An impressive line-up of legendary football leaders and senior executives, including Sir Dave Richards, former Chairman of the Premier League, European Leagues Association and UEFA Professional Football Committee, join the SIGA CEO, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, in the third episode of the SIGA-Soccerex Webinar series, “COVID 360°: Where does Football go now?”
The Webinar will take place this Wednesday, 3 June 2020 at 15.00 UK time.
Other high-profile speakers include:
- Umberto Gandini, President of the Italian Basketball League, and former CEO of AS Roma, Director of AC Milan and founder & First Vice-President of the European Club Association;
- Theo van Seggelen, Honorary Secretary-General and Director at the world’s footballers’ union FIFPRO; and
- Ashley Brown, Head of Governance & Club Liaison at Football Supporters Association, former CEO of Supporters Direct and Director at Portsmouth Football Club.
Moderated by BBC News journalist and presenter David Eades, the third SIGA-Soccerex Webinar takes place on the eve of the Premier League’s Annual General Meeting, where critical decisions will be made. Focusing on Club Football, the webinar will address how clubs are dealing with the mounting challenges posed by the global pandemic, with a look forward as to what the future of the beautiful game will look like.
Ahead of the webinar, Sir Dave Richards, former Chairman of the Premier League and UEFA Professional Football Committee, Senior Vice-President of the Football Association, co-founder and former President of European Professional Football Leagues and member of the International Football Association Board, said: “The structural problems facing football have long existed before the virus. Now we are confronted with this global pandemic, the sporting reality and financial situation are more complex and tougher than ever. I look forward to a far-reaching discussion on the implications of Covid-19 on club football.”
Theo van Seggelen, Honorary Secretary-General / Director, FIFPRO, stated:
“This is a crucial time for the future of football and can only be solved, in my opinion, if all the stakeholders, including the clubs, leagues, players and federations, come together. To date, each party has acted with self-interest. This must stop. This is also the right moment to evaluate and change the transfer and agents’ regulations and ensure that players are paid on time. It is absolutely necessary to think of a better distribution of money so we once and for all, close the gap between the rich and the poor.”
Umberto Gandini, President of Italian Basketball League, Former CEO of AS Roma, Director of AC Milan and founder & First Vice President of European Club Association, commented:
“All sports are facing unprecedented challenges, and clubs have tough decisions to make. In all my years at the forefront of Italian and European football, and now Italian basketball, I’ve never seen anything as hard as the present moment. The SIGA-Soccerex Webinar Series is therefore a fantastic opportunity for our industry to stay connected and address how best to overcome the pressing issues facing our sector. I commend SIGA for continuing leading the way for sport integrity and for bringing the football industry together with this initiative, in such a decisive time. I am looking forward to a great discussion on club football on 3 June 2020!”
Speaking from the fans’ perspective, Ashley Brown, Head of Governance & Club Liaison at Football Supporters Association, Former CEO of Supporters Direct & Director at Portsmouth Football Club, said:
“Following the demise of Bury football had already started to realise change was required. COVID-19 confirmed what many already knew, that the game in its current form at many levels of the pyramid was unsustainable. Without fans, revenues have disappeared and clubs are struggling to survive. Football will survive, the crisis will force it to evolve and we have the opportunity to make it stronger, fairer and more sustainable in the long term. This is a reminder that football without fans is nothing, and engaging with them is key to its success.”
Finally, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, CEO of SIGA and Chairman & CEO of SIGA AMERICA, cofounder and former CEO of the European Leagues and World Leagues Association, and former member of the UEFA Professional Football Strategy Council and FIFA Club Football Committee, said:
“Once again, the SIGA-Soccerex Webinar Series brings together some of the greatest names in professional football. Senior executives who have been at the forefront of the game over the past 25 years. They live and breathe football and have an unrivaled wealth of knowledge and expertise. Their names carry weight and command the respect of the whole industry. I thank them for accepting my invitation and championing Sport Integrity. We have worked shoulder by shoulder in the past and will continue to do so, now that football is in great need and the whole industry faces its toughest crisis ever. I look forward to a hard talk on football’s “new normal” and how leagues, clubs, players, and fans can overcome the mounting challenges ahead. I know, together, we can score.”
Register here to confirm your participation.
Send your questions to our panelists in advance to comms@siga-sport as well as ask questions in real-time.