The World Leagues Forum goes public

The Steering Group of the World Leagues Forum (WLF), the newly-created body of professional football leagues from around the world to represent their interests and convey their collective views, met today in Zurich, on the eve of the FIFA Congress.

The WLF is currently comprised of 24 professional football leagues from the four continents (listed below). On this occasion 10 members of the steering group were present in Zurich: Bundesliga (Germany), Ligue de Football Professionnel (France), Premier League (England), La Liga (Spain), Eredivisie (The Netherlands), Serie A (Italy), MLS (USA), Liga MX (Mexico), Dimayor (Colombia), and J Leagues (Japan).

Through the WLF, the professional football leagues (representing approximately 1,100 clubs and 20,000 players), are aiming to help develop modern, effective governance within world football that respect national bodies’ roles and recognise the vital part professional leagues and their member clubs can play. Football leagues keep the passion alive throughout the year and their member clubs teach and educate the future stars in national competitions long before they wear their national shirt for the first time. WLF will also help to foster cooperation between the Leagues and their member clubs through exchange of best practices (with an emphasis on helping emerging leagues in their development) and represent the Leagues and their member clubs on all matters of common interest towards sport and political institutions. This because professional football leagues are looking for an integrated approach that promote competitive and captivating football competitions around the world.

To achieve this goal, the WLF is willing to work with the future president of FIFA, whoever they may be, to promote the presence and the input of the Leagues within FIFA governance, and play an active role within FIFA's future decision-making process at all levels.

The Leagues have agreed to a three-member management group. Initially this group will comprise Enrique Bonilla (Liga MX), Christian Seifert (Bundesliga) and Frédéric Thiriez (Ligue de Football Professionnel), who will be heading this Management Group.

List of the 24 Leagues

AFC:

J LEAGUE, QATAR STARS LEAGUE, SAUDI PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE.

CAF:

PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE, KENYAN PREMIER LEAGUE, NIGERIA PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE.

CONCACAF:

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER, LIGA MX, LIGA NACIONAL DE FÚTBOL PROFESIONAL HONDURAS, UNAFUT COSTA RICA.

CONMEBOL:

DIMAYOR, LIGA BOLIVIANA DE FÚTBOL, LIGA DE ECUADOR.

EUROPE:

SERIE A, LA LIGA, BUNDESLIGA, LIGUE DE FOOTBALL PROFESSIONNEL, PREMIER LEAGUE, EREDIVISIE, DANISH LEAGUE, SWEDISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE, LIGA PORTUGUESA DE FUTEBOL PROFISSIONAL, SWISS FOOTBALL, LEAGUE SCOTISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE.

Media contact:

Jérome Perlemuter

LFP

phone +33 15365 3814

e-mail: jerome.perlemuter@lfp.fr