The greatest leaders of the football world have been meeting since Tuesday in Berlin for three days on the occasion of the 30th General Assembly of the ECA, the main “union” of European clubs. Two Ligue 1 leaders are playing for a place on the ECA board. A very strategic place.
This is the largest General Assembly of the ECA ever organised. For three days in Berlin (Germany), the member clubs of the European Club Association network are gathered in a large hotel in the city. The opportunity to discuss the major themes around European football, and to discuss the future. A gathering of 200 member clubs which also allows leaders to network. These representatives meet most of the time in the stands of the European stadiums, this time allows a more in-depth exchange.
One of the main topics raised during this meeting will concern the distribution of TV rights between UEFA and European clubs in the coming years. Clearly, the ECA could obtain better financial solidarity for the countries ranked behind the six nations that dominate the UEFA ranking. A discussion that will necessarily interest Aleksander Ceferin, the boss of UEFA, present on the spot. This Wednesday, the president of PSG and ECA, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, will deliver a major speech followed by a video intervention by Gianni Infantino, the boss of FIFA. On Thursday, unsurprisingly, ‘NAK’ is set to be re-elected Association President for the 2023/27 cycle.
Textor and Longoria play a place
An actress will also be there. Natalie Portman, co-founder of Angel City FC, the world’s first and only franchise funded exclusively by women, playing in the National Women’s Soccer League in the United States. She will be present in Berlin to bring and explain her vision of women’s football. With for the first time during this AG representatives of women’s clubs present.
Two leaders of Ligue 1 will also be closely scrutinized over these three days of gathering in Germany. Pablo Longoria, the president of OM, and John Textor, the owner of OL, are aiming for a place in the inner circle of ECA governance. Subdivision number 1, where seven members will be elected from the six largest member associations in the UEFA ranking. A strategic position in a hyper influential network.