UEFA welcomes European review

An independent review of European football was launched in London today, with the brief of carrying out a widespread examination of issues that affect the game - with all members of the football family and fans being invited to have their say on how the sport should look in the future.

Arnaut chairman
The review is being chaired by José Luis Arnaut, a former senior minister within the Portuguese government, and was officially launched by Mr Arnault, United Kingdom sports minister Richard Caborn and UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer Olsson.

May completion
This review will focus on how the European football authorities, European Union (EU) institutions and member states can best implement the 2000 Nice Declaration on the specific characteristics of sport at a European and national level. In the declaration, European governments call on EU member nations to take account of sport's social, educational and cultural functions.

Variety of issues
Legal, political and financial experts will report, among other things, on the central role of the football authorities to govern football in harmony with the EU institutions and member states; ownership, control and management of clubs; and levels of expenditure on players, the financial stability or instability and concentration of wealth among clubs at both international and national level.

Agents' activities
The review will also examine how the football authorities oversee the activities of agents in player contract and transfer activities; revenue distribution within European football; how the game can be protected against match-fixing and corruption, and the role of the EU institutions, member states and football authorities in supporting and encouraging investment in football.

Special website
Plans are being made to hold open public hearings at the end of March, and the review will also have a special website - www.independentfootballreview.com - in which football fans and interested parties will be encouraged to give their own input. World football's governing body FIFA and European sports ministers will be involved in an advisory role. Conclusions and recommendations will be presented to UEFA, the European Commission and sports ministers across Europe, with the final report scheduled for issue at the beginning of June.

'Perfect timing'
"We fully welcome this report - the timing is perfect," said Mr Olsson. "Many of the elements contained in UEFA's Vision Europe agenda for the future of football will be addressed. It is a unique and common initiative, whereby football and political bodies can get together to define action for the future. UEFA welcomes the opportunity for open talks on issues of concern. It also gives us the chance to be self-critical on how football is run, and to find common agreements on how to move things forward."

Step forward
"The timing is right for such a review, and I see it as a major step forward," said Mr Caborn, who initiated the review while the EU was under the UK presidency last year. "There is the full support of the EU member states, the European Commission and the European parliament. Football is now a global sport, and we have an opportunity to examine many of the changes that have taken place in the past few years. It is time for the game to take bold steps towards better governance, but it is also clear that any solutions have to be European solutions."

Transparency and accessibility
"I'm looking forward to the challenge," added Mr Arnaut. "We have to address precise and important issues, and listen very carefully to what stakeholders tell us. Transparency and accessibility will be the hallmark of our work - and fans will also be able to have their say through the dedicated website."