The Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) and Soccerex’s first Webinar on “COVID 360°: Where does football go now?” was broadcast live yesterday to over seven hundred people from around the globe.
Moderated by CNN sports anchor Amanda Davies, participants tuned in from every continent to watch the leagues, clubs and players’ unions and sport integrity chiefs discuss how they are dealing with the challenges posed by the current global pandemic and its sporting and financial impact, as well as how to continue advancing the necessary governance and integrity reforms.
Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, CEO of SIGA and Chairman and CEO of SIGA AMERICA said:
“The pain and uncertainty about the future are enormous. If there is a moment where leadership has to emerge, bridges have to be built and consensus must be found, it is now. This is a time for collective responsibility, and for all stakeholders to put aside what is irrelevant and focus on what is truly essential. A time to unite; not to divide. A time to be the best we can, constructive and solution-oriented. Fortunately, we are seeing examples of this maturity, and leadership, across sport. The way the sporting industry will continue responding to the challenges in the weeks and months to come will determine its future!”
Lars Christer-Olsson, President of the European Leagues stated:
“This is the biggest crisis that has happened to football since World War II. So it’s a totally new situation for all of us. There is a risk for sport itself of course. The most eminent worry is the finances and whether the clubs are able to survive or not. We need to think about how to rebuild football after the crisis and to do that we have to find solutions which benefit the sport, not only a few.”
Michele Centenaro, Executive Board Member of the European Club Association (ECA) commented:
“I welcome this opportunity to share views on how football is managing the immediate impact of this crisis. Coming together and engaging in an open and constructive discussion is a sign of a mature and forward-looking industry. Ultimately we are all focused on restarting the game safely and in full alignment with public health needs so that we can bring back the pleasure to the millions of fans and the many whose livelihoods are dependent on the game.”
Focusing on the players’ perspective, Jonas Baer-Hoffmann, General Secretary of FIFPRO commented:
“It’s very easy to fall into a rhythm of putting out fires during this crisis but we also need to look at the football industry as a whole. After the pandemic, football will very likely be smaller from an economic point of view but that doesn’t mean we can’t rebuild it so that it is stronger, more equal and more sustainable. One thing that the last few weeks have shown is the value of democracy and good decision-making involving all stakeholders: players, clubs, leagues and federations.”
The SIGA-Soccerex Webinar Series occurs every three weeks, with the second Webinar taking place on Wednesday 20 May 2020 at 15.00 UK time. Designed to be dynamic, informative and interactive, online delegates can send questions in advance to specific sports industry leaders as well as ask questions in real-time.
Exciting speaker and hot topic announcements coming soon. Watch this space for the registration link to go live for the second edition in the coming days!
Click here to watch the first SIGA-Soccerex Webinar.
This is the fifteenth in a set of thirty boosting measures and initiatives being announced and developed by SIGA as part of the Alliance’s global campaign #SIGASTRIVES.
