Financial fair play on EXCO agenda

Financial fair play will be a key item on the agenda for the latest meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland, today and tomorrow.

PFSC recommendations
The committee, chaired by UEFA President Michel Platini, will be asked to approve the Financial Fair Play concept, following recommendations made last month by the Professional Football Strategy Council (PFSC), and in the wake of unanimous support by the UEFA Club Competitions Committee and approval by the European Club Association Board (ECA). The PFSC is composed of representatives from the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL), the players (FIFPro Europe), the clubs (ECA) and the UEFA vice-presidents.

Improving financial fairness
The main purpose of the Financial Fair Play concept is to improve the financial fairness in European competitions and the long-term stability of club football across the continent. In order to achieve this goal, a set of measures will be put in place including: the obligation for clubs whose turnover is over a certain threshold, over a period of time, to balance their books or break even, (ie clubs cannot repeatedly spend more than the generated revenues); to give guidance on salaries and transfer spending; to provide an indicator on the sustainability of the levels of debt; and the obligation for clubs to honour their commitments at all times. (Click here for more details.)

2012 draw procedure
UEFA EURO 2012™ also comes up for discussion at next week's meeting in Nyon. The procedure for the qualifying competition draw in Warsaw, Poland, on 7 February 2010 and the UEFA EURO 2012™ regulations are both on the agenda. The draw procedure for the 2009/10 UEFA European Futsal Championship in Hungary will also be discussed.

Tournament reports
This summer's two major European national-team tournaments – the UEFA European Under-21 Championship final round in Sweden and UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009, which is currently being played in Finland, will come under review by the Executive Committee. Approval will also be given to new members of the UEFA Convention of Referee Education and Organisation and the UEFA Grassroots Charter.

Convention and charter
The aims of the UEFA Referee Convention include enhancing referee education, promoting the role of the referee and improving refereeing structures and development within the European associations, while the Grassroots Charter, created in 2004, represents an endorsement of national associations' grassroots programmes. UEFA's work revolves around motivating, stimulating and supporting the associations in building up these activities.

Media details
The meeting is scheduled to take place from 14.00 to 17.00CET on 14 September and from 09.00 to 12.00 on 15 September. It will be followed by a press conference at approximately 12.15 in the same location. Media representatives wishing to attend the press conference must apply for accreditation by emailing accreditations@uefa.ch no later than midday on Monday 14 September, with 'UEFA Exco Nyon' in the subject header. The next meeting of the Executive Committee is scheduled for 10/11 December in Funchal, Madeira (Portugal).