UEFA – FIFPRO Europe joint statement

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and FIFPRO Europe President David Terrier met last week in Tirana, on the sidelines of a UEFA Executive Committee meeting, to reaffirm their shared commitment to protecting player health and shaping a sustainable future for European football – where national team football stands as a pillar of its identity, unity, and development. Both organisations emphasised the need for collective, forward-looking solutions that safeguard player well-being within an integrated competitive ecosystem.

In this context, they reiterated that national team football must continue to thrive as a central force in the European game.

For players, representing their country is a lifelong dream. For the game, national team competitions are both a source of inspiration and a force for unity, creating moments of pride and celebration shared across borders. National teams also form the financial backbone of football, as the first and irreplaceable source of solidarity that sustains the entire pyramid and enables all development and grassroots activities of national associations.

The two presidents reaffirmed that a strong and complementary relationship between club and national team competitions is essential to the health of European football. They acknowledged that the current intensity of the calendar places mounting pressure on players and agreed that now is the time for stakeholders – UEFA, national associations, leagues, clubs, and player unions – to work together on frameworks that protect player health and welfare, while reinforcing the long-term values and benefits of the European football pyramid.

This spirit of shared responsibility is rooted in the Memorandum of Understanding signed by UEFA and FIFPRO Europe in 2024, which strengthened the role of players in football governance and laid the foundations for structured cooperation – including through the EU Social Dialogue Committee, where key stakeholders are represented at European level.

“Our collaboration with FIFPRO Europe reflects a shared responsibility to protect player health and strengthen the foundations of the game,” said UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin. “National team football remains a pillar of Europe’s identity and unity. As demands on players grow, it’s more important than ever to work together – with national associations, leagues, clubs and players – to find balanced solutions for the future of the sport”.

“We all recognise that the calendar has reached a tipping point” said FIFPRO Europe President David Terrier. “We have a collective responsibility to act. In Europe, we are fortunate to have the tools and the partners – including clubs, leagues and national associations – to build protocols that protect the well-being of players and ensure that both national team and club football continue to inspire, unite, and grow”.