FC St. Pauli has become the first German professional club to join UEC, marking another milestone in UEC’s growth. The club shares UEC’s commitment to fairer governance, equal representation and a more balanced European football ecosystem. St. Pauli will actively contribute to UEC’s policy work and participate in the upcoming UEC Football Forum in Brussels.
The Union of European Clubs (UEC) is proud to welcome FC St. Pauli as its newest member — and the first German professional club to join the organisation. The announcement marks a significant milestone in the UEC's growth and reinforces the credibility of its mission to build a fairer, more democratic football ecosystem across the continent.
St. Pauli's membership brings into the UEC one of European football's most recognisable and values-driven clubs, known worldwide for its commitment to social responsibility, community, and integrity in the game. Their decision to join reflects a shared conviction that the challenges facing football — financial imbalance, and concentrated decision-making power.
The club's arrival strengthens the UEC's ability to advocate, with real policy substance, for reforms including the Player Development Reward Policy, the protection of domestic leagues, and the "one club, one vote" governance principle that sits at the heart of the organisation.
Ovidiu Costesin, President of the Union of European Clubs, said:
"St. Pauli joining the UEC is a landmark moment for this organisation. They are a club respected far beyond Germany's borders for standing by their principles, and their decision to join us sends a powerful signal to the rest of European football: real, substantive change is not just possible — it is already gathering pace. We welcome them not as a name on a membership list, but as a partner who will help lead this fight."
Dennis Gudasic, General Secretary and Co-Founder of the Union of European Clubs, said:
"This is exactly the kind of growth the UEC was built for — not growth for its own sake, but growth around real policies that change outcomes for clubs across the entire pyramid. With St. Pauli at the table, our voice on that reform, on clubs of all sizes, and on fair governance gets stronger. We're proud to have them with us."
The UEC looks forward to working closely with FC St. Pauli in the coming period including through the club's active participation in shaping UEC policy and its presence at the upcoming UEC Football Forum in Brussels.
