FIFPRO and World Leagues Forum hold Governance Summit to discuss collective vision for international football

Following the first meeting that took place in October 2021, representatives of professional leagues and players’ unions from around the world discussed how to set higher standards of governance in modern football. The groups led by FIFPRO and of the WLF recognised the need to act as partners and cooperate to shape the future of football.

FIFPRO and WLF are responding to the crisis in football’s governance by working together in a series of Leadership Summits. The two organisations agreed on the benefits of labour and industrial dialogue to find the right balance between the interests of clubs and players. This will help to strengthen the game at all levels and safeguard the health and wellbeing of footballers.

Both partners also recognise that domestic leagues and their members clubs are the lifeblood of professional football. They are where the economy of football lies and where players learn their skills and build their careers. By putting the welfare of domestic leagues and their clubs as well as the well-being of players at the heart of these discussions, FIFPRO and WLF aim to put football’s governance on a democratic and sustainable footing.

The two organisations have agreed to continue this dialogue and meet again in the coming months.

The Summit of 1 February 2022 brought together leagues and player unions from:

FIFPRO

• AFE, Spain
• AIC, Italy
• AMFPRO, Mexico
• JPFA, Japan
• MLSPA, USA
• SAFAP, Peru
• SAFPU, South Africa
• SJPF, Portugal
• SYNAFOC, Cameroon
• The PFA, England
• UNFP, France

WLF:

• J-League, Japan
• La Liga, Spain
• Liga MX, Mexico
• LigaPro, Ecuador
• Ligue de Football Professionnel, France
• Major League Soccer, USA
• Premier League, England
• Premier League, Russia
• Premier League, South Africa
• Serie A, Italy

The next Leadership Summit will take place in March 2022.