UEFA and FIFPRO Europe have entered a groundbreaking partnership, formalised in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), that strengthens player representation within the governance of European football. This agreement holds major implications for footballers in Scotland and across Europe, representing a significant advancement in player welfare and rights.
Through FIFPRO Europe, which represents over 35,000 professional players across 36 UEFA Member Associations, including Scotland, players’ voices will now have direct representation within UEFA’s governance structures. For the first time, FIFPRO Europe will hold a seat on UEFA’s Executive Committee, initially in an advisory capacity, effective May 2025. This seat ensures that players’ perspectives are considered in European football’s highest decision-making arena, alongside clubs, leagues, and national associations.
For Scottish players, this agreement means that their welfare, workload, and employment conditions will be prioritised at the European level. Decisions affecting these areas will now require extensive dialogue between UEFA and FIFPRO Europe, marking a new standard in collaborative governance that puts player health and safety at its core.
With a dedicated focus on women’s football, the MoU includes specific commitments to enhancing development programmes and establishing minimum standards for women players. This presents a tremendous opportunity to address the unique challenges faced by female players in Scotland, providing support for sustainable growth and fair treatment within the sport.
In practical terms, footballers across the SPFL and the SWPL will benefit from strengthened protections, ranging from enhanced medical research and education initiatives, to support for out-of-contract players and joint efforts to tackle discrimination and doping. Additionally, the MoU allows for collaboration on commercial opportunities related to player data and intellectual property rights, opening avenues for both financial and professional support that will benefit players at all stages of their careers.
The establishment of the UEFA Professional Players Advisory Forum, launching next month, will provide an even closer connection between Scottish players and the wider European football community. This forum will allow players, national unions, and FIFPRO Europe representatives to engage directly with UEFA on issues that matter most to them.
This historic MoU not only amplifies the voices of footballers in Scotland but also underscores a long-term commitment from UEFA and FIFPRO Europe to build a more inclusive, fair, and player-centred football landscape across Europe.
PFA Scotland Chief Executive Officer, Fraser Wishart, who sits on the Global and FIFPRO Europe Board, said: “This is a significant step forward for FIFPRO and its members across the world of football. Recent European Court of Justice decisions have meant that governing bodies can no longer make decisions about players employment rights unilaterally.”
“The MOU is a really positive sign and we welcome UEFA’s willingness to work with FIFPRO Europe. It is clear that collective bargaining is the way forward for football both internationally and domestically, here in Scotland. This agreement will mean that players in Scotland have a strong voice when it comes to major decisions affecting their employment and the game in general, at a European level.”
