http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3980203.stm The European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) body is to strengthen its status as part of plans to increase its influence over Uefa and Fifa. The organisation has existed informally since 1998, but has decided to create a constitution and step up its lobbying of football's governing bodies. Compensation for releasing players for international duty is likely to be the issue at the top of its agenda. It is made up of member leagues from 15 European countries. The EPF met in Dublin last week and took the decision to operate on a more formal basis. A general manager is now being sought to take charge of the operation. The move has been interpreted as a way of the G14 clubs - a collective of 14 of Europe's biggest and wealthiest clubs - getting their points across to the governing bodies. Both Fifa and Uefa have refused to recognise the G14 group, but are expected to deal with the EPFL. Other issues likely to come up for discussion include the organisation of the international fixture list, the distribution of income from the sale of TV rights and the call for clubs to field a certain number of players who have come through their youth set-up. The organisation will also help to placate the European Commission, who are looking for a central point of contact to deal with. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Writing on the wall for the governing bodies of football? Would seem so. It's just proving the strength of European football. And unlike FIFA and UEFA, they are even attempting to work with the EU. So as I have posted before, changes to rules as proposed by UEFA, will fail, since the professional game and the EU will oppose them via legal means.
Kudos, first of all, on posting this a full month before I got it on my "sporting goods business insider" news board. Those boys are going to hear from me... I think this is being sold as a counter balance to the G14, rather than another name for same. The G14 probably represents all clubs on some issues (mainly club vs. country commitments) but not revenue sharing and most other monetary concerns. The medium to small teams in football must organize and demand such items as: 1. Revenue sharing from CL and UEFA Cup for all league teams. 2. Equal TV rights payments for all teams in any division. 3. Some type of post Bosman young player protection. 4. Stronger or more golden, golden parachutes for relegated teams. 5. Perhaps even salary caps or a luxury tax on big spenders. 6. Financial backing for smaller countries' leagues. You only need to look at the dismal state of affairs in Scotland and project 10 years into the future to see the same in England, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany and Italy. The beauty of European football is the no holds barred financial incentives, unlike our American guaranteed (salary cap, single entity, no relegation threat, move if crowds dip, etc.) mediocrity. But the big clubs have turned too many money making projects to their own exclusive benefit and a new balance must be reached. The top of the pyramid (the G14) will collapse if not supported by the entire league and lower leagues structure. Good to see that the small teams are demanding a voice in affairs. I'm a Chelsea supporter so I can see that fans don't want to start a season with no hope of competing with a big two or three in the league. Two years ago Chelsea were on the verge of going the way Leeds have gone, and when Putin nationalizes the Russian oil industry, there goes our daddy's sugar... Two or three clubs dominating a league might always be the reality, but small clubs must work in union to compete on more equal footing.
Sorry, I meant to include the article I read. Since it says "email to a friend" at the end, I assume it is okay to post here in its entirety. EUROPEAN LEAGUES TO FORM PRESSURE GROUP 2004-Dec-01 08:44 Fifteen European soccer leagues, including those from England, Italy, Spain, Germany and France plan to form a federation to ensure their voices are heard in dealings with UEFA and the European Union. The Deutsche Fussball Liga (DFL), which runs Germany's Bundesliga, confirmed that the leagues planned to form a joint body - the European Professional League (EPFL) - with headquarters in Brussels as soon as possible, reports Reuters. The federation will add to a complex lobbying landscape which already includes the G14 group of leading clubs and the European Club Forum. "We want to fight for a right to have our say in UEFA. We need international representation for the leagues," the DFL's managing director, Wilfried Straub, told German sports agency SID. "We must convince UEFA that the federation is for the best." The Italian professional league has led organisational matters, such as the formation of a working group, to date. The leagues of the "Big Five" - England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain - are all involved. Straub suggested that the EPFL could be a possible counterweight to the so-called "G14" group of 18 leading European soccer clubs, which, though not recognised by UEFA or FIFA, has seemed to influence Europe-wide competitions. "The G14 exerts massive pressure on UEFA and FIFA, but only speaks for 18 clubs. It must be in the interests of football that all clubs are represented," Straub said. Straub imagines that UEFA might extend the number of seats in its executive committee to include EPFL representatives. The position of the headquarters in Brussels would also give the European leagues greater lobbying power in dealings with the European Commission, particularly regarding television rights and competition law. Source: © sportbusiness.com Email to a colleague