February 2 – The World Leagues Forum (WLF) and players union FIFPRO held their second summit in Madrid and via video conference yesterday to discuss key issues around football’s governance.
Following the meeting a press statement said that the “two partners worked towards new governance standardsthat will put social partners, openness, accountability and sustainability at the heart of the sport.”
The leagues body and players’ union are not necessarily natural bedfellows but following a first meeting last October have “recognised the need to act as partners and cooperate to shape the future of football”.
This comes out of the challenges faced by both organisations by the proposed (but scuppered) European Super League project, as well as the threat to the business of the leagues and ultimately they wider professional player market of FIFA’s push for a biennial World Cup.
It has also provided a platform for the two bodies to talk through long standing issues.
“The two organisations agreed on the benefits of labour and industrial dialogue to find the right balance betweenthe interests of clubs and players. This will help to strengthen the game at all levels and safeguard the health andwellbeing of footballers,” said a joint press statement.
Where both organisations are in complete unity, and where FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino need to pay most attention is in their joint recognition “that domestic leagues and their members clubs are the lifeblood of professional football.” In other words, not FIFA’s international tournaments or money-making international calendar opportunism.
“By putting the welfare of domestic leagues and their clubs as well as the well-being of players at the heart of these discussions, the WLF and FIFPRO aim to put football’s governance on a democratic and sustainable footing,” said the two bodies.
To understand the full importance of the statement and commitment to their newly stated dual stakeholder interests then a look at the organisations represented at the meeting needs to be reviewed. These are not organisations – like many of FIFA’s committees and committee members – that have football as just one of the things they do.
These are organisations that are in the business of elite professional football every day of the year.
The World Leagues Forum was represented by Liga MX, Mexico; Major League Soccer, USA; Premier League,England; La Liga, Spain; LigaPro, Ecuador; Ligue de Football Premier League, South Africa; Premier League,Russia; Serie A, Italy; J.League, Japan.
FIFPRO members present were: AFE, Spain; JPFA, Japan, SAFAP, Peru; SJPF, Portugal; AMFPRO, Mexico; ThePFA, England; AIC, Italy; SYNAFOC, Cameroon; UNFP, France; MLSPA, USA; SAFPU, South Africa.
The two bodies said they will hold another Leadership Summit in March.
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