UEFA Survey on Professional League Organisations 2009/10
UEFA Professional Footbal l Services
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CONTENTS
Introduction ...... 4 1.1 Background...... 4 1.2 Purpose...... 4 1.3 Definitions ...... 4 2. Different Types of League Organisations ...... 5 2.1 The Association of European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL)...... 5 2.2 Premier Professional League Organisations in Europe ...... 5 2.3 Non-Premier Professional League Organisations in Europe...... 6 2.4 Other Groups of Clubs in Europe...... 6 3. League Structures...... 7 3.1 Legal Forms...... 7 3.2 Status of Players of Member Clubs...... 8 3.3 Number of Member Clubs...... 9 4. League Organisation...... 13 4.1 President/Chairman ...... 13 4.2 Assembly/Congress and Board/Management Committee ...... 15 4.3 Number of Employees ...... 17 4.4 Direct Influence in National Association...... 17 5. League Competences ...... 19 5.1 Fixture Scheduling ...... 19 5.2 Commercial Sales...... 20 5.3 Refereeing ...... 20 5.4 Disciplinary...... 21 5.5 Summary of Organisational Competences ...... 21 5.6 Representation...... 23 5.7 Competitions & Sponsorship...... 24 6. League Domestic Competition...... 28 6.1 Promotion and Relegation...... 28 7. Guidance for the Reader...... 30 7.1 Interpretation of the Data ...... 30 7.2 Limitations of the Report ...... 30 7.3 Survey Methodology ...... 30 7.4 Response Rate ...... 31 7.5 Further Information ...... 31 Annex 1 EPFL Members and Associate Members...... 32 Annex 2 Countries without a Separate Professional League Organisation...... 33 Annex 3 Summary Table of All Countries ...... 34
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Annex 4 Transfer Periods 2009-2010...... 35 Annex 5 EPFL Transfer Periods 2009-2010...... 36 Annex 6 League Foundation Dates...... 40 Annex 7 Questionnaire ...... 41
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Introduction
1.1 Background • UEFA has in the past conducted a survey into the different professional league organisations existing across the UEFA Member Associations.
• This survey gathers information detailing organisational, political and legal structures, as well as league competences.
1.2 Purpose • The purpose of this survey is to ensure that knowledge and information about professional leagues is current, relevant, accurate and disseminated for the benefit of the football family.
• In order to make informed decisions when formulating new policies or regulations, current and up-to-date information about leagues is important so that any potential implications can be anticipated and considered in an informed way.
• Thus this report aims to inform and educate all of those within the football family and other stakeholders with facts and trends to assist in understanding the importance and roles of the football leagues.
1.3 Definitions • According to the UEFA Statutes (Edition June 2007), a league is defined as the following:
“'League': a combination of clubs within a territory of a Member Association and which is subordinate to and under the authority of that Member Association.” – Definition of Terms, UEFA Statutes (Edition June 2007)
• UEFA Member Associations have certain obligations regarding leagues:
“Leagues or any other groups of clubs at Member Association level shall only be permitted with the Association’s express consent and shall be subordinate to it. The Association’s statutes shall define the powers apportioned to any such group, as well as its rights and obligations. The statutes and regulations of any such group shall be subject to the approval of the Association.” – Article 7 bis , 3 of the UEFA Statutes (Edition June 2007)
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2. Different Types of League Organisations
• In order to reflect the different categories of league organisations we have made various distinctions which may allow different comparisons as follows:
2.1 The Association of European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) • The Association of European Professional Football Leagues (hereafter “EPFL”) is an association of 23 members and 6 associate members, comprising 23 premier professional football leagues, four non-premier professional football leagues plus two other associations of clubs from across Europe. A complete list of EPFL Members is located in Annex 11.
• The EPFL has a formal relationship with UEFA which is recognised in a Memorandum of Understanding first signed in 1998. A revised Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the leagues and UEFA in 2005, and on 24 March 2009, the EPFL and UEFA signed and amended Memorandum of Understanding.
2.2 Premier Professional League Organisations in Europe • In addition to the 23 premier professional football leagues belonging to the EPFL, there are also several additional leagues recognised by their National Associations who can be classed as “Premier Professional League Organisations,” but who are not members of the EPFL. These leagues are defined as such according to the responses received from the Member Associations/Leagues to the UEFA Survey of Professional League Organisations.
• There is no formal relationship with these leagues; however they may occasionally be directly informed by UEFA about important and relevant issues. These leagues are listed in Table 1 below:
Table 1: Premier Professional Leagues not belonging to the EPFL Country League Organisation Association of Professional Clubs of the First Croatia Croatian Football League Georgia Georgian Professional Football League Serbia Union of Football Clubs of Super League Slovakia League Clubs Union Turkey Association of Turkish Super League Clubs
1 Please note that after the initial research of this report the Welsh Premier League ceased to be a member of the EPFL. However, the Welsh Premier League is included in the EPFL sample for the calculations and purpose of this report.
