{"id":289016,"date":"2025-11-17T14:24:08","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T14:24:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/289016\/"},"modified":"2025-11-17T14:24:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T14:24:08","slug":"soccer-belongs-to-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/289016\/","title":{"rendered":"Soccer belongs to the world"},"content":{"rendered":"

Soccer is much more than a business. That was the message from Giorgio Marchetti, the Deputy General Secretary of UEFA<\/a>, the governing body for the sport in Europe, during a wide-ranging conversation with Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, founder and global CEO of the Sport Integrity Global Alliance<\/a>, on the current state of the game and the importance of the steps being taken to safeguard its future.<\/p>\n

The interview took place on the opening day of the ESTAAD Conference <\/a>in Saudi Arabia, a dedicated platform for sports, entertainment and large-scale venue and infrastructure development.<\/p>\n

Soccer is rooted in community<\/p>\n

Asked how far soccer should go in its growth and evolution, Marchetti didn\u2019t hesitate: \u201cAs far as possible.\u201d But he quickly added that the game is grounded in \u201ctraditions and community,\u201d and those foundations must be protected. If the business side gets pushed ahead of the sport itself, he warned, the game \u201cwill develop in a negative way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marchetti stressed that the European sports model is vital, describing a structure in which revenue generated at the top supports the grassroots. \u201cWe are one pyramid,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Maintaining competitive balance in soccer<\/p>\n

One of UEFA\u2019s biggest challenges, Marchetti said, is maintaining competitive balance and ensuring uncertainty of outcome. The tendency for the rich to get richer, he explained, is not unique to sport but a global trend influenced by market forces and technological change.<\/p>\n

One way UEFA is addressing the issue is by distributing revenue to clubs that do not participate in its competitions \u2014 the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League. According to Marchetti, the share distributed has risen from 4 percent to 7 percent, with a total of \u20ac1.2 billion ($1.4 billion) allocated. He described this as \u201csolidarity at an unparalleled level.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rise of women\u2019s soccer<\/p>\n

Marchetti also underlined the importance of women\u2019s soccer, saying UEFA is committed to the long-term development of the women\u2019s game. While UEFA plans to invest \u20ac1 billion ($1,2 billion) across its next five-year strategy through 2030, he stressed that leadership and strong structures matter just as much as funding \u2014 \u201cwhich UEFA invested in a long time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

He noted the remarkable growth of women\u2019s soccer at every level, driven not only by UEFA but also by clubs and grassroots initiatives.<\/p>\n

Integrity at the core of sport<\/p>\n

Macedo de Medeiros, whose work with SIGA focuses on advancing integrity in sport, asked what UEFA is doing beyond strengthening its own governance. Marchetti said soccer will lose its appeal if it is not perceived as fully credible. He cited UEFA\u2019s club licensing system, designed to ensure clubs are financially healthy, along with financial sustainability rules.<\/p>\n

Another key development, he said, is that the governance of the game has evolved. Decisions are no longer imposed unilaterally by governing bodies but built through consensus among stakeholders, with formal structures that require consultation with fans and clubs. \u201cThe process is still going on,\u201d Marchetti said, \u201cbut we have to continue.\u201d<\/p>\n

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