Professional Football Strategy Council meets in Nyon

036 - Stakeholders commit to future of club competitions under leadership of UEFA

The Professional Football Strategy Council (PFSC), chaired by UEFA President, Aleksander Čeferin, met today in Nyon to address a number of issues affecting professional football in Europe.

The Council unanimously expressed its desire to strengthen the existing positive and open relationship with UEFA. All members agreed that such unity will help to ensure the growth and sustainability of football at every level, right across the continent. In this context, all parties underlined their commitment to working together towards the development of club competitions under the leadership of UEFA.

The members discussed the conclusions and recommendations of the UEFA Club Competitions Committee on the 2021/24 cycle, which will be decided at the UEFA Executive Committee’s December meeting in Dublin. Views were further exchanged on the matter, including a presentation from the European Leagues.

The future of women’s football was addressed for the first time within the Council. The discussions reflected the huge increase in the popularity and success of the women’s game across Europe and the desire to make women’s football a sport that is celebrated globally and that gives every girl and woman a place to play. There was unanimous support for the draft strategy and a willingness among members to work to improve the game.

Members also heard an explanation of the reforms to the transfer system, passed by the FIFA Council last month.

The PFSC comprises elected representatives of the four main stakeholder groups involved in European professional football: the clubs, via the European Club Association (ECA); the leagues, via the European Leagues; the players, via FIFPro Division Europe; and UEFA, as football’s governing body at European level. The body discusses issues of strategic importance for professional football in Europe and advises the UEFA Executive Committee accordingly.