Al-Khelaifi proposes global football clubs body as Barcelona return and Real Madrid near EFC return

European Football Clubs chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi proposed a “World Football Clubs” body at the EFC General Assembly in Copenhagen on Tuesday: “now is the time to create World Football Clubs”.

It would give clubs a global voice — a seventh constituency alongside the six confederations (Reuters). He gave no details on formal status, governance, membership or timetable.

EFC, formerly the European Club Association, has grown from 247 clubs in 2021 to more than 900 across 55 countries, targeting 1,000. Al-Khelaifi announced Barcelona’s return and said Real Madrid were “in the process of returning” — “a gesture of goodwill”, per a club source, and a further step in its rapprochement with UEFA and EFC after the European Super League conflict and February’s agreement to settle the legal disputes.

Reforms would give every EFC member a direct say on major decisions, let all members represent EFC on UEFA, FIFA and other committees, and guarantee female representation on the board’s subdivisions.

Without naming FIFA president Gianni Infantino, he said: “It is really sad to see the situation today. Instead of improving our game, we are wasting our time dealing with problems and issues. Football works when we listen to each other. When we are transparent between us. But most of all, when we are honest.” Reuters has approached FIFA for comment.

UEFA was EFC’s “most important and trusted partner”, he said, with their UC3 joint venture generating more than €20 billion over the next four-year cycle — more than €5 billion a season.

Sources

• Reuters — Al-Khelaifi proposes global clubs body, takes veiled swipe at Infantino
• CNA — Al-Khelaifi proposes global clubs body, takes veiled swipe at Infantino
• Straits Times — Al-Khelaifi proposes global clubs body, takes veiled swipe at Infantino
• All Football App — Nasser plans to establish world football clubs