The ECA Board, chaired by Nasser al-Khelaifi, concluded its meeting on Wednesday in Dublin, Ireland with a number of key decisions taken concerning its future membership structure and growth.The Board approved a revision to the organisational regulations that will see the existing membership structure amended with the Partner/Network category being merged into the Associated Member category across respective Subdivisions.This means that the former Network/Partner clubs will have the ability to elect members to the Board via the Subdivisions and have the same rights as those held by Associated Members. There is no change for Ordinary Members.Commenting on the huge growth of ECA membership, ECA Chairman al-Khelaifi, said: "This is an amazing achievement to have reached over 700 clubs of the ECA Family with a member growth of 160% since the start of the 2023/24 season. With the changes to our membership structure approved by the Board today, that will go to the General Assembly for final ratification, we will continue to make ECA more democratic, more open and more inclusive for all clubs across Europe.”The Board then acknowledged the recent announcement on reduced ticket prices caps for visiting fans in UEFA men’s club competitions for the 2024/25 season and 2025/26 season, and of the importance of fans to the very fabric of the club game across Europe."This is a great example of the new ECA where we have over 700 members all of different shapes and sizes across 55 countries, but we always try to find consensus through compromise,” said al-Khelaifi."Many clubs had strong, valid and different views on this topic, but as an institution ECA found a collective position on behalf of all 700+ clubs, which puts fans first and will help drive football forward,” he concluded.The Board confirmed the first three appointments to the ECA Foundation, currently being set-up, to include al-Khelaifi, Dariusz Mioduski and Joe Cerrell of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Further appointments will be made in due course with official launch taking place in 2025.
September 06, 2024 | 12:01 AM