European Leagues: the European football pyramid's "sacred principles" reaffirmed

• "Open competitions with promotion and relegation only at national championship level;
• A qualification system for European competitions that is rooted in sporting merit via yearly qualification from domestic competitions;
• A fair and balanced solidarity system that aims to support the development of the sport at the lower levels of the game where training and development as well as participation is founded;
• A structure of good governance and dialogue involving major stakeholders of the football economy to have a voice and impact."

These are the "sacred" principles of the European football pyramid model reaffirmed by European Leagues, the association of European professional football leagues, at the close of its general assembly in Prague (CZE) on 21/04/2023.

"Governing bodies (which combine regulatory, commercial and sporting functions) are best suited to meaningfully involve and fairly balance the interests of legitimate parties in the European decision-making processes, rather than purely profit-oriented entities," said the statement, which is also supported by UEFA, the ECA…