Agreement heralds new era in football

E. Grant & Co · Post by **E. Grant & Co** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 2:54 pm

The formation of the European Club Association (ECA) and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the new body, representing the interests of clubs at European level, and UEFA, the governing body of European football, signals the start of a new era in the game.

Harmony returns
Following on from the joint FIFA/UEFA announcement of Tuesday 15 January, the creation today of the ECA paves the way for harmony to return to football between the governing bodies and the clubs. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding today means that UEFA recognises the ECA as the sole body representing the interests of clubs at European level â€“ and the ECA recognises UEFA as the governing body of football at European level, and FIFA as the governing body of football at worldwide level.

Dialogue crucial
Speaking in opening the meeting at UEFA headquarters, the House of European Football, in Nyon today, UEFA President Michel Platini said: "After being elected and confronting the problems in football, I said that the game, that dialogue and the exchange of ideas was the solution. I now count on you, football counts on you, UEFA counts on you, and the youth of today counts on you."

Platini thanks
The UEFA President also thanked those who worked at the heart of this historic agreement with the clubs: "I would like to place on record and express my sincere thanks to the FIFA President, Joseph Blatter, and the FIFA General Secretary, JÃ©rÃ´me Valcke, as well as Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Adriano Galliani, Umberto Gandini, Joan Laporta, Peter Kenyon and RamÃ³n CalderÃ³n."

All winners
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, chairman of the ECA, said: "Normally with agreements there are winners and losers but this time everyone is a winner. I must thank UEFA President Michel Platini for the speed with which these actions have been set in motion and without whom many of these solutions would not have been possible."

All associations represented
The ECA, as an independent autonomous body representing the European clubs, is drawn from all of UEFA's 53 member associations. The ECA shall in principle be composed of 103 clubs, with the precise number of clubs from each member association 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. The three highest-ranking associations will have five clubs; the next three, four clubs; the associations ranked from seventh to 15th will each have three clubs; associations ranked from 16th to 26th will have two clubs; and those remaining associations will have one club.

Transitional board
It was agreed that a transitional ECA Board would represent the ECA and its 16 founding members until the next general assembly meets at the end of the season, when elections for a new Executive Board will be held. The ECA Board will comprise eleven members, plus the four representatives appointed by the Executive Board to the UEFA Professional Football Strategy Council. The ECA will also provide half of the members of the UEFA Club Competitions Committee.

The transitional ECA Board is: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (chairman; FC Bayern MÃ¼nchen), Joan Laporta (vice-chairman; FC Barcelona), Umberto Gandini (AC Milan), Peter Kenyon (Chelsea FC), Marteen Fontein (AFC Ajax) and Jean-Michel Aulas (Olympique Lyonnais). The 16 founding member clubs are: Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona, AC Milan, Juventus, Olympique Lyonnais, Rangers FC, Manchester United FC, Chelsea FC, FC Bayern MÃ¼nchen, AFC Ajax, FC Porto, Olympiacos CFP, RSC Anderlecht, Birkirkara FC, NK Dinamo Zagreb and FC KÃ¸benhavn.

EURO payments
As part of the Memorandum of Understanding it was 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 UEFA EURO 2008â„¢ is â‚¬43.5m and for UEFA EURO 2012â„¢ â‚¬55m (providing financial results are substantially similar to those of UEFA EURO 2008â„¢). The payments shall be made on a "per day per player" basis. The distribution amount for UEFA EURO 2008â„¢ of â‚¬43.5m is divided by the total number of days which gives a "per player per day" amount of approximately â‚¬4,000. For UEFA EURO 2012â„¢ this is expected to be approximately â‚¬5,000.

Qualifying undertaking
As well as the direct financial benefits of the EURO for the clubs, the Memorandum of Understanding also ensures that UEFA is set to schedule qualifying matches for the European Championship, whenever possible, in maximum groups of six.

Â©uefa.com 1998-2008. All rights reserved.
News : European Club Forum

This decision will change the face of club football and will eventually filter down to us

Hawkesy · Post by **Hawkesy** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 3:07 pm

In summary:

UEFA will be giving more money to the bigger clubs while not giving a shit about grass roots football or the lower leagues. STILL, as long as the big 12 are happy I suppose. :?

Translator · Post by **Translator** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:57 pm

Hawkesy wrote:In summary:

UEFA will be giving more money to the bigger clubs while not giving a cabernet about grass roots football or the lower leagues. STILL, as long as the big 12 are happy I suppose. :?

get the violins out, the big clubs pay the smaller clubs the BIG dollars for the players that the small clubs want/have to sell.

The big clubs then offer these players the big wages and have the national team take them away for free, often coming back injured.

