In just under a month, European football’s clubs will gather in Copenhagen for a meeting that could become a significant moment in growing opposition to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and the organisation’s governance.
The European Football Clubs (EFC) general assembly will take place from 28 to 30 September and is expected to focus on some of the most important issues facing the game, including FIFA’s leadership and the latest tensions surrounding Infantino.
EFC, which represents more than 800 European clubs, describes the gathering as “the biggest event of the season for European clubs”. It says the meeting allows club leaders to examine the game’s key challenges, agree shared priorities and help shape its future, according to Foot Mercato.
The organisation also presents the assembly as “the only time in the season when clubs of all sizes come together to influence the future of the game”.
FIFA governance and the crisis linked to Infantino are expected to feature prominently in discussions. EFC has already publicly opposed the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise project, which aims to sell stakes in the World Cup to investors.
That opposition means the Copenhagen meeting could provide another important platform for European clubs to challenge FIFA’s direction. With more than 800 clubs represented, any unified position would carry considerable political weight in the wider football structure.
The assembly is expected to have implications beyond those of a routine annual conference. EFC regards it as a major fixture in the football calendar, where new partnerships can be formed, innovative ideas exchanged and tailored solutions developed for the challenges facing the sport.
Its stated objectives include “strengthening competitions, developing women’s football, advancing youth development, ensuring financial sustainability and securing the long-term future of football”.
Those priorities will be discussed against an increasingly unsettled political backdrop. There is also speculation that Nasser Al-Khelaifi could stand for the presidency of UEFA, a possibility that would add further importance to the Copenhagen gathering.
The rumours surrounding Al-Khelaifi’s potential candidacy have not been confirmed, but they are likely to increase attention on the meeting and its possible impact on the balance of power in European football.
The timing is also significant. FIFA’s presidential election is due to take place in the coming months, meaning any coordinated message from Europe’s clubs could be directed at Infantino as he seeks to maintain his influence over the global game.
A united front involving the continent’s club community could therefore send a strong signal to the FIFA president and affect the wider contest for power in football.
For EFC, the assembly is officially intended to provide a forum for clubs of every size to discuss the sport’s future. But the meeting’s agenda, the organisation’s opposition to FIFA Forward Enterprise and the speculation over Al-Khelaifi mean that this year’s event could become a defining moment in the European response to Infantino’s leadership.