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2.3 Non-Premier Professional League Organisations in Europe • In some countries there exist additional league organisations which are recognised by the National Associations and who also organise professional league competitions. These organisations are listed in Table 2:
Table 2: Non-Premier League Organisations in Europe Country League Organisation Belgium Ligue Nationale de Football England The Football League Greece Professional Football League B & C Division Italy Lega Pro Netherlands Jupiler League (Eerste Divisie) Russia Association of Professional Football Leagues Scotland The Scottish Football League Ukraine Professional Football League of Ukraine
2.4 Other Groups of Clubs in Europe • There exist in some countries additional club organisations which are recognised by the National Association but which exist for other specific reasons and handle additional or separate tasks. Examples are the Union des Clubs Professionnels de Football (UCPF) in France and the Federatie van Betaald Voetbal Organisaties (FBO) in the Netherlands.
• Additionally, there are many countries where no “separate” professional league organisation exists. In these countries the National Association is responsible for all the activities carried out by professional league organisations.
• In this year’s survey, there are 28 countries where at least one professional league organisation exists and 25 countries where no separate league organisation exists (where everything is run by the National Association). The latter countries are listed in Annex 2.
• A timeline detailing the foundation dates of professional European Leagues is presented in Annex 6.
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3. League Structures
• This section compiles and analyses the different legal structures of 36 European professional league organisations.
• In this section we present information regarding the following:
o Legal forms: association, limited company, etc. o Status of players of member clubs: professional, semi-professional, etc. o Number of clubs 2: within the premier and non-premier league organisations o Number of divisions and the number of teams within divisions
• The following analysis compares all 36 professional leagues within three groupings: all 36 leagues, the 27 league members of the EPFL 3 and the 7 leagues in the “Big 5” European football nations 4.
3.1 Legal Forms • Here we present the number of leagues and proportion by legal form for each grouping:
Figure 1: Legal Form of the Premier and Non-Premier Professional League Organisations
100% 3 90% 9 (15%) (25%) 80% 3 7 (43%) 70% (26%) 7 (19%) 60% OTHER LIMITED COMPANY 50% ASSOCIATION
40%
16 30% 20 4 (59%) (56%) (57%) 20%
10%
0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 36 LEAGUES
2 Please note that the number of clubs does not necessarily correspond to the number of teams . For example, many Bundesliga and La Liga clubs field “B” teams in lower divisions; thus a club like Bayern München would count as one club but it has two teams: Bayern München and Bayern München II. 3 Note that the UCPF and the FBO (other groups of clubs) are not included in these statistical analyses. 4 England: Premier League and Football League; France: Ligue de Football Professionnel; Spain: Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional; Germany: Deutsche Fussball Liga; Italy: Lega Nazionale Professionisti and Lega Italiana Calcio Professionistico (Lega Pro).
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3.2 Status of Players of Member Clubs • The following graphics are about the status of players in the professional leagues:
Figure 2: Status of Players in Member Clubs in Premier and Non-Premier Professional Leagues
100% 1 (3%) 1 (4%) 5 90% (14%)
80% 5 11 (50%) 70% (48%)
60%
PART-TIME PROFESSIONAL AND 50% AMATEUR FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME 30 2 PROFESSIONAL 40% (83%) (20%) ALL FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL
30% 11
20% (48%) 3 (30%) 10%
0% D1 D2 D3 SAMPLE SIZE: 36 LEAGUES Figure 3: Status of Players in Member Clubs in EPFL Member Leagues
100% 1 (4%) 1 (6%) 2 (7%) 90%
80% 7 (39%) 4 70% (57%)
60%
50% PART-TIME PROFESSIONAL AND 24 AMATEUR (89%) FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME 40% 1 PROFESSIONAL (14%) ALL FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL 30% 10 (55%) 20% 2
10% (29%)
0% D1 D2 D3 SAMPLE SIZE: 27 LEAGUES
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3.3 Number of Member Clubs
• Below we describe the composition of the leagues and divisions.
• Please note however that the total number of member clubs may differ than the sum of teams across the divisions. This is because not all teams are members of a league.
• For example in Georgia there are 25 teams across the top two divisions but only 12 members of the league.
