Al-Khelaifi opens a new chapter with Europe's elite

Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of the European Club Association (ECA), has opened a new chapter with the major clubs that spearheaded the European Super League project, emphasizing that dialogue and unity are the best path for the future of European football. This comes as relations between the ECA and the continent's giants are moving towards greater rapprochement after years of disagreements. Al-Khelaifi's remarks were made during the 33rd ECA General Assembly in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he welcomed Barcelona's return to the organization and indicated that Real Madrid is on the path to rejoining, a move reflecting efforts to resolve the disputes that erupted following the European Super League project. Al-Khelaifi praised Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, stressing that the future of European football must be based on unity and shared interests. He stated that the organization is pleased with the signs of Real Madrid's return to the European club family, while also welcoming Barcelona's return. The ECA president emphasized that the organization seeks to overcome differences through dialogue, consensus, and compromise, affirming that clubs of all sizes need each other and that collective action is fundamental to the development of the game. On the issue of litigation and financial discipline, Al-Khelaifi adopted a cautious stance, emphasizing that clubs facing legal proceedings or appeals must have the right to pursue the legal process. He refused to issue any judgments before the cases are definitively resolved. He stated that clubs are not judged within the European Football Association (EFA), and that decisions still subject to appeal cannot be considered final. This position comes amidst a number of ongoing legal and financial issues affecting European football, most notably the case involving Manchester City. Al-Khelaifi stressed the importance of respecting legal procedures and not prejudging pending cases. On the institutional level, Al-Khelaifi reiterated his support for UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, urging him to run for another term next year. He believes that European football needs leaders capable of continuing to work with clubs and various stakeholders. Al-Khelaifi highlighted the growing economic power of the partnership between European clubs and UEFA, explaining that the joint project "UC3" is expected to generate more than €20 billion over the next four-year cycle, or more than €5 billion annually – a figure he described as record-breaking in football. He clarified that approximately €2 billion of these revenues will be allocated over the four years to clubs not participating in European competitions, as well as to support women's football and youth development programs, thus strengthening solidarity mechanisms within the game. He also mentioned the distribution of €233 million to 901 clubs between 2020 and 2024 as part of a program to compensate clubs for their players' participation with national teams in UEFA competitions. Al-Khelaifi's vision extended beyond Europe, as he proposed the creation of a new global entity called "World Football Clubs," aiming to give clubs worldwide a unified institutional voice and greater representation on issues affecting the future of football. Al-Khelaifi has not yet revealed the official structure of the proposed entity, its membership, or its launch date, while emphasizing that clubs have become globally influential through their players, coaches, fans, and commercial partners.The proposal comes at a time when the membership of European clubs has expanded from 247 in 2021 to over 900 today, reflecting the significant transformation in the organization's size and influence within continental football. Al-Khelaifi believes the next step is to extend this model to clubs outside Europe, providing them with a common platform to advocate for their interests and participate more actively in shaping the future of the global game.