The ECA Executive Board held a momentous meeting in Doha today at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at which guests from across the football family were welcomed.
The distinguished guests welcomed by ECA Chairman Nasser Al-Khelaïfi included:
- AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa
- CAF President Patrice Motsepe
- CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez
- CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani
- FIFA Deputy General Secretary Mattias Grafström
- UEFA General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis
- His Excellency, Hassan Al-Thawadi, Secretary General at Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy 2022
Following speeches from all guests, the ECA Chairman, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, said: “Football is becoming ever more global and more complex. As a result, collaboration and partnership between stakeholders has become more important than ever. We are proud that ECA works hand-in-hand with FIFA and the Confederations to make football more inclusive, more exciting and more inspiring.”
After the opening speeches, the Board continued its busy meeting agenda with numerous issues related to European club football.
Concerning the ECA/UEFA Joint Venture, the Board was updated on the commercial tender results for the post-2024 cycle, taking note of the positive announcements concerning the Netherlands and Germany.
The Board was updated on the ECA membership strategy, specifically the new ECA Network, successfully launched in autumn to a potential 160 aspiring clubs of Europe, which is growing the whole time.
On matters of governance, the Board reviewed the proposed reforms to the internal governance of ECA, for implementation in the 2023-27 cycle, as recommended by the Internal Governance Task Force and which are for final approval at the General Assembly in March 2023.
The Board reviewed the proposal to introduce Women’s clubs into the ECA membership, creating both Ordinary and Associated Membership categories. This too will be on the agenda at the March General Assembly.
The Board was updated on the European Court of Justice’s Opinion of the Advocate General due on 15 December; and expressed an openness to engage with the new Board of Directors at Juventus.
The Board was also informed of the progress on plans to launch an ECA Foundation in 2023, which will be able to support clubs across Europe on humanitarian and social causes, with further work to be done on the governance of the foundation. Currently ECA has supported 15 clubs in countries neighbouring the conflict in Ukraine, who are working with refugees and their families, via the Ukraine Relief Committee through the support of the UEFA Foundation.
Finally, the Executive Board was informed on further details for the next ECA General Assembly which will take place on 27 and 28 March 2023 in Budapest, Hungary.