Figure 4: Average Number of Member Clubs in Professional Leagues
49 50
40 36 33 31 30 26 26 24 22
20
10
0 AVERAGE NUMBER OF AVERAGE NUMBER OF AVG NUMBER OF AVG NUMBER OF AVERAGE NUMBER OF AVG NUMBER OF AVG NUMBER OF AVERAGE NUMBER OF CLUBS IN BIG 5 CLUBS IN BIG 5 CLUBS IN EPFL CLUBS IN PREMIER & CLUBS IN NON-BIG 5 CLUBS IN EPFL CLUBS IN PREMIER CLUBS IN NON-BIG 5 PREMIER AND NON- PREMIER LEAGUES LEAGUES (MEMBERS NON-PREMIER PREMIER & NON- PREMIER LEAGUES LEAGUES PREMIER LEAGUES PREMIER LEAGUES & ASSOC MEMBERS) PROFESSIONAL PREMIER LEAGUES LEAGUES SAMPLE SIZE: 1113 MEMBER CLUBS/36 LEAGUES
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Figure 5: Number of Member Clubs in Premier and Non-Premier Professional League Organisations
140 132
117 120 NON-PREMIER LEAGUE
PREMIER LEAGUE 100 92
90 80 70 101 60 59 60 72 47 42 42 54 40 38 40 36 35 43 32 32 32 60 26 30 20 23 47 19 20 42 42 18 18 18 16 16 16 20 40 36 14 32 32 32 12 10 26 23 16 20 16 16 18 16 20 18 18 18 16 16 16 12 14 12 10 0 ITA RUS ENG GRE DEN UKR BUL ESP SCO FRA NED GER BEL NOR POR SWE SUI SVK AUT ROM TUR WAL CRO POL SRB FIN GEO SVN SAMPLE SIZE: 1113 MEMBER CLUBS/36 LEAGUES
Figure 6: Total Number of Member Clubs and Number of Teams by Division for Premier Professional European League Organisations
60 60
PREMIER LEAGUE D3 TEAMS 50 47 PREMIER LEAGUE D2 TEAMS PREMIER LEAGUE D1 TEAMS 32 42 42 40 40 36 32 32 32 31 22 22 30 20 26 18 12 23 16 16 16 20 20 20 16 18 18 18 18 16 11 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 15 12 14 12 10 10 20 20 20 20 18 18 18 18 18 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 14 12 12 12 10 10 10 10
0 DEN BUL ITA ESP FRA GER NOR POR SWE SUI SVK ENG AUT NED ROM TUR WAL RUS GRE UKR BEL CRO POL SRB FIN SCO GEO SVN SAMPLE SIZE: 684 MEMBER CLUBS
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Figure 7: Range of the Number of Member Clubs in Premier and Non-Premier Professional League Organisations
120
100 MAXIMUM 101 101
90
80
60
49
40 34 AVERAGE 31
20 20
10 10 MINIMUM 0 ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 1113 MEMBER CLUBS/36 LEAGUES Figure 8: Range of the Number of Member Clubs in Premier Professional League Organisations
70
60 MAXIMUM 60 60
50
42 40 36
30 26 AVERAGE 24 20 20
10 MINIMUM 10 10
0 ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 684 MEMBER CLUBS/28 LEAGUES
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Figure 9: Range in the Number of Clubs in the First Division of Premier Professional League Organisations
25
20 MAXIMUM 20 20 20 19.6 18 16 15 AVERAGE 16
10 MINIMUM 10 10
5
0 ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 436 MEMBER CLUBS/28 LEAGUES
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4. League Organisation
4.1 President/Chairman Figure 10: Proportion of League Chairmen/Presidents with a Position at a Member Club
100% 1 90% 7 (14%) 14 (26%) 80% (39%)
70%
60%
50% YES 6 NO 40% 20 (86%) 22 (74%) 30% (61%)
20%
10%
0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 36 LEAGUES
Figure 11: League Chairman/President's Role in the National Association
100% 2 (6%) 2 (7%) 1 90% (17%) 8 80% (22%) 7 (26%) 1 (17%) 70%
60% 10 6 (28%) OTHER (22%) 50% NONE
40% BOARD 4 MEMBER 30% (67%) VICE PRESIDENT 16 12 20% (44%) (44%)
10%
0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 36 LEAGUES
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Figure 12: Average Length of the League President’s Mandate
6
5 MAXIMUM 5 5
4 4 3.8
3 3 3 AVERAGE 3
2
1 MINIMUM 1 1
0 ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES NOTE: The Chairman of the English Premier League (which is not part of this sample) has a mandate with no fixed duration. SAMPLE SIZE: 33 LEAGUES
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4.2 Assembly/Congress and Board/Management Committee Figure 13: Average Number of Members in the League's Assembly/Congress
100 MAXIMUM 101 101
80 72
60
40 39 31 AVERAGE 29
20 18
MINIMUM 8 8
0 ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 36 LEAGUES
Figure 14: Voting System of the League's Assembly/Congress
100% 1 (3%)
90% 8 7 (22%) (26%) 80% 3 (43%) 70%
60%
OTHER 50% WEIGHTED VOTE 1 MEMBER, 1 VOTE 40% 27 20 (75%) (74%) 30% 4 (57%) 20%
10%
0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 36 LEAGUES
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Figure 15: Number of Members in the League's Board/Management/Executive Committee
35
MAXIMUM 31 31 30
25 25
20
15 13 11 10 AVERAGE 10
5
2 MINIMUM 1 1 0 ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 33 LEAGUES
Figure 16: Voting System of the League's Board
100% 1 (4%) 2 (6%) 1 1 (3%) 90% (14%)
80%
70%
60% OTHER 50% 25 31 WEIGHTED VOTE (96%) 6 (91%) 1 MEMBER, 1 VOTE 40% (86%)
30%
20%
10%
0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 34 LEAGUES
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4.3 Number of Employees Figure 17: Number of Full-time Employees
70
MAXIMUM 62 62 62 60
50
43 40
30
20 21 20 AVERAGE 18
10
MINIMUM 0 0 0 ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 34 LEAGUES
4.4 Direct Influence in National Association Figure 18: Percentage of Votes/Seats League has in the Congress/General Assembly of the National Association
100% 2 4 (9%) (14%) 2 5 80% 5 (33%) (23%) (18%)
60% MORE THAN 30% 9 7 BETWEEN 20% & 30% (32%) (32%) BETWEEN 10 AND 20% 3 LESS THAN 10% 40% (50%)
20% 10 8 (36%) (36%) 1 (17%) 0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 28 LEAGUES
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Figure 19: Percentage of Votes/Seats the League has in the Board/Executive Committee of the National Association
100% 3 1 (5%) 90% (13%)
6 2 80% 6 (30%) (40%) (25%) 70%
60% MORE THAN 30% 6 6 BETWEEN 20% & 30% 50% (25%) (30%) BETWEEN 10 AND 20% LESS THAN 10% 40%
3 30% (60%)
20% 9 7 (38%) (35%) 10%
0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 24 LEAGUES
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5. League Competences
• Professional league organisations are generally responsible for two main areas of competence:
1) Championship organisation; and 2) League member representation.
