EPFL meeting in Athens, general assembly "reaffirms the strategic role of leagues"

The EPFL (Association of European Professional Football Leagues) "reaffirm[ed] the strategic role of the leagues and their member clubs in the football family" at its second general meeting of 2013-14 in Athens (Greece) on 20 and 21/03/2014.

There were many topics of discussion, including possible changes in the international calendar for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the European club competitions, transfers, the Youth League, financial sustainability and ownership of players by third parties.

The EPFL, chaired by Frenchman Frédéric Thiriez, chairman of the LFP (Professional Football League), announced the appointment of Georg Pangl (AUT) as secretary general of the institution.

2022 World Cup in Qatar

• The European Leagues reaffirmed their official position that any potential change in the international calendar must be discussed with all stakeholders and, in particular, be agreed by the Leagues, taking into consideration the disruption caused to domestic competitions in terms of calendar, business and audiovisual partnerships. The EPFL welcomes the official invitation from…