UEFA: "Football is a public good and must be governed in the public interest" (Glenn Micallef)

"Football is a public good and must be governed in the public interest. It must be more than profits and shareholder value. That means something concrete. Domestic league matches belong to their communities. They belong to the supporters who built these clubs. They must not be relocated at the expense of supporters. When ticket prices or television subscriptions are too high, supporters pay the price. And when supporters are excluded for financial reasons, football loses part of its soul," said Glenn Micallef (MLT), European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, on 12/02/2026.

Glenn Micallef was speaking at the opening of the 50^th Ordinary UEFA Congress held for the first time in Brussels (Belgium), at Brussels Expo.

"The risks we face are greater than ever and must be assessed realistically. National football ecosystems are under increasing pressure. Competitive balance in many leagues remains fragile. Unregulated agents divert money away from the football ecosystem instead of reinvesting it in youth, academies and grassroots football. Uncapped…