G14 to disband
tribalfootball.com - December 04, 2007

The G14 group of powerful European clubs has confirmed that the organisation in its current form is to be disbanded, reports the Guardian.

After talks in Brussels between the clubs and representatives of the sport's governing bodies last week the organisation has agreed to dissolve and be reformed as a larger, more representative body including a larger number of clubs from more European countries.

At the weekend G14's president, Jean-Michel Aulas, confirmed that a new organisation will eventually replace it: "G14's initiative to promote a completely new organisation to represent the interests of clubs at European and international level has stimulated the interest of the game's governing bodies," he said.

"G14's members are convinced that this new organisation for clubs should be the driver of change leading to a correction of the imbalance that exists in the governance of the game at European and international levels."

The group's general manager, Thomas Kurth, said the new organisation would replace both the G14 and Uefa's European club forum. "We believe that a truly independent organisation for the clubs which is also recognised by the governing bodies would be the best result for football, provided this means that clubs are adequately represented on the decision-making bodies in Uefa and Fifa," he said.

"By denying the clubs a proper involvement in the decision-taking process and by refusing to seek solutions to the wide range of problems including the organisation of players released by clubs to national teams and the harmonisation of the international calendar, the governing bodies were a causal factor in the creation of G14 in 2000. G14 will exist until appropriate solutions to these problems are found.

"G14's president and board members will continue to engage positively with Uefa knowing that the creation of the new organisation for clubs, coupled with Uefa's new, more inclusive approach, as championed by Uefa president Michel Platini, will give a fresh impetus to our discussions and which we hope will lead to a harmonious cooperation which benefits the whole of the football family."

G14 disbands after historic deal


The G14 group of top European clubs has disbanded after agreeing an “historic” deal with FIFA and UEFA.

The sides had banded together into an organisation called the G14 – including Inter, Milan and Juventus – to launch court cases against FIFA and threaten to create a breakaway League.

Instead, UEFA President Michel Platini has helped broker a deal in Zurich that will see FIFA and UEFA make “financial contributions for players’ participation in European Championships and World Cups.”

This will resolve the debate from clubs over compensation for players injured during international duty.

Legal cases backed by the G14 included Lyon suing for Eric Abidal breaking his foot in a France friendly, but will not we dropped.

The G14 has been dissolved, but a new organisation created called the European Club Association and this independent body will be recognised by FIFA and UEFA.

“As part of the planned moves, UEFA and FIFA will enter into a series of commitments including financial contributions for player participation in European Championships and World Cups, subject to the approval of their respective bodies,” said a statement.

"The demands of the clubs to be heard and to be associated, also financially, are well-founded,” added Platini. "The letter of intent signed today is not a political step, but a logical one."

The G14 consisted of Milan, Ajax, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Inter, Porto, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester United, Marseille, Paris Saint-Germain, PSV, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Olympique Lyonnais and Valencia.

Sure is, but i wonder what UEFA and FIFA have given up to allow the G14 to want to disband?

Theres going to be a new council set up consisting of 100 clubs called the European Club Association, including at least one club from every UEFA member nation, thats going to replace G14 and will consult and discuss matters with FIFA and UEFA more throughly than G14 ever did, I guess it's a slight improvement over the way which they treated G14 (refusing to even speak to them) but it still seems like too little of a concession to me, especially as the smaller nation's clubs could bloc vote and defeat motions by the big clubs in such a system and FIFA and UEFA aren't duty bound to even take their suggestions onboard.