Why club licensing matters: Improving standards across Europe

Club licensing may sit behind the scenes, away from the drama of matchday, but its impact can be seen across almost every area of the game. That was clear among those gathered at UEFA’s headquarters for the conclusion of the second edition of the UEFA club licensing exchange programme.

As Arturs Salnikovs, licensing manager at the Latvian Football Federation, put it: "I think club licensing is one of the best tools to improve clubs’ structures."

UEFA’s club licensing system is a set of requirements clubs must meet to be eligible to participate in our competitions. It sets best-practice standards across areas from youth player development and financial management to infrastructure, administration and environmental sustainability.

It has become a critical component of club development strategies across Europe, with national associations or national leagues responsible for applying and monitoring club licensing in their countries. It also encourages similar standards across the football pyramid, with associations and leagues able to tailor requirements to govern their domestic competitions.

An important development tool for women’s football

Women’s football offers a clear example of how club licensing can help drive football forward. Since women’s club licensing requirements were introduced in 2018, the system has provided a framework for professionalisation, while recognising the different stages of development across the game.

"The licensing system has played a fundamental role in supporting the sustainable development and continued professionalisation of women's football," said Jens Futterknecht, head of club licensing at the German Football Association (DFB).

A system adapted to the context of the women’s game has proved particularly valuable. “The licensing requirements have been gradually raised, allowing clubs to develop step by step,” said Futterknecht. “This approach has helped establish sustainable standards while giving clubs sufficient time to adapt to increasing expectations.”

Futterknecht and his colleagues spent time working with members of Women’s Super League (WSL) Football in England as part of the club licensing exchange programme. The WSL is not run by the national association but is organised by an independent entity, which is responsible for club licensing. The DFB has approved a similar set up for the Frauen-Bundesliga – the top division of German women’s football – which will be implemented in the near future.

The WSL is one of Europe’s most professionalised domestic competitions, but here too licensing is providing important benchmarks.

"For a league like ours, a lot of our domestic criteria is similar already, but there are a few things that make UEFA club licensing the gold standard, such as youth medical requirements," said Tom Beresford, WSL Football head of standards and regulations.

The women's club licensing set ups in England and Germany have similar structuresJasmin Walter/UEFA

Similar contexts, shared solutions

The club licensing exchange programme pairs associations and licensing bodies with similar needs, priorities or development areas, giving them the chance to collaborate through online meetings, face-to-face visits and group workshops across the season – and turn that learning into impact.

When staff from the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) visited Latvia as part of the programme, for example, one detail prompted an immediate change back home.

"We saw that our Latvian colleagues were using a message board to communicate with licensing experts, while we were using emails," said Naira Abramyan, the FFA’s head of club licensing. "We’ve already implemented this into our system. This sharing of experience was not only on paper, but really in practice."

The benefits flowed in both directions, with Armenia’s use of formal contracts with clubs before the start of the licensing process offering Latvia another approach to consider.

The opportunity to work closely with a similarly sized association proved particularly valuable. "Our open and direct communication created great opportunities to learn from each other through practical examples and sharing best practices. Site visits were of utmost importance, allowing us to see everything from the inside," said Abramyan.

"It also gave us friendships and bonds," she added. "We always say football unites everyone, and we saw that in practice."