World Leagues Forum statement

The World Leagues Forum (WLF) Steering Group met today (Tue 8 May 2018) in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Amongst a number of issues, the WLF addressed FIFA’s proposed plans to create two new football competitions (a revamped Club World Cup and a Global Nations League). After the meeting the WLF issued the following statement:

“The Steering Group of the World Leagues Forum have agreed that plans for extending any competitions which impact negatively upon the already congested match calendar will be vigorously opposed.

“Likewise, any plans for a club competition that lead to a disruption of competitive balance within domestic leagues will be resisted. We will be making fuller representations directly to FIFA on behalf of all members of the World Leagues Forum.

“The Steering Group also endorsed attempts to improve the regulation of agents and better rewarding of clubs through compensation for training young players. The Leagues also agreed that the full collection of payments due to clubs under the rules of solidarity contribution should be a priority.”

 

The World Leagues Forum (WLF) is the world association of professional football leagues. It represents 36 members from around the World, listed below. Its Steering Group is made up of the 12 leagues underlined. 

Asian Football Confederation (AFC):

J LEAGUE (Japan), QATAR STARS LEAGUE (Qatar), SAUDI PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE (Saudi Arabia), MALAYSIA LLP (Malaysia), AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CLUBS ASSOCIATION (Australia)

Confederation of African Football (CAF):

LIGUE DE FOOTBALL PROFESSIONNEL (Algeria), PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE (South Africa), KENYAN PREMIER LEAGUE (Kenya), NIGERIA PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (Nigeria), LIGUE DE FOOTBALL GUINEENNE (Guinea)

Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF):

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER (USA), LIGA MX (Mexico), LIGA NACIONAL DE FÚTBOL PROFESIONAL HONDURAS (Honduras), UNAFUT COSTA RICA (Costa Rica), LIGA PANAMENA DE FUTBOL (Panama)

South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL):

DIMAYOR (Colombia), LIGA BOLIVIANA DE FÚTBOL (Bolivia), SUPERLIGA (Argentina),

Union of European Football Associations (UEFA):

SERIE A (Italy), LA LIGA (Spain), DFL DEUTSCHE FUSSBALL LIGA (Germany), LIGUE DE FOOTBALL PROFESSIONNEL (France), PREMIER LEAGUE (England), EREDIVISIE (The Netherlands), DIVISIONSFORENINGEN (Denmark), FORENINGEN SVENSK ELITFOTBOLL (Sweden), LIGA PORTUGUESA DE FUTEBOL PROFISSIONAL (Portugal), SWISS FOOTBALL LEAGUE (Switzerland), SCOTTISH PROFESSIONNAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (Scotland), EKSTRAKLASA (Poland), SUPER LIGA SRBIJE (Serbia), UKRAINIAN PREMIER LEAGUE (Ukraine), ISRAELI PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUES (Israel), LIGA PROFESIONISTA DE FOTBAL (Romania), PRO LEAGUE (Belgium), RUSSIAN FOOTBALL PREMIER LEAGUE (Russia).