GENEVA: The European Club Association has followed with concern the developments at FIFA over the last few months.

Football clubs are central stakeholders in the professional game and the future governance of the game must include their active engagement and leadership if it is to be effective and stable. The clubs have to be part of the solution.

ECA calls on everybody who loves football to open the doors to real reform and transparency allowing the game to move forward.

As an inherent part of world football, clubs need to play a central role in this reform process alongside other stakeholders. The outcome must be the emergence of a new governance model, which is democratic, transparent, accountable and inclusive and in which clubs occupy a position that reflects their critical contribution to the game.

The recent changes made to the UEFA governance model show clubs playing a more active role in football governance and support club involvement in any future reform at FIFA level.

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