Getting back to the job market argument how would you like one of your best paid employees being taken away for national service for two weeks every three months and you still have to pay them while on leave and while they sit out on their return.

This is all about UEFA & FIFA ensuring they still earn billions with their Euro/World cups while minimising the risk of a break away European Super League.

If G14 formed a breakaway league the World/ Euro Cup would be worthless. Much like the test matches were during the World Series breakaway.

Can't understand why people think football should be subject to communism

E. Grant & Co · Post by **E. Grant & Co** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:55 am

97 you call it Communism, I call it ownership. FIFA 'own' the sport not the G14 clubs, and as FIFA own the sport for the benefit of all Confederations and all clubs within those Conferations then they have a right to make decisions in the best interests of the sport. The big clubs don't own the sport, they play a part in it, thats all. FIFA has to represent the interests of all clubs, not just the 12 or 20 biggest clubs. They have a duty to ensure that the game isn't high jacked by a few clubs for the sake of their own pockets.

Decisions like this will eventually impact on us down here.

IF any A League player gets a long term injury representing Australia next Wednesday week, and IF that player is a key player for a your club playing in the Top 4, what would you be saying if that meant the end of your clubs 2007/2008 season, I'd be pissed off I know that. The fact he was injured playing for his country will have little impact if your club ends up second in the League.

So I'm happy that ALL clubs will be compensated if any of their players get injured playing for their country and I'm happy that FIFA are making these compromised decisions for the benefit of the game.

Fred Goldstone · Post by **Fred Goldstone** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:23 am

Spot on E, Grant.

Clubs will now not be so reluctant to to allow players from 'minor' nations to represent their countries.

This can only be good for us.

Translator · Post by **Translator** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 2:14 pm

E.G & Co I was responding to Hawkesy claim that this is only for the good of the big 12 as you've just pointed out this move isn't just about the big 12 clubs.

Many people like bashing G14 but like anyone they're only protecting their own interests. The fact that they've dismantled G14 as UEFA & FIFA have come to the table regarding fair compensation for loss of players just shows that they're being reasonable and not excessive in their demands.

Given the choice of backing my club's interest or FIFA's interest I've got no doubts were my loyalities lie.

I would trust Sepp Blatter to mind my shopping trolley as he'll cash in on the $2 coin!

E. Grant & Co · Post by **E. Grant & Co** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 2:45 pm

97 Sorry if i came on a bit strong.

Well, I don't know how trustworthy Uncle Sepp is or isn't so won't comment. But I will judge him on how he runs FIFA, and if the game is healthy or not.

Right now I think is was a good move by both UEFA and FIFA and a realistic compromise was found to suit the G14 and the governing bodies.

How it will work out in the future I don't know.

Translator · Post by **Translator** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 2:52 pm

E. Grant & Co wrote:97 Sorry if i came on a bit strong.

pfft please, I'm an Inter supporter it takes more than that to unsettle me

On the communism point it wasn't directed at FIFA by any means, after all they're the biggest capitalist in football

It was more to the point how there seems to be a built hatred towards the bigger clubs financial abilities. It's almost like people are expecting all 20 teams to start on a level playing field, eg salary caps, draft system etc.

You don't even get that in the SAASL why expect it in top tier comps.

E. Grant & Co · Post by **E. Grant & Co** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:00 pm

If i had known you were an Inter supporter I would have gave you heaps more..........

It was always about the 'power', FIFA and UEFA didn't like to be challenged by a group of rich clubs , so they had to flex their muscles, which didn't work so they found a compromised position.

Translator · Post by **Translator** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:10 pm

E. Grant & Co wrote:If i had known you were an Inter supporter I would have gave you heaps more..........

Coming from a Chelski supporter

E. Grant & Co · Post by **E. Grant & Co** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:21 pm

Blue all through and LOUD & Proud.............

You've heard the saying "There are only two types of supporters, those that support Chelsea and those that wished they did"

This will start a rush of insults i'm sure..........

Translator · Post by **Translator** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:58 pm

E. Grant & Co wrote: You've heard the saying "There are only two types of supporters, those that support Chelsea and those that wished they did"

Wonder which category the journo who removed his CFC tatt after he finsihed his doco on the Headhunters is

E. Grant & Co · Post by **E. Grant & Co** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 4:06 pm

neither................journo = brain dead, they don't count as fans......

ozzie owl · Post by **ozzie owl** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 7:05 pm

Hawkesy wrote:In summary:

UEFA will be giving more money to the bigger clubs while not giving a cabernet about grass roots football or the lower leagues. STILL, as long as the big 12 are happy I suppose. :?

I agree, sadly football in 2008 is all about rich billionaires using clubs a either a toy or an investment.

In ten years time the minnow clubs will be wiped out, then the rich dozen clubs can play each other forever.