ECA Board meets in Madrid as membership reaches 620 clubs

Doha, Qatar: Chaired by Nasser Al Khelaifi, the 37 strong European Club Association (ECA) Board met yesterday at the Civitas Metropolitan Stadium, Mad...

Doha, Qatar: Chaired by Nasser Al Khelaifi, the 37-strong European Club Association (ECA) Board met yesterday at the Civitas Metropolitan Stadium, Madrid, hosted by ECA Board and ExCo member Miguel Ángel Gil.

In attendance at the Board was LaLiga President Javier Tebas, who spoke on the common ambition to protect football and jointly face the challenges that lie ahead, including the threat to football posed by the theft of audio-visual rights, quoting estimated revenue losses of 30-35%.

In his opening address, ECA Chairman Nasser Al Khelaifi commended the rapid growth in ECA membership as the Association continues adding new members daily, including women’s clubs and clubs from all first divisions across Europe.

Commenting on the meeting and growth of membership ECA, Chairman Nasser Al Khelaifi said: “ECA continues to go from strength to strength. As well as seeing our membership grow to 620 clubs, up from 266 members in July, we have advanced our key strategic joint ventures with UEFA and FIFA, while also building on our offering to clubs through delivering a number of new and exciting events and services.

“However, there is still much to be done, with many ongoing strategic initiatives that will enable us collectively to build an ECA that is better placed than ever to serve and defend European clubs of all sizes.”