During the last decades the sporting and political climate throughout the world experienced a natural evolution, and sports, due to the amount of money that it generates, started to be considered a business like any other. The professional aspect of the game and its relevant constituents were not exempted from this development and the resulting impact on the economic, social, sporting and political aspects of football. As a consequence of this more demanding football scenery, the professional football in Europe reacted actively.
Within this contest, the Association of European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) was founded on the 6 June 2005 in London, UK. The Association of European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) is an association governed by Swiss law, founded in 2005 and based in Nyon, Switzerland.
The EPFL can trace its origins back to the founding of the EUPPFL in 1997 (Association of European Union Premier Professional Football Leagues). Originally composed by 12 members, nowadays comprises 29 Members and Associate Members among Europe.
Phase I: The Origins
10 September 1997, London: creation of the Association of European Union Premier Professional Football Leagues (EUPPFL), on the initiative of the Football Association Premier League (England) and the Lega Nazionale Professionisti (Italy), as there was a need for an organisation to represent the views and positions of Leagues and clubs on matters of mutual interest and concern.
12 Founder Members: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland, Spain.
Phase II: The First Charter
9 June 1998: The Founder members approved their basic chart, “the Accord of the EUPPFL”, in which were officially stated the main objects of the Association:
- To foster cooperation, friendly relations and unity between Member Leagues.
- Describing the aim and duties of the Professional Football Committee.
- To participate in and appoint representatives to the Committee and to work with UEFA for the good of Professional Association Football in Europe.
- To promote the game of professional association football in every way it deems fit and to safeguard the overall interests of Member leagues.
- To facilitate the collection and \exchange of information between Member Leagues.
- To promote the interests of Member Leagues.
- To foster friendly relations between the Group and other European Professional Football Leagues not members of the Group and between the Group and the Players' Unions operating within the territory of Member Leagues.
- To establish a unified system in respect of the movement of players between Member Leagues.
Phase III: The Constitution
6 June 2005, London: creation of the EPFL (Association of European Professional Football Leagues) and signing of its Constitution. Aim: To play a decisive part in the process of positively reshaping the organization of the game in Europe, by consolidating its position, safeguarding the legitimate interest of the Members and implementing new initiatives for the good of the game. The EPFL is further committed to youth development, community relations, social dialogue, social inclusion and education
Phase IV: The New Era of Cooperation
On the Football sphere, the EPFL has an official partnership with UEFA by means of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by both parties in 1998 and revised in 2000 and 2005.Furthermore the EPFL has been institutionally recognized by FIFA in 2005. During the same period the EPFL has also reinforced the relations with FIFPro that culminated with the launch of the European Social Dialogue in Professional Football Sector held on the 1 July 2008 in Paris, France.
On the institutional front, the EPFL has reinforced its co-operation with the European Governmental Institutions and constructively collaborated with MEPs and Commission's officials in the definition and implementation of an EU policy-making in the area of sport to further promote the sound and stable development of Professional Football and jointly tackle issues of common concern where public policy is welcome and indeed needed.
