Around 140 club representatives sat at the European Club Association (ECA) general assembly in Istanbul. For Oliver Kahn, Bayern CEO and Vice-Chairman of the ECA Executive Board, Dr. Michael Gerlinger, the German record champions’ vice-president sports business and competitions, and their colleagues, the current and future challenges in European football were on the agenda for two days in this season’s Champions League final host city. Bianca Rech, FC Bayern Women sporting director, was also in attendance in her function as Vice-Chair of the ECA Women’s Football Committee.
Oliver Kahn, CEO: “Now that we have set a milestone with Financial Sustainability, European club football is facing further changes of course. The goal is to develop football in the coming years in such a way that we consolidate its stability. Solidarity payments are an important element of that.”
The club representatives discussed the cooperation between the ECA and UEFA, including the marketing of media rights and solidarity in terms of revenue sharing among clubs. The ECA is also working on the creation of a membership structure specifically for women's clubs and has set up a new sustainability working group, which will look at environmental and social aspects and strategies in club football.