June 6 – Osasuna, Lokomotiva Zagreb, RFS, Bohemian FC, Union Saint-Gilloise and Maccabi Netanya will serve on the interim board of the Union of European Clubs (UEC), confirmed the organisation that was launched to protect the interests of smaller and medium-sized clubs across Europe.
The interim board will serve until the UEC’s first general assembly at the end of 2023.
“Following the initial kick-off event in April, the creation of the Interim Executive Board is an important and concrete step in the progress and development of the UEC. We have seen very strong interest from clubs to join the Union of European Clubs since our launch event in Brussels,” said UEC founder and executive director of Lokomotiva Zagreb Dennis Gudasic.
His club alongside teams from Spain, Latvia, Ireland, Belgium and Israel will form part of the interim board. Their commitment is a strong signal to other clubs who may be sitting on the fence, pondering whether to join the new organisation or not. At the April launch of the UEC, it was unclear how many clubs would commit to becoming a member.
The new body launched with the promise of filling the governance gap in European football and representing those clubs that don’t have a voice in the decision-making process in the game.
Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Brighton and Hove Albion and Brentford were the four Premier League clubs with interest in the UEC. From the Championship, Watford demonstrated interest.
“We need a different voice,” said Crystal Palace’s Steve Parish in the Belgian capital. “We aren’t represented anywhere at the European level.”
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