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Controversial Aston Villa-linked talks explained as FIFA forced to issue statement
An organisation closely linked to Aston Villa has been at the centre of controversy, prompting FIFA to issue a rare clarification statement.
Villa are one of the most ambitious clubs in the Premier League and indeed throughout Europe, with owners Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris having bankrolled heavy losses to compete in the transfer market.
This season, their grand plans have come to fruition as they qualified for the Champions League for the first time since 1982-83.
Villa have been making their voices heard on the European stage in recent years before now, however.
Villa were one of the first clubs to sign up to the Union of European Clubs when it launched last April. The organisation aims to give a voice to clubs outside the established elite in Europe.
It is a direct rival of the European Club Association, the influential representative body chaired by Paris Saint Germain’s Nasser Al Khelaifi, which also counts Villa among its members.
And the two organisations are currently embroiled in a feud which has dragged world governing body FIFA in the mix too.
- READ MORE: Aston Villa may be set for £135m FFP boost that dramatically alters Unai Emery’s transfer plans
FIFA forced to clarify talks with Union of European Clubs
issued a statement this week distancing themselves from the Union of European Clubs after they held an “exchange” with the organisation.
The governing body insisted that the talks, which focused on issues around the transfer clearing house, were not a formal engagement.
They went on to say that they recognise the ECA as the sole representative body for clubs in Europe.
It is believed that the ECA took exception to the talks and the manner in which they were framed by UEC.
ECA Vs. EUC: Where does the power lie?
For now, the ECA are undoubtedly the more powerful of the two organisations – and by quite a margin.
But the Union of European Clubs is growing more influential, with membership numbers climbing and the wider support of groups such as Fair Game.
The catch 22 is perhaps the fact that when a club does smash the glass ceiling and break into the European elite, they are likely to side with the ECA alongside their new peers.
There is a similar situation at present in the Premier League.
Historically, the so-called Big Six have formed a voting bloc. But now Villa and Newcastle United, the two most ambitious clubs in the league, are beginning to side with the big guns too.
Aston Villa could play significant role in EUC
The structure of European club football is such that it will likely take decades rather than years for Villa to truly establish themselves in Europe’s top tier.
The Championship League coefficient system favours clubs who already have a huge financial advantage – Man City will earn £25m more than Villa in next season’s competition before a ball is even kicked.
And the trend that runs through almost every decision made at governance level is to placate and insulate the upper echelons from failure.
But the Union of European Clubs represents a chance for the next rung of clubs below the very elite to act collectively as a pressure group.
Villa have shown themselves to be astute at executive level. They have respected operators who could take a leading role within the UEC, should they wish to.