• In some instances, the competences are shared with the national association; in other instances the league is wholly responsible.
• The sections below illustrate the league competences in Europe for 2009/10.
5.1 Fixture Scheduling Figure 20: Percentage and Number of Professional League Organisations: Fixture Scheduling
100% 5 3 (11%) 90% (14%) 4 5 80% (15%) (14%)
70%
60% 7 NO 50% (100%) PARTIALLY YES 40% 26 20 (72%) (74%) 30%
20%
10%
0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 36 LEAGUES
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5.2 Commercial Sales Figure 21: Percentage and Number of Professional League Organisations: Commercial Rights Sales
100% 4 3 1 (11%) (11%) 90% (14%)
80% 9 (25%) 9 70% (33%) 3 60% (43%)
NO 50% PARTIALLY YES 40% 23 30% (64%) 15 (56%) 3 20% (43%)
10%
0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 36 LEAGUES
5.3 Refereeing Figure 22: Percentage and Number of Professional League Organisations: Refereeing
100%
90%
80%
70% 27 5 21 (71%) 60% (75%) (78%)
NO 50% PARTIALLY YES 40%
30%
20% 7 2 (19%) 6 (29%) 10% (22%) 2 (6%) 0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 36 LEAGUES
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5.4 Disciplinary Figure 23: Percentage and Number of Professional League Organisations: Disciplinary
100%
90%
80% 20 16 70% (56%) (59%) 5 60% (71%)
NO 50% PARTIALLY YES 40% 7 (19%) 5 30% (19%) 1 20% (14%) 9 6 10% (25%) (22%) 1 (14%) 0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 36 LEAGUES 5.5 Summary of Organisational Competences Figure 24: Professional League Organisation Competences - All Leagues
100% 5 4 90% (14%) (11%)
5 80% 9 (14%) (25%) 20 70% (56%) 27 60% (75%)
50% NO PARTIALLY 40% 26 7 YES 23 (72%) (19%) 30% (64%)
20% 7 9 (19%) 10% (25%) 2 (6%) 0% FIXTURE SCHEDULING COMMERCIAL SALES REFEREEING DISCIPLINARY SAMPLE SIZE: 36 LEAGUES
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Figure 25: Professional League Organisation Competences - EPFL
100% 3 3
90% (11%) (11%) 4 80% (15%) 9 16 70% (33%) (59%) 21 60% (78%)
NO 50% PARTIALLY YES 40% 20 (74%) 5 30% 15 (19%) (56%) 20% 6 6 10% (22%) (22%)
0% FIXTURE SCHEDULING COMMERCIAL SALES REFEREEING DISCIPLINARY SAMPLE SIZE: 27 LEAGUES
Figure 26: Professional League Organisation Competences - Big 5 Countries
100% 1 90% (14%)
80%
70% 3 5 5 (43%) (71%) (72%) 60%
7 50% NO (100%) PARTIALLY 40% YES
30% 3 1 20% (43%) (14%) 2 (29%) 10% 1 (14%) 0% FIXTURE SCHEDULING COMMERCIAL SALES REFEREEING DISCIPLINARY SAMPLE SIZE: 7 LEAGUES
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5.6 Representation Figure 27: Number of Professional League Organisations Recognised as the Representative of the Employers
100% 1 5 90% 9 (14%) (19%) (25%) 80%
70%
60%
50% 6 NO 22 40% 27 (86%) YES (81%) (75%) 30%
20%
10%
0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 36 LEAGUES
Figure 28: Number of Countries with a National Collective Bargaining Agreement
100% 1 90% (14%) 9 14 80% (35%) (40%)
70%
60%
50% NO 6 YES 40% (86%) 17 21 30% (65%) (60%)
20%
10%
0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 35 LEAGUES
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Figure 29: Number of Countries with a National Standard Player's Contract
100% 5 2 (8%) 90% (14%)
80%
70%
60% 6 50% NO 24 (100%) YES 30 (92%) 40% (86%)
30%
20%
10%
0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 35 LEAGUES
5.7 Competitions & Sponsorship Figure 30: Number of Professional League Organisations that organise a League Cup
100%
90%
80% 3 (43%) 70% 25 18 (69%) (67%) 60%
50% NO
40% YES
30% 4 (57%) 20% 11 9 (31%) (33%) 10%
0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 36 LEAGUES
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Figure 31: Number of Professional League Organisations that have a Main Sponsor
100%
90% 11 10 (31%) 3 80% (37%) (43%) 70%
60%
50% NO YES 40% 25 17 (69%) 4 30% (63%) (57%) 20%
10%
0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 36 LEAGUES
Figure 32: Categories of Main League Sponsors 100%
4 90% 6 1 (21%) (22%) (25%) 80% 2 2 (7%) OTHER 70% (11%) 2 5 1 RETAIL (11%) 60% (19%) (25%) TELECOMMUNICATIONS/ 50% MEDIA 5 5 LOTTERY/GAMBLING (26%) 40% (19%) ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES 30% 2 5 2 BANKING/FINANCIAL SVC (11%) (50%) 20% (19%) 4 10% 4 (21%) (15%) 0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES Note: The Austrian Bundesliga has three main sponsors so the total number of sponsors will be 27 while the total number of Leagues is 25 SAMPLE SIZE: 25 LEAGUES
