Uefa joins forces with Council of Europe in ‘historic’ deal

Collaboration to focus on long-term development of sport and its role in society.

Uefa, the governing body for soccer in Europe, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Council of Europe focused on the long-term development of sport and its role in society.

The collaboration will be focused on four main areas of cooperation: human rights, integrity and governance in sport; safety and security at soccer matches; mutual cooperation ahead of major soccer tournaments; and regular dialogue, joint initiatives, exchanges of good practices and targeted projects.

The MoU was signed on Wednesday at the Council of Europe’s headquarters in Strasbourg, France, by Uefa president Aleksander Čeferin and Thorbjørn Jagland, the Council of Europe secretary general.

“We are pleased to enter into a formal and strategic partnership with the Council of Europe,” said Čeferin. “I am looking forward to expanding our dialogue even further, thus taking our cooperation to the next level. Together, we can make progress to promote the positive values of football and the European sports model in general.”

Uefa’s arrangement with the Council of Europe is its latest attempt to strengthen relations with European public authorities. Earlier this year, the governing body renewed and extended its partnership with the European Commission in Brussels.

“Sport is of enormous benefit to society and we should maximise its positive potential,” added Jagland. “Our partnership will help us promote human rights and good governance in sport on the basis of the shared common European values of diversity and solidarity.”

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