European Club Association
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The European Club Association (ECA) is an organisation representing football clubs in Europe. Formed on the dissolution of the G-14 group in January 2008, it will have 103 members, with at least one from each of the 53 national associations. The precise number of clubs from each member association will be established every two years at the end of the UEFA season on the basis of the UEFA ranking of its member associations according to the following principles. The three highest-ranking associations will have five clubs; the next three, four clubs; the associations ranked from 7th to 15th will each have three clubs; associations ranked from 16th to 26th will have two clubs; and those remaining associations will have one club. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge will be the first chairman.[1] [2]
In addition to replacing the G-14, which was dissolved in favour of the ECA on February 15, 2008[3], the new ECA also replaces UEFA's European Club Forum (of which Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was also chairman).[4] [5] The European Club Forum currently has 102 members picked every two years on the same basis as will be used for selecting the members of the ECA.[6]
Under a memorandum of understanding signed by UEFA, the ECA would be recognized as the sole body representing the interests of clubs at European level. As part of the memorandum of understanding UEFA also agreed to distribute every four years an amount from the European Championship to national associations for them to pass on to their clubs who have contributed to the successful staging of a European Championship. The target distribution amount for Euro 2008 is €43.5 million ($62.8 million), with the payments made on a 'per day per player' basis of approximately €4,000.[1] As part of the planned moves, UEFA and FIFA will also enter into a series of commitments to the clubs, including financial contributions for player participation in European Championships and World Cups, subject to the approval of their respective bodies. [4]
It was agreed that a transitional ECA Board would represent the ECA and its 16 founding members until the next general assembly meets at the end of the season, when elections for a new Executive Board will be held. The ECA Board will comprise eleven members, plus the four representatives appointed by the Executive Board to the UEFA Professional Football Strategy Council. The ECA will also provide half of the members of the UEFA Club Competitions Committee.[2]
The transitional ECA Board is: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (chairman; FC Bayern München), Joan Laporta (vice-chairman; FC Barcelona), Umberto Gandini (AC Milan), Peter Kenyon (Chelsea FC), Maarten Fontein (AFC Ajax) and Jean-Michel Aulas (Olympique Lyonnais).[2]
[edit] Founding members in 2008
| Nationality | Football Club | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
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R.S.C. Anderlecht | www.rsca.be |
 |
NK Dinamo Zagreb | www.nk-dinamo.hr |
 |
F.C. Copenhagen | www.fck.dk |
 |
Chelsea F.C. | www.chelseafc.com |
|
Manchester United F.C. | www.manutd.com |
 |
Olympique Lyonnais | www.olweb.fr |
 |
FC Bayern Munich | www.fcbayern.de |
 |
Olympiacos F.C. | www.olympiacos.org |
 |
Juventus F.C. | www.juventus.com |
|
A.C. Milan | www.acmilan.com |
 |
Birkirkara F.C. | www.birkirkarafc.com |
 |
AFC Ajax | www.ajax.nl |
 |
F.C. Porto | www.fcporto.pt |
 |
Rangers F.C. | www.rangers.co.uk |
 |
Real Madrid C.F. | www.realmadrid.com |
|
FC Barcelona | www.fcbarcelona.cat |
[edit] Other members
[edit] References
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Founding Members of the ECA
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|---|
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Ajax • Anderlecht • Barcelona • Bayern Munich • Birkirkara • Chelsea • Copenhagen • Dinamo Zagreb • Juventus • Lyon • Manchester United • Milan • Olympiacos • Porto • Rangers • Real Madrid |
