G-14
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The G-14 was an organisation of European football clubs, that existed between 2000 and 2008.
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[edit] Composition
The G-14 clubs were spread across seven different countries, and had won around 250 national league titles between them. Three came from the top division of Italy. England, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain all featured two with one from Portugal. G-14 members had won the European Cup/Champions League 41 times out of 51 seasons.
The 2004 Champions League final was the first in that competition since 1992 in which one of the finalists was not a G-14 member; the 2004 final featured member Porto and non-member AS Monaco. There have been only three Champions League or European Cup finals where both teams were non-members of G-14.
[edit] History
The G-14 was founded in September 2000 by 14 leading clubs to provide a unified voice in negotiations with UEFA and FIFA. New members could join by invitation only. In August 2002, four more clubs joined, taking the membership to 18, although the organisation retained its original name.
As the leading clubs in European Football, their power on the world stage was best demonstrated during the 2006 FIFA World Cup where they provided 22% of participating players.[citation needed] This supported their assertion that national associations should pay players wages whilst on international duty and provide compensation in the case of injuries. In April 2004, G-14 initiated a preliminary investigation into FIFA by the Swiss Competition Commission, when they complained of FIFA's requiring their players to be available for FIFA international competitions without compensating the clubs. FIFA president Sepp Blatter refused to negotiate with the G-14 on the matter.[citation needed]
On September 5, 2005 the G-14 clubs decided to take FIFA to court over paying players for internationals after the Belgian club Charleroi lost Abdelmajid Oulmers in November for eight months when he was injured playing for Morocco.[citation needed]
Prior to the 2006 FIFA World Cup the G-14 members demanded a 'fair percentage' of receipts from tournaments, such as the World Cup to compensate for the clubs releasing players to compete in these tournaments.[1]
The last president of the group was Olympique Lyonnais chairman Jean-Michel Aulas, who replaced David Dein who stepped down after six months of a two year presidency after leaving Arsenal. He was elected president on May 16, 2007, after securing unanimous agreement from member clubs to the principle of expanding the G-14's membership. Aulas announced his intention to consider inviting a further 16 teams to join, stating that he wanted the G14 "to expand geographically and be strengthened by other clubs." [2] [3] In October 2007, 22 additional European clubs were invited to participate in talks towards expansion. [4]
On 28 May 2007, at an extraordinary congress in Zurich, UEFA President Michel Platini called upon G-14 to disband, declaring that they were "elitist" and that club grievances could be aired through a new UEFA body, the Professional Football Strategy Council.[5]
On 15 January 2008 the G-14 and UEFA came to an agreement. FIFA and UEFA would pay compensation for international injuries and selection after a World Cup or European Championship and, in return, the G-14 agreed to disband on February 15, 2008. However a new European Club Association which will feature 100 teams from all 53 UEFA nations, with at least one team from each country, will be set up in its place.[6]
[edit] Members
- Founding members, 2000
Manchester United (England)- Liverpool (England)
Juventus (Italy)- Milan (Italy)
- Internazionale (Italy)
Marseille (France)- Paris Saint-Germain (France)
Bayern Munich (Germany)- Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
Ajax (Netherlands)- PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)
Porto (Portugal)
Barcelona (Spain)- Real Madrid (Spain)
- New members, 2002
[edit] References
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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2007) |
- ^ Nisbet, John. "G14 clubs demand share of World Cup gate receipts", The Independent, 2006-03-23. Retrieved on 2007-05-24.
- ^ Esplin, Ronnie. "New G-14 boss may swell lobby group to 32", ESPNsoccernet, 2007-05-17. Retrieved on 2007-05-24.
- ^ "G14 looks set to expand", RTÉ Sport, 2007-05-16. Retrieved on 2007-08-07.
- ^ "Celts get G14 slot but Gers snubbed", Evening Times, 2007-10-31. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
- ^ "Platini calls for disbandment of 'Elitist' G14", ESPNsoccernet, 2007-05-28. Retrieved on 2007-05-29.
- ^ "G14 to disband after compromise", BBC Sport, 2008-01-15. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
[edit] See Also
[edit] External links
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Members of G-14
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Ajax • Arsenal • FC Barcelona • Bayer Leverkusen • Bayern Munich • Borussia Dortmund • PSV Eindhoven • Internazionale • Juventus • Liverpool • Manchester United • Milan • Lyon • Marseille • Paris Saint-Germain • FC Porto • Real Madrid • Valencia |