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Figure 33: Number of Professional League Organisations that allow Artificial Turf
100%
90% 11 9 2 (31%) 80% (35%) (33%)
70%
60%
NO 50% YES
40% 24 17 4 (69%) 30% (65%) (67%)
20%
10%
0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 35 LEAGUES
Figure 34: Number of Professional League Organisations that have a Ball Sponsor
100%
90% 8 13 80% (31%) (38%)
70%
60% 6 50% NO (100%) YES 40% 18 21 30% (69%) (62%)
20%
10%
0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 34 LEAGUES
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Figure 35: Categories of Ball Sponsors
100%
4 3 1 90% (20%) (18%) (17%)
80% 2 1 2 (10%) (12%) (17%) 70% 1 (5%) 1 (6%) OTHER 1 60% 3 3 MITRE (17%) (15%) (18%) UMBRO 50% PUMA 3 1 ADIDAS 40% (15%) 3 (17%) NIKE (18%) 30%
20% 7 2 5 (25%) (33%) (29%) 10%
0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 20 LEAGUES
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6. League Domestic Competition
6.1 Promotion and Relegation Figure 36: Percentage of Clubs within Division 1 Relegated to Division 2 (including automatic and play-offs)
30%
25% MAXIMUM 25% 25%
20%
17% 15% AVERAGE 15% 15% 15%
13%
10% MINIMUM 8% 8%
5%
0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 36 LEAGUES
Figure 37: Percentage of Clubs within Division 2 Promoted to Division 1 (including automatic and play-offs) 25%
20% MAXIMUM 20% 19%
17% 15% 15% AVERAGE 13% 13% 13%
10%
MINIMUM 6% 6% 5%
0% ALL LEAGUES EPFL BIG 5 COUNTRIES SAMPLE SIZE: 36 LEAGUES
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Figure 38: Percentage of Leagues Holding Playoffs for Promotion or Relegation Spots
BIG 5 COUNTRIES 57%
EPFL 59%
ALL LEAGUES 58%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% SAMPLE SIZE: 36 LEAGUES
Figure 39: Proportion of Leagues that Changed Size since 2005/06
PERCENTAGE OF LEAGUES 0% THAT INCREASED SIZE SINCE BIG 5 COUNTRIES 2005/06 0% PERCENTAGE OF LEAGUES THAT REDUCED SIZE SINCE 2005/06
22% EPFL 15%
25% ALL LEAGUES 17%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% SAMPLE SIZE: 36 LEAGUES
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7. Guidance for the Reader
7.1 Interpretation of the Data • Specific data contained within this report should refer to the 2009/10 season, or to the 2009 season for those countries with league competitions held in the summer months.
• Because of their commercial market size and historical legacy, the “big five” countries of England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain merit a separate analysis compared to EPFL and non-EPFL professional leagues.
• The distinction between premier and non-premier leagues is purely to draw a distinction between separate leagues in the same country.
7.2 Limitations of the Report • Certain questions rely on self-definition from the respondent. Therefore, there is the possibility for differences in the responses. In any case of evident doubt or ambiguity, we have excluded the specific questionnaire response from the results of the item in question. Furthermore, some respondents did not answer every question, leaving some unanswered, which explains the different sample sizes. This will account for the different totals in the various responses contained herein.
• Certain questions by their nature may have required the respondent to make estimates (e.g. “Number of professional clubs”). Therefore, these responses may contain estimates from the respondents.
• For confidentiality or other reasons, most points have not been linked to individual national associations/leagues in this report.
• The survey is intended to provide accurate and relevant information but not to interpret or comment on information.
• The responses to the questionnaire that are summarised in this report represent the responses of the respondents to the survey, not the view(s) of UEFA. There can be no guarantee of the accuracy or veracity of the information contained herein and/or any decisions taken based on such information are not UEFA’s responsibility.
7.3 Survey Methodology • The questionnaire (see Annex 7) was sent in July 2009 to (a) all 53 UEFA member associations and (b) all league organisations listed from the previous survey.
