World Leagues Forum

The World Leagues Forum (WLF) is an organization representing professional association football leagues that formed in 2016. It currently includes 41 members from four of FIFA's five continental confederations.

History

Executives and representatives from 24 professional football leagues convened the Global Leagues Forum in April 2015 to discuss current issues with the football system and business as a whole.[1] The World Leagues Forum was formed in early 2016 in preparation for the 2016 FIFA Extraordinary Congress, in which a new FIFA president would be elected. It convened its first meeting on 25 February 2016, in Zurich before the FIFA Congress.[2][3] The WLF initially comprised 24 member football leagues,[2] but has since expanded to 41 leagues and holds annual meetings that are hosted by members.[4]

The group has voiced its opposition to FIFA president Gianni Infantino's plan to expand the FIFA Club World Cup and implement a global club league.[5][6]

Members

As of 2018, the WLF has 41 member leagues and associations from four continental confederations.[7][8]

Asian Football Confederation (AFC)
Confederation of African Football (CAF)
Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF)
South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL)
Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)

Governance

The World Leagues Forum is governed by a Steering Committee composed of representatives and executives from top member leagues. Its current chairman is Enrique Bonilla of Liga MX. Its two vice chairmen are Don Garber of Major League Soccer and Christian Seifert, the CEO of the Deutsche Fußball Liga.[9]

Its General Secretary is Jerome Perlemuter, appointed in April 2017[10], former General Counsel of the French Football League and former Judge of the French courts.

References
  1. "Historic First Meeting of the World's Professional Leagues sets agenda for future" (Press release). European Leagues. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  2. "The World Leagues Forum Goes Public" (Press release). World Leagues Forum. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  3. "WLF macht der Fifa Konkurrenz" [WLF made into FIFA competitor]. Der Spiegel (in German). 25 February 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  4. Migliaccio, Val (4 May 2018). "A-League set to join World Leagues Forum in a move to fast track independence from Football Federation Australia". The Advertiser. Adelaide. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  5. Panja, Tariq (16 March 2018). "Soccer's Top Clubs and Leagues Push Back Against FIFA President". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  6. Marcotti, Gabriele (25 October 2018). "UEFA to walk out if FIFA forces vote on Club World Cup revamp - sources". ESPN. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  7. "Members". World Leagues Forum. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  8. Evans, Simon (24 October 2018). "Infantino to ask for vote on new tournaments despite opposition". Reuters. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  9. "MLS Commissioner Don Garber appointed Vice-Chairman of World Leagues Forum". MLSsoccer.com. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  10. "Jérôme Perlemuter nommé Secrétaire Général du World Leagues Forum". www.lfp.fr (in French). Retrieved 24 January 2019.
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