‘The new regulations strengthen financial stability – but must be rigorously implemented’

Photo: DFL/Getty Images/Sebastian Widmann

7 April 2022 – Today, the UEFA Executive Committee has approved the new financial sustainability regulations, replacing the previous UEFA Financial Fair Play concept. As a member of the UEFA Club Licensing Committee (advisory body to the UEFA Executive Committee), Dr Marc Lenz, Head of Corporate Strategy and International Affairs at the DFL, was heavily involved in the two year lasting consultation process as a representative of the DFL and the European Leagues (Association of football leagues in Europe) – and has made the following statement:

‘The new regulations are a compromise that takes a variety of European perspectives into account, primarily strengthening financial stability.

Over the last two years, the DFL has worked intensively with UEFA, and in close consultation with representatives of other top leagues and the Bundesliga clubs, to find consensus on the reform of the UEFA club licensing and financial regulations – and, in the process, has continuously pushed for strengthened financial stability and cost rationality as well as strict implementation and sanctioning. Furthermore, the DFL clearly opposed proposals to significantly deregulate investor funding plus the reduction of cost limitations and sanctioning mechanisms.

Although our perspective, supported by other European partners, was uphold in key aspects, the viewpoints within Europe continue to diverge. From an overarching point of view, it was important to enable long-term investments in European football but regulate the application of funds and squad costs reasonably.

Ultimately, we were able to positively influence the regulations in key aspects – from our perspective, in the benefit of European football. The new regulations must now be rigorously implemented, and breaches rigorously sanctioned to strengthen the financial stability of European football.’