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7.4 Response Rate • Reponses were received from 48 of the 53 UEFA countries surveyed. Four of the non-respondents were very small countries known to not have separate professional league organisations.
• The individual respondents varied, depending on whom within the national association and/or league was best placed to respond.
7.5 Further Information • In subsequent years, the scope of this survey could be expanded or altered. With this in mind, all comments, criticisms, corrections, thoughts and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated by the UEFA Administration. We thank Jair Bertoni of the EPFL for his comments and input into the draft version of this document.
• For distribution of this report beyond the original recipient(s) from UEFA, we kindly request that you ask UEFA beforehand.
• For sourcing, please cite UEFA Survey on Professional League Organisations 2009/10 .
• Further copies of this document are available on request by emailing Stephanie Leach at stephanie.leach@uefa.ch or calling +41 22 707 2399
• No external costs (e.g. professional services, printing, etc.) have been incurred in the production of this report. All costs are covered by the ongoing running costs of the UEFA Administration.
For any questions on the content of this report, please contact the UEFA Professional Services Unit on +41 22 707 2399.
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Annex 1 EPFL Members and Associate Members
COUNTRY MEMBER ASSOCIATE MEMBER Österreichische Fussball AUSTRIA Bundesliga
BELGIUM Pro League
Bulgarian Professional Football BULGARIA League
DENMARK Divisionsforeningen
ENGLAND The Premier League The Football League
FINLAND Veikkausliiga
Union des Clubs Professionnels de Football FRANCE Ligue de Football Professionnel (UCPF)
GERMANY Deutsche Fussball-Liga
GREECE Super League Greece
ITALY Lega Nazionale Professionisti Lega Italiana Calcio Professionistico (Lega Pro)
Federatie van Betaald Voetbal Organisaties NETHERLANDS Eredivisie NV (FBO)
NORWAY Norsk Toppfotball
Ekstraklasa SA/Polish Professional POLAND Football League
Liga Portuguesa de Futebol PORTUGAL Profissional
ROMANIA Liga Profesionista de Fotbal
RUSSIA Russian Premier Football League Association of Professional Football Leagues
SCOTLAND The Scottish Premier League
The Union of the First Slovenian SLOVENIA Football League
SPAIN Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional
SWEDEN Föreningen Svensk Elitfotboll
SWITZERLAND Swiss Football League
Union of Professional Football Clubs of Ukraine UKRAINE Ukrainian Premier League "Professional Football League"
WALES 5 The Welsh Premier League Source: EPFL
5 Since the research of this report, the Welsh Premier League is no longer a member of the EPFL.
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Annex 2 Countries without a Separate Professional League Organisation
COUNTRY LEAGUE ALBANIA Kategoria Superiore
ANDORRA Primera Division
ARMENIA Premier League
AZERBAIJAN Premyer Liqasi
BELARUS Premier League
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA Premier Liga
CYPRUS 1. Division
CZECH REPUBLIC Gambrinus Liga
ESTONIA Meistriliiga
FAROE ISLANDS Meistaradeildin
HUNGARY National Championship I
ICELAND Úrvalsdeild
ISRAEL Ligat Al
KAZAKHSTAN Super League
LATVIA Virsliga
No League (Clubs are LIECHTENSTEIN integrated into the Swiss pyramid)
LITHUANIA A Lyga
LUXEMBOURG National Division
F.Y.R. MACEDONIA First League
MALTA Premier League
MOLDOVA National Division
MONTENEGRO First League
NORTHERN IRELAND Premiership
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND League of Ireland
SAN MARINO Campionato
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Annex 3 Summary Table of All Countries
COUNTRY EPFL MEMBER EPFL ASSOCIATE MEMBER NON-EPFL MEMBER NO SEPARATE LEAGUE ALBANIA Kategoria Superiore ANDORRA Primera Division ARMENIA Premier League Österreichische Fussball AUSTRIA Bundesliga AZERBAIJAN Premyer Liqasi BELARUS Premier League BELGIUM Pro League Ligue Nationale de Football BOSNIA & HERZ. Premier Liga Bulgarian Professional BULGARIA Football League CROATIA Prva Liga CYPRUS 1. Division CZECH REPUBLIC Gambrinus Liga DENMARK Divisionsforeningen ENGLAND The Premier League The Football League ESTONIA Meistriliiga F.Y.R. MACEDONIA FAROE ISLANDS Meistaradeildin FINLAND Veikkausliiga Ligue de Football Union des Clubs FRANCE Professionnel Professionnels de Football GEORGIA Umaglesi Liga Professional Football GERMANY Deutsche Fussball-Liga League B & C Division GREECE Super League Greece HUNGARY National Championship I ICELAND Úrvalsdeild ISRAEL Ligat Al Lega Italiana Calcio ITALY Lega Nazionale Professionisti Professionistico (Lega Pro) KAZAKHSTAN Super League LATVIA Virsliga No League (Clubs are LIECHTENSTEIN integrated into Swiss League) LITHUANIA A Lyga LUXEMBOURG National Division MALTA Premier League MOLDOVA National Division MONTENEGRO First League Federatie van Betaald Voetbal Jupiler League (Eerste NETHERLANDS Eredivisie CV Organisaties (FBO) Divisie) NORTHERN IRELAND Premiership NORWAY Norsk Toppfotball POLAND Ekstraklasa SA Liga Portuguesa de Futebol PORTUGAL Profissional REP. OF IRELAND League of Ireland ROMANIA Liga Profesionista de Fotbal Russian Premier Football Association of Professional RUSSIA League Football Leagues SAN MARINO Campionato The Scottish Football SCOTLAND The Scottish Premier League League SERBIA Super Liga SLOVAKIA Super Liga The Union of the First SLOVENIA Slovenian Football League Liga Nacional de Fútbol SPAIN Profesional SWEDEN Föreningen Svensk Elitfotboll SWITZERLAND Swiss Football League TURKEY Süper Lig Union of Professional Football UKRAINE Ukrainian Premier League Clubs of Ukraine "Professional Football League" WALES 6 The Welsh Premier League
