfer, vice-president Mathieu Moreuil, and general secretary Alberto Colombo met today (Friday) with Glenn Micallef, the European Commissioner for Youth, Culture and Sport.
On the agenda were issues focused on governance, the fight against online piracy, and the importance of the values at the core of the European Sport Model.
With FIFA’s Club World Cup now in full swing the meeting focused on the joint complaint submitted by European Leagues and Fifpro Europe to the European Commission against FIFA concerning their unilateral decisions on the international match calendar.
The European League’s argument is that “FIFA’s rules and conduct fall well short of what is required by EU law, andharm the economic interests of national leagues, and the health and safety of players in European football.
“A legal challenge before the European Commission became a necessary course of action to safeguard theEuropean football sector which is a global cultural and entertainment powerhouse.”
No ruling has been made on the challenge but when it does it will likely be aligned with the supporting the European Sports Model that is based on a pyramid structure where grassroots sports form the basis of the pyramid, clubs and elite levels are placed on top, and federations oversee and regulate the entire system.
FIFA, while the world governing body, is posing a threat to that model with its Club World Cup and refusal to engage with the European leagues that provide the star club power that drives both the interest and economics of its competition.
The European Leagues said that it “reaffirmed their commitment to the Commissioner’s agenda to develop a strategy to strengthen the European Sport Model while supporting a sustainable sporting and financial ecosystem rooted insolidarity, integrity, sporting merit, and the openness of competitions.
“The European Leagues look forward to continuing constructive dialogue with Commissioner Micallef while collaborating closely throughout his mandate to promote a balanced and sustainable future for European football.”
That’s all very well but this version of FIFA does what it wants in pursuit of power, glory and money. Whether this is done according to its own statutes or not, for FIFA is immaterial and FIFA certainly has shown no respect or care for the European Sports Model, or for Europe’s clubs and the leagues that created their global appeal.
How far the EU is prepared to back the European Leagues and its own commitment to the European Sports Model will be tested.
While the European Leagues are clear that FIFA is the enemy within, they are also concerned about the enemy without, and in particular broadcast piracy and the threat to the sale of broadcast rights and how they can be better protected.
While the European Leagues welcome the European Commission’s Recommendation on combatting online piracy ofsports and other live events that was published in May 2023, they argue that data shows that the only effective protection is through legislation and laws that clearly protect their rights.
“The European Leagues look forward to continuing constructive dialogue with Commissioner Micallef while collaborating closely throughout his mandate to promote a balanced and sustainable future for European football,” said a statement.
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