G-14

Map of the G-14 in Europe.

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The G-14 was an organisation of European football clubs, that existed between 2000 and 2008.

Composition

Essentially a pressure group, they were often linked to various initiatives to create what the media have called a European Super League,^{[citation needed]} although was often denied.^{[citation needed]} These reports were particularly common during 2003 when UEFA took the decision to drop the second group phase from the Champions League without the consultation of the participating clubs.^{[citation needed]} G-14 took this as justification that were needed within European Football to create what they call a ‘voice for the clubs’. ^{[citation needed]}

The G-14 clubs were spread across seven different countries, and had won around 250 national league titles between them. Three came from each of the top divisions of England, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain; two from the Netherlands; and one from Portugal. G-14 members had won the European Cup/Champions League 41 times out of 51 seasons.

The 2004 Champions League final was the first in that competition since 1992 in which one of the finalists was not a G-14 member; the 2004 final featured member Porto and non-member AS Monaco.^{[citation needed]} There have been only three Champions League or European Cup finals where both teams were non-members of G-14.^{[citation needed]} In the other existing major UEFA club competition, the UEFA Cup, fourteen finals featured two non-members, compared to only three that have featured two G-14 clubs.^{[citation needed]} 2005 was the first final since 1989 to be contested between two non-members - CSKA Moscow and Sporting Lisbon.^{[citation needed]} In 2006, the UEFA Cup was contested again between two non-members Sevilla and Middlesbrough, as well as in 2007 when Sevilla played Espanyol.^{[citation needed]}

History

The G-14 was founded in September 2000 by 14 leading clubs to provide a unified voice in negotiations with UEFA and FIFA. New members could join by invitation only. In August 2002, four more clubs joined, taking the membership to 18, although the organisation retained its original name.

As the leading clubs in European Football, their power on the world stage was best demonstrated during the 2006 FIFA World Cup where they provided 22% of participating players.^{[citation needed]} This supported their assertion that national associations should pay players wages whilst on international duty and provide compensation in the case of injuries. In April 2004, G-14 initiated a preliminary investigation into FIFA by the Swiss Competition Commission, when they complained of FIFA's requiring their players to be available