European Commissioner Micallef: 'Football reflects Europe at its best'
Thursday, February 12, 2026
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Glenn Micallef, the European Commissioner for Sport, praised the qualities of the game in Europe at Thursday's UEFA Congress, emphasising UEFA's central role as the game's governing body, urging stakeholders to work together for its future good.
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In a wide-ranging speech, Commissioner Micallef praised the strength of European football and UEFA's public-interest leadership, while addressing some of the risks facing the sport.
On the strength of European football
This is one part of Europe that delivers. It reflects Europe at its best. The best leagues in the world – European leagues. The best club competitions in the world – European competitions.
For any player, for any team that wishes to prove they are the best, they must do it here. The greatest players in the world, at the peak of their careers, play in our leagues.
Europe is the global reference point for women’s football, and the best youth and grassroots systems come from the national associations and European football systems.
You develop football locally, nationally, and at European level, because we know what this game means to people and to Europeans especially.
On commitment to the European Sport Model and open competitions
The fact that we are doing well does not mean we stop improving – our responsibility is even greater because here, football means more to people.
Football is about people coming together, about emotion, expressing joy, frustration, passion, emotion, and yes football is also entertainment. And in parts of our continent, over the past decades, football has also become a lucrative business.
There is nothing wrong with this. There is nothing wrong with investment coming into our clubs and our leagues. Investment is supporting the whole pyramid and national football ecosystems.
This investment however has to respect our values, our culture, our European Sport Model and the way we do things in Europe.
On UEFA's leadership of European football and relationship with the European Commission
With UEFA, Football in Europe is in safe hands. Our relationship today is stronger than ever. It is long-term, stable, and committed.
I am looking forward to signing our renewed cooperation arrangement with UEFA. We share the same beliefs, and I know that national associations share them too. That football belongs to communities. That domestic leagues, European competitions, and national teams are deeply connected. That big clubs and grassroots clubs are two sides of the same coin. That bigger countries and smaller countries stand on two sides of the same pitch, and that solidarity between them is essential. That qualification for European competitions cannot be bought.
I therefore welcome the recent agreement (with EFC and Real Madrid), announced by UEFA, which reaffirms this principle. It is an important step that reinforces sporting merit, long-term sustainability and unity in European football.
On UEFA's ticketing policy for UEFA EURO 2028
I also applaud UEFA’s commitment to fair and transparent ticketing processes for EURO 2028. This is putting fans first. At UEFA, you are setting standards that make us truly proud.
On the game's responsibility to serve supporters and public interest
Football is a public good. It must be governed by bodies acting in the public interest. Sport and football must be more than profits and shareholder value.
Domestic league matches belong to their domestic communities. They belong to the fans that built those clubs – they should not be exported at the expense of supporters.
When prices are too high, for match tickets or television subscriptions, fans are the ones who pay the price. When fans are priced out, then football loses part of its soul.
On other risks the game faces
The risks we face are greater than we have ever face. We must be clear-eyed about them.
National football ecosystems are under increasing pressure. Competitive balance in many leagues continues to be very fragile. Unregulated agents are draining money out of the football ecosystem instead of reinvesting in youth, academies, and grassroots. Uncapped salaries are driving costs even higher.
The way income is shared should be discussed. Income is generated through the hard work of all European clubs – small, medium and big. Fair revenue sharing ensures solidarity, sustainability, and competitive balance.
And what is the result of these risks we are facing? We see renewed threats of for-profit entertainment models. We see threats of matches being taken abroad. We see threats of fans paying the highest price: financially and emotionally.
Football must never put commercial and political considerations before fan experience, athlete welfare, and the long-term development of the game.
Also at UEFA Congress
On stronger measures against online piracy
If revenues are under pressure, I want to also be honest about another real challenge we face: the illegal piracy of sports events. Stronger legislation and better enforcement against piracy can protect revenues, without shifting the burden onto loyal fans.
By my estimate, around €1 billion are lost annually as a result of illegal piracy of sport events. That is money stolen from football, and taken away from youth development. Imagine the the investment that could be made if that money goes into our academies.
On stakeholders working together for the benefit of European football
I believe that we will weather the challenges ahead. We will emerge stronger, but this requires serious, mature cooperation to strengthen European football even further.
So, let’s stand together and stand strong. Let’s protect football, and let’s grow it, without losing what makes it ours.