In its January 2026 Position Paper to the European Commission, the UEC warned that structural failures in football governance continue to undermine solidarity and competitive balance. With economic concentration increasing across the game, the organisation called for stronger scrutiny and more effective redistribution mechanisms to protect clubs throughout the football pyramid.
In January 2026, the Union of European Clubs submitted its Position Paper to the European Commission, highlighting structural challenges in European football governance and decision-making that continue to affect solidarity and competitive balance. The paper examined obstacles to the effective implementation of key UEC policy priorities, including player development reward mechanisms, pressures on domestic competitions and media rights, and the impact of current governance arrangements on redistribution within the European Sport Model.
The UEC called on the Commission to make clear that governance, representation and decision-making structures remain the primary barrier to effective solidarity in football, and that the repeated failure to implement additional solidarity reforms amounts to a systemic problem. At a time when economic concentration in football is accelerating and domestic competitions face growing financial pressure, the UEC continues to stress that stronger solidarity mechanisms are essential for the preservation and sustainability of clubs across the wider football pyramid.
