The European sports model: At a glance
Thursday, February 8, 2024
Article summary
The European sports model's pyramid structure forms the basis for organising most sports across Europe, and football is no exception.
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UEFA works tirelessly with stakeholders, both inside and outside of football, to protect the role of the European sports model – both in securing a sustainable future for the game and driving wider, positive change across society.
Our commitment is embodied in three core principles:
• Open competition: whatever their level, clubs are promoted or relegated on sporting merit; talented players should have a clear pathway to the top.
• Reinvestment: revenue generated by elite competitions is channelled into developing grassroots football. Few initiatives embody this principle better than our HatTrick programme, which reinvests a large proportion of UEFA EURO income into the European game through national association development projects.
• Social benefits: the model also recognises sport's important contribution to society, whether through education, health benefits, sustainability or breaking down barriers.
