Improving Football Governance

Working with nine partners from eight countries across Europe, SD Europe coordinated a project entitled ‘Improving Football Governance through Supporter Involvement and Community Ownership’ under the Preparatory Action in the Field of Sport (EAC/18/2011).]

More details about the objectives and outcomes of the project can be found by reading this page: Improving Football Governance through Supporter Involvement and Community Ownership

Project report

The final report provides a benchmark for future developments in good governance, policy development, and research and is available in three languages:

English

French

German

Project handbooks

A governance-focused handbook was researched and written for each country by the supporters organisations involved in the project. A brief summary of the contents and direct link to the publication is included below.

Belgium: The handbook includes sections on: Football in Belgium – popularity, financial problems, supporters; Football club or football company; Democracy and supporters; Philosophy and basic principles of supporters’ trusts; Case studies; Creating a supporters’ trusts and Running a football club

Supporters Inspraak Handboek België produced by Eskabee 1935

France: The handbook includes sections on: Supporters and Reforming French Football; Supporter Ownership in Europe – good practice; French supporters and supporter ownership; Starting a democratic supporters’ group; Building a representative body for French supporters and Recommendations

Au Coeur du Jeu: l’Actionnariat Populaire dans le Football Français produced by A la nantaise

Germany: The handbook includes sections on: German Football Clubs; Member Associations vs. Corporations; Preserving the member ownership model and Recommendations

Mein Verein – perfekter Verein? Wie Fans in ihren Vereinen mitbestimmen können produced by Unsere Kurve

Ireland: The handbook includes sections on: Setting the Scene; Legal guidance for supporters and supporters’ groups; Good Governance for supporters’ groups and supporter owned clubs and Recommendations

he Heart of the Game produced by FORAS

Italy: The handbook includes sections on: The situation in Italy; Setting up a supporters’ trust; Running a supporters’ trust and Recommendations

Il Calcio senza tifosi perde la propria anima produced by Unione Italiana Sport per Tutti

Portugal: The handbook includes sections on: The importance of organised supporters’ groups; The Portuguese context and European reality; The organisation of football in Portugal and the place of supporters; The role of supporters in the economic life of clubs; Establishing a democratic supporters’ group; Day-to-day activities for supporters’ groups and Conclusions

Associações de Adeptos: Fortalacer a voz dos adeptos no futebol Português produced by Associação de Adeptos Sportinguistas

Spain: The handbook includes sections on: The importance of supporters’ trusts; activities of supporters’ trusts; the role of FASFE; How to establish a supporters’ trust; Governance and day-to-day management; Membership; Raising finance; and The SAD model

En Medlem, En Röst produced by Svenska Footbollssupporter- unionen (SFSU)

Sweden: The handbook includes sections on: What is the 50+1 rule; Current situation in Sweden; Why is being a member of your club important; Why members are important to clubs; Case studies; Social value of football in Sweden and Recommendations.

En Medlem, En Röst produced by Svenska Footbollssupporter- unionen (SFSU)

To learn more, contact the SD Europe team here.