6 Since the research of this report, the Welsh Premier League is no longer a member of the EPFL.
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Annex 4 Transfer Periods 2009-2010
Grid of Winter and Summer Transfers for 2009/10 January February March April May June July August September October November December January February March April The FA Premier League (ENG) N The Football League (ENG) B A I T Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional (ESP) G I Ligue de Football Professionnel (FRA) O E 5 N P Deutsche Fussball-Liga (GER) S F Lega Nazionale Professionisti (ITA) L Lega Italiana Calcio Professionistico (Lega Pro) (ITA) M E Österreichische Fussball Bundesliga (AUT) M Pro League (BEL) B E Bulgarian Professional Football League (BUL) R Divisionsforeningen (DEN) & Veikkausliiga (FIN)
A Super League Greece (GRE) S Football Association of Ireland (IRL) S O Eredivisie CV (NED) C Norsk Toppfotball (NOR) I A Ekstraklasa SA (POL) T Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional (POR) E Ligue Professionnel de Football (ROU) M E Russian Premier Football League (RUS) M Association of Professional Football Leagues (RUS) B E Scottish Premier League (SCO) R The Union of the First Slovenian Football League (SVN) S Föreningen Svensk Elitfotboll (SWE) Swiss Football League (SUI) Union of Professional Football Clubs of Ukraine "Professional Football League" (UKR) The Welsh Premier League (WAL) Ligue Nationale de Football (BEL) Association of Professional Clubs of the First Croatian Football League (CRO) Gambrinus Liga (CZE) Georgian Professional Football League (GEO) Professional Football League B - C Division (GRE) Coöperatie Eerste Divisie (NED) The Scottish Football League (SCO) Union of Football Clubs of Super League (SRB) League Clubs Union (SVK) Association of Turkish Super League Clubs (TUR) Union of Professional Football Clubs of Ukraine "Premier League" (UKR) SOURCE: UEFA Survey on Professional League Organisations 2009/10
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Annex 5 EPFL Transfer Periods 2009-2010
SOURCE: EPFL
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SOURCE: EPFL
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SOURCE: EPFL
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SOURCE: EPFL
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Annex 6 League Foundation Dates
THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE (ENG) LIGUE NATIONALE DE FOOTBALL (BEL) THE SCOTTISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE LIGA NACIONAL DE (SCO) FÚTBOL PROFESIONAL DIVISIONSFORENINGEN (ESP) EERSTE DIVISIE (NED) (DEN) THE UNION OF THE FIRST SLOVENIAN VEIKKAUSLIIGA FOOTBALL LEAGUE LIGUE DE (FIN) (SVN) FOOTBALL PROFESSIONNEL (FRA) GEORGIAN UNION OF EREDIVISIE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CLUBS (NED) FOOTBALL OF SUPER LEAGUE LEAGUE SWISS FOOTBALL (SRB) ASSOC (GEO) LEAGUE OF PROF. (SUI) PRO FOOTBALL EKSTRAKLASA/ LEAGUES LEAGUE TURKISH POLISH FOOBALL (BEL) (RUS) SUPER LEAGUE LEAGUE (POL) (TUR) WELSH PREMIER LEGA PRO LEAGUE (ITA) LEAGUE PROFESSIONAL (WAL) RUSSIAN CLUBS FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREMIER UNION B - C DIVISION FOOTBALL (SVK) LEGA NAZIONALE (GRE) LEAGUE PROFESSIONISTI (RUS) (ITA) LIGA PORTUGUESA FÖRENINGEN DE FUTEBOL PROFISSIONAL SVENSK ELITFOTBOLL (POR) DEUTSCHE (SWE) ÖSTERREICHISCHE LIGUE FUSSBALL FUSSBALL BUNDESLIGA PROFESSIONNEL LIGA (AUT) (GER) DE FOOTBALL ASSOC. OF THE(ROU) PROF. CLUBS PREMIER OF FIRST NORSK LEAGUE CROATIAN TOPPFOTBALL (ENG) DIVISION (CRO) (NOR) BULGARIAN THE SCOTTISH 1887 1890 1893 1920 1923 1926 1929 1932 1935 1938 1941 1944 194 7 1950 1953 1956 1959 1962 1965 1968 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 19 85 1988 1991PROFESSIONAL 1992 1994 1996 1999 2001PREMIER 2003 LEAGUE 2006 2009 FOOTBALL LEAGUE (SCO) (BUL) PROFESSIONAL THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREMIER OF UKRAINE LEAGUE (UKR) (UKR) p. 40
SUPER LEAGUE GREECE (GRE)
Annex 7 Questionnaire
Preliminary remarks: • If there is more than one professional league organisation in your country, then please send a separate form for each league; • Consider only league organisations that are recognised by the National Association; • Specific data (like number of clubs per division) should relate to the 2009/2010 season, or to the 2009 season for countries which play a calendar year season.
