ECA: governance reform adopted that will increase membership from 245 to over 330 clubs

• An increase in the number of member clubs to over 330 (from 245 in 2022-23).
• Triple the number of clubs eligible for a board position.
• Expanding the ECA network to a total of 500 men's and women's clubs.

These are the main outcomes of the reform of the governance of the European Club Association unanimously approved at the ECA general assembly in Budapest (Hungary) on 28/03/2023.

Until now, each club wishing to become a member of the ECA for a four-season cycle had to be playing in the men's first division at the time of joining. The performance of an applicant club's women's team will now qualify it for full ECA membership. Also new is the fact that all member clubs, ordinary and associate, will now be able to nominate candidates for board membership, not just ordinary members.

These "major internal governance reforms will drive more democracy, participation, diversity and inclusion than ever before," explained the ECA, whose reforms also include several positions reserved for women's clubs on the board of directors and the establishment of an executive committee under the…