National associations and leagues share the responsibility of organising football competitions. However, governance models vary greatly at worldwide level. This book Editions CIES analyses the various existing models of governance. It also studies the role of league representatives and other stakeholders in the decision-making processes of national associations. In order to give a representative insight of the situation at a global level, the analysis includes thirty-two national associations spread across the six continental confederations. The GOVERNANCE MODELS authors also highlight that the relationship between national associations and leagues ACROSS FOOTBALL can be a difficult one. As a matter of fact, each stakeholder requires the support of ASSOCIATIONS AND LEAGUES the other, but at the same time neither party wants the other to be too involved in the governance of its own organisation. Camille Boillat and Raffaele Poli are Camille Boillat & Raffaele Poli geographers by training. Camille is a scientific collaborator at the International Centre for Sport Studies (CIES), while Raffaele Poli is the head of the CIES Football Observatory. A research mandate on behalf of C. Boillat & R. Poli - Governance models across football associations and leagues C. Boillat & R. Poli - Governance models across GOVERNANCE MODELS ACROSS FOOTBALL ASSOCIATIONS AND LEAGUES CENTRE INTERNATIONAL D’ÉTUDE DU SPORT Réflexions sportives Edited by Denis Oswald and Christophe Jaccoud Vol. 4 The collection, Réflexions sportives, features conference proceedings organised or co-organised by CIES, as well as ongoing studies undertaken by experienced and novice researchers. Its aim is to promote CIES as a platform for academic debate, to produce work on topical subjects as well as offer publication opportunities to talented researchers. Editorial Board Prof. Denis Oswald (Université de Neuchâtel and CIES Scientific Director), Prof. Christophe Jaccoud (Université de Neuchâtel and CIES), Dr Raffaele Poli (Univer- sité de Neuchâtel and CIES), Vincent Schatzmann (CIES General Secretary), Roger Besson (Université de Neuchâtel and CIES), Thomas Busset (CIES) et Kevin Tallec Marston (CIES) GOVERNANCE MODELS ACROSS FOOTBALL ASSOCIATIONS AND LEAGUES Camille Boillat & Raffaele Poli With the collaboration of David Rodrigues & Kevin Tallec Marston Editions CIES - Collection Réflexions sportives - Neuchâtel 2014 Le Centre International d’Etude du Sport (CIES), institution scientifique crée en 1995 d’un partenariat entre la Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), l’Université de Neuchâtel, la Ville et le Canton de Neuchâtel, a pour mis- sion de développer, dans une perspective de type pluridisciplinaire (juridique, soci- ologique, géographique, économique et historique), des activités de recherche, de formation et de consulting au service de la communauté sportive. Le CIES a pour vocation de servir de passerelle entre les mondes de la recherche, de l’enseignement et la communauté sportive. The International Centre for Sport Studies (CIES), a scientific institution created in 1995 as a result of the joint venture between the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the University of Neuchâtel and the Town and State of Neuchâtel, aims to develop, using a multi-disciplinary approach (legal, sociologic, geographic, economic and historic), research, education and consulting activities to provide to the sports world. The CIES’ purpose is to serve as bridge between the research and education worlds and the sports world. © Copyright CIES - Centre International d’Etude du Sport Avenue DuPeyrou 1 CH - 2000 Neuchâtel (Suisse) Tél : +41 (0)32 718 39 00 Fax : +41 (0)32 718 39 01 Contact : [email protected] www.cies.ch ISBN 2-940241-24-4 Acknowledgements We would like to express our gratitude to the following people who provided us with relevant information: Alex Miescher, Association Suisse de Football Florence Etourneau, Fédération Française de Football Frank Van Hattum, New Zealand Football Ian Kemble, Jamaica Football Federation Jo Setright, Football Federation Australia Joko Driyono, Football Association of Indonesia/Liga Indonesia Jonathan Hall, The Football Association (England) Jürgen Paepke, Deutsche Fussball Liga Kengo Arima, Japan Football Association Łukasz Wachowski, Polish Football Association Mark Aspden, New Zealand Football Markus Stenger, Deutscher Fussball-Bund Niccolò Donna, Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio Nils Fisketjønn, Norwegian Football Association Primo Corvaro, Fédération Internationale de Football Association Raymond Grant, Jamaica Football Federation Ridzal Saat, Football Association of Singapore/S. League Robert Pongracz, Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional (Spain) Victoriano Melero, Fédération Française de Football Viktor Derdo, Football Federation of Ukraine Table of contents Introduction . 1 I . Structural models, legal forms and agreements between national associations and leagues . 5 1. League structural models ..................................8 1.1. Legal form ..........................................8 1.2. Association model: level of national association involvement and financial relationships with the national association ...........11 1.3. Separate entity model: level of national association involvement and financial relationships with the national association ...........14 1.4. Observations .......................................16 1.5. Specific cases of league governance and financing .............17 2. Documents governing the relationships between leagues and national associations .................................20 II . The league in the national association structure . 23 1. League membership in the national association and representation in the general assembly ...................................25 2. Power balance between stakeholders in the national association general assembly ........................................28 2.1. League representation and voting power in the national association general assembly ................................31 2.2. Other stakeholders in the national association general assembly ...34 2.3. Election of league representatives to the national association general assembly. .39 3. Power balance between stakeholders in the national association executive committee .....................................42 VIII Governance models across associations and leagues 3.1. League representation in the national association executive committee. 44 3.2. League representation and voting power in the national association executive committee ..............................45 3.3 Other stakeholders in the national association executive committee 48 3.4. Election of league representatives to the national association executive committee. .50 4. Standing committees function, presence and members ...........53 III . Division of labour between national associations and leagues . 57 1. Organisation of competitions. .57 1.1. National cup .......................................58 1.2. League cup .........................................61 1.3. Super cup ..........................................62 1.4. Youth football and women’s football competitions .............64 2. Players’ status ..........................................65 3. Disciplinary proceedings. .70 4. Sport arbitration ........................................74 5. Club licensing .........................................76 IV . League internal governance . 81 1. Internal governance: association model leagues with national association management ..................................82 2. Internal governance: association model leagues with self-management and separate entity model leagues .............85 2.1. League executive committees ............................86 2.2. League executive powers ...............................89 2.3. League general assemblies ..............................91 2.4. League members admittance and removal mechanisms .........93 Table of contents IX Conclusion . 101 Bibliography . 103 Appendices . 105 Appendix 1: Legal form of leagues ...........................105 Appendix 2: Documents governing the relationships between leagues and national associations .............................107 Appendix 3: League representation in national association general assemblies ..............................................109 Appendix 4: League representation in national association executive committees .............................................111 Appendix 5: Original texts .................................113 List of figures Figure n°1: Spanish football pyramid-shaped model .................2 Figure n°2: League structural models .............................8 Figure n°3: Type of representation of leagues in national association general assemblies .................................................28 Figure n°4: Frequency of interest groups representation in national association general assemblies ..................................38 Figure n°5: Type of league representation in national association executive committees ................................................45 Figure n°6: Standard players’ status regulations model ...............66 Figure n°7: Standard disciplinary proceedings in football .............71 Figure n°8: Stakeholders representation in league executive committees (association model with self-management) ........................88 List of tables Table n°1: Associations included in the research ....................1 Table n°2: General information about leagues and competitions ........6 Table