Overview

1. Overall Vision
UEFA is a representative democracy, comprised of 53 national football associations, and is itself recognised by FIFA as one of six continental federations. The organisation of the administration of football is based on a pyramid system of regulations, with FIFA the world governing body, UEFA the European governing body and national football associations the governing bodies at domestic level. Subsidiarity should be a guiding principle in this hierarchy of regulations, with international bodies regulating only where international, or in some cases, worldwide action is required.

Apart from national football associations who are in membership of UEFA, there are a variety of other organisations who contribute a great deal to football and whose interests need to be suitably recognised. Clubs are the bedrock of football at all levels. Leagues, particularly professional Leagues, are important in competition organisation and administrative management at national level. There is a wider acceptance now that players interests need to be taken into account in football administration. And we should not forget that the popularity of football is demonstrated through the enthusiasm of football fans across Europe.

UEFA has therefore the following vision of success: “A united European football family working together to improve enjoyment of the game”

2. UEFA Mission
There are, of course, many tasks to accomplish to achieve that vision. Important new steps have been taken, for example, with the establishment of the Professional Football Strategy Council. At institutional level, there is now a greater recognition of the various and varying interests of different parts of the football family.

UEFA itself has a philosophy of Football First. Through our work in staging top class European competitions for national teams and staging the best club competitions in the world, right through to our work with national associations to develop coaching and grassroots football, UEFA carries out a wide range of activities to promote and develop European football. The role of UEFA – our core mission – can be expressed as follows: “To create the right conditions for the game in Europe to prosper and develop”

3. Strategic Objectives
The activities undertaken by UEFA to fulfil its mission are driven by 4 Strategic Objectives – relating to Football, Governance, Revenue and Management. These strategic objectives are listed below, along with the primary activities currently being undertaken.

Football
To promote the game of football through organisation of the best European competitions for clubs and countries, the development of coaches and referees, and the encouragement of grassroots football.

• Champions League
• European Championships
• UEFA Cup
• Women’s competitions
• Youth competitions
• Futsal
• Coaching convention
• Grassroots convention
• Referee convention
• Social responsibility

Governance
To establish closer relationships with member football associations, new frameworks of cooperation with clubs, leagues and players, and the raising of standards of governance of the game on an improved legal basis recognising the specific characteristics of sport. (Click below for each element)

• New structures
• Hat-Trick programme
• European Union issues
• TEP
• Specificity of sport
• Club licensing

Revenue
To optimise revenues from TV, sponsorship and other commercial contracts for the benefit of football, and to service the needs of commercial partners to their satisfaction.

• Marketing strategies
• New media technologies
• TV sales process
• Sponsor programmes
• New commercial opportunities
• Brand development

Management
To manage UEFA staff and resources efficiently, to provide first-class administrative support to the work of all UEFA Committees, and to communicate efficiently internally and externally.

• Budget management
• Objective setting
• Staff management
• IT support
• Internal control systems
• Forward planning

These four strategic objectives form the basis for the new organisational structure of the administration, under the leadership of the General Secretary.