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).]
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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
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Project report
The final report provides a benchmark for future developments in good governance, policy development, and research and is available in three languages:
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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.
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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
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Supporters Inspraak Handboek België produced by Eskabee 1935
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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
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Au Coeur du Jeu: l’Actionnariat Populaire dans le Football Français produced by A la nantaise
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Germany: The handbook includes sections on: German Football Clubs; Member Associations vs. Corporations; Preserving the member ownership model and Recommendations
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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
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he Heart of the Game produced by FORAS
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Italy: The handbook includes sections on: The situation in Italy; Setting up a supporters’ trust; Running a supporters’ trust and Recommendations
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Il Calcio senza tifosi perde la propria anima produced by Unione Italiana Sport per Tutti
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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
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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
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En Medlem, En Röst produced by Svenska Footbollssupporter- unionen (SFSU)
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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.
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En Medlem, En Röst produced by Svenska Footbollssupporter- unionen (SFSU)
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To learn more, contact the SD Europe team here.