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
1.1. Name of National Association
1.2. Name of League Organisation
1.3. Name of League Championship
(competition)
1.4. Address of League
1.5. Telephone Number of League
1.6. Fax Number of League
1.7. E-mail Address of League
1.8. Website of League
1.9. President / Chairman
1.10. Does the League President/Chairman have a current position at one of the Yes No League’s member clubs? 1.11. Until when is the current League Elected until (date): President/Chairman elected? What is the length of his mandate? Length of mandate (in years):
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1.12. General Secretary / CEO
1.13. Preferred language of correspondence of the English League French German
2. ORGANISATIONAL INFORMATION
2.1. Foundation date of the League
organisation (not the championship)
2.2. Number of full-time employees (if available, please send us the organisational structure of the league)
2.3. Is the League a separate entity to the Yes No National Association?
2.4. League’s legal status ( for example: “association”, “limited company”, “joint-stock company”, etc.) 2.5. How many members are there in the League’s Assembly / Congress / Council? 1 member, 1 vote 2.6. What is the voting structure of the Weighted voting system League’s Assembly / Congress / Council? Other system – please explain:
2.7. How many members are there in the League’s Board / Executive
Committee / Management Committee? 2.8. What is the voting structure of the 1 member, 1 vote League’s Board / Executive Weighted voting system Committee / Management Other system – please explain: Committee? 2.9. How many votes/seats (please specify) does the League have in the % of the votes / seats Congress/General Assembly of the National Association (in %)? 2.10. How many votes/seats (please specify) does the League have in the % of the votes / seats Board/Executive Committee of the National Association (in %)?
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Vice-president 2.11. What is the function of the League’s Member President / Chairman in the National No function Association? Other – please specify:
2.12. Number of member clubs
2.13. If the League is divided into more than one division, how are these divided? ( for example: D1=18 clubs; D2=20 clubs, etc.) 2. ORGANISATIONAL INFORMATION (cont.) Partially full-time, All full time Partially part - partially part-time professional time, partially professional players amateur players 2.14. Clubs’ status (per division players represented) – tick where appropriate D1 D2 D3 2.15. This season, how many teams are Directly: relegated from the first division, directly or following a play-off? Following a play-off: 2.16. This season, how many teams are Directly: promoted to the first division, directly or following a play-off? Following a play-off: 2.17. This season, how many teams are Directly: relegated from the second division, directly or following a play-off? Following a play-off: 2.18. This season, how many teams are Directly: promoted to the second division, directly following a play-off? Following a play-off:
2.19. Please send us a copy of the latest Statutes of the League (in English, French or German if possible).
3. INFORMATION ON COMPETENCES 3.1. Is the League recognised as the representative of the employers? Yes No (and therefore the counterpart of the employees’ representatives e.g. players’ union) 3.2. Is there a national Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)? Yes No If yes, can you send us a copy? 3.3. If the League is not the counterpart of the players’ union, who is the counterpart?
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3.4. Is there a national Standard Players’ Yes No Contract?
Fixture-scheduling? Yes No Partially Sales of commercial rights on behalf of 3.5. Does the League have the following members? Yes No Partially competences? Refereeing? Yes No Partially Disciplinary? Yes No Partially
3.6. Does the League organise a League Yes No Cup?
3. INFORMATION ON COMPETENCES (cont.)
3.7. Which other competition(s) does the
League organise?
3.8. Does the League have a main Yes No sponsor? Name: If yes, what is its name and which type of industry? Industry:
3.9. Does the League have an official Yes No match ball? If yes, who is the supplier? Supplier:
3.10. Are matches allowed to be played on Yes No artificial turf in your League? First period
Start End International
registrations National 3.11. Please specify the start and end registrations dates/times of your two registration Second period periods (“transfer windows”) Start End International
registrations National
registrations
3.12. Registration periods: please explain
whether you have any exceptions.
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3.13. Further remarks
4. INFORMATION ON OTHER COMBINATIONS / ALLIANCES OF CLUBS 4.1. Is there any combination or group of clubs that is not recognised by the Yes No National Association?
4.2. Name
4.3. Number of clubs represented by the
combination or group of clubs 4.4. Primary purpose of the combination
or group of clubs
THANK YOU!
Name Position
Place Date Signature
Once completed, please e-mail the questionnaire to the following address: [email protected] by 31 July 2009
Alternatively, you may return this form to UEFA, Professional Football Services, Fax no ++41 22 707 25 73.
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