UEFA sets new benchmark for good governance of European football
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
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Introduction of National Associations Governance Framework will strengthen standards and bolster sustainability across UEFA’s 55 member associations.
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UEFA has underlined its role as the flagbearer of football governance in Europe with the introduction of a new framework setting best practice standards for its 55 member associations.
Approved by UEFA’s Executive Committee in Limassol, Cyprus last September, the National Associations Governance Framework offers practical guidance covering five core areas of governance: democracy, transparency, integrity, control mechanisms, and policies and internal procedures.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin:
"The new framework stands as a cornerstone in strengthening the resilience of the European football ecosystem. It will be an impactful tool for our member associations in their ongoing collective journey to reinforce governance structures and navigate future challenges and opportunities."
Funding support
To help associations roll out the new framework, UEFA will offer two sources of funding: a total €22 million (up to €100,000 per association each season through to 2028) will be available through the HatTrick development programme, which channels EURO revenue back into the game; a further €17.6 million (up to €80,000 per association per season) has been allocated to finance good governance projects.
Development of the framework, which builds on the success of UEFA’s ‘10 Good Governance Principles’ adopted in 2018, was led by a joint working group composed of representatives from UEFA’s National Associations and Governance and Compliance committees respectively. Its approval represents another significant milestone in the implementation of UEFA’s strategy “Together for the Future of Football 2019-2024”
Structured as a self-assessment questionnaire, the framework’s design reflects UEFA’s goal of fostering a culture of inclusivity, resilience and enhanced transparency across all associations – key building blocks for the long-term sustainability of the European domestic game.