Eircom League reps. of ECF Committee?
Who are the current Eircom League represententives of the UEFA European Club Forum (ECF)
The European Club Forum is a UEFA committee with 102 members, who are chosen based on the UEFA co-efficients of the leagues plus invites from clubs who have being successful in Europe in the past. So similiar to the structure of the CL/UEFA Cup the more sucessfull leagues get more reps. than the smaller leagues.
http://www.uefa.com/uefa/aboutuefa/c.../panel=32.html
In Sept. 2006 the present forum was established with Shelbourne FC representing (IRL).
European Club Forum 2006-2009
...Shelbourne FC (IRL)
The only bother is that Forum rules disallow representatives not playing in the top division of the Nat. Assoc. nor one without an UEFA licence.
Its main 102 member body only meet twice and year and they elect an 11 member Board.
Board European Club Forum
Chairman: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, FC Bayern München, GER
1st Vice-Chairman: Joan Laporta, FC Barcelona, ESP (new)
Vice-Chairmen Niels-Christian Holmstrøm, FC København, DEN John McClelland, Rangers FC, SCO
Members John Borg, Birbirkara FC, MLT
Maarten Fontein, AFC Ajax, NED (new) Umberto Gandini, AC Milan, ITA Fernando Gomes, FC Porto, POR
Peter Kenyon, Chelsea FC, ENG Michel Verschueren, RSC Anderlecht, BEL (new) Damir Vrbanovic, NK Dinamo Zagreb, CRO
http://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/321925.pdf
Objectives of the Board
http://www.uefa.com/uefa/aboutuefa/c...134217728.html
Board of the European Club Forum
The Board of the European Club Forum is composed of 11 members, who are selected on the basis of the ranking position of the member associations.
Aims/duties
On behalf of the forum, they are responsible for presenting solutions and proposals to the UEFA Club Competitions Committee, and may submit suggestions or issue recommendations in areas such as club competition structures and formats, club licensing and international match calendars, and exchange views on current professional football topics.
The term of office of the European Club Forum is three years, commencing at the election of 4/5 September 2006.
In general terms, the aims and duties of the European Club Forum are:
• to ensure cooperation between the clubs and UEFA within the framework of the UEFA Statutes; discussions shall be conducted with the guarantee of full transparency towards UEFA member associations; all activities shall be undertaken in a democratic manner and in a spirit of mutual trust;
• to advise the UEFA Club Competitions Committee on problems relating to club football;
• to ensure direct communication between the professional football clubs and UEFA, with the guarantee that full information shall be provided to the national associations and to the professional football leagues;
• to pool the expertise of UEFA and the professional clubs and to find new ways to work together and exchange information;
• to cooperate with any other appropriate UEFA committee in matters related to professional football in Europe;
• to set up subgroups if required.
"to cooperate with other committees.." is an opportunity for the board to influence decision-making and policy in UEFA.
Its pretty clear the Board members are made up of Upper-ranked clubs with the odd compromise candidate involved.
My questions are has another eL club taken over the role of representative from Shelbourne in the last year, or hope to before its current 2009 date runs out? Has any eL representative had an opportunity to attend a meeting?
Or as the Forum was established at that time, Sept. 2006, its membership will run the course and Shelbourne remain as members?
(I don't know the ECF role against the new European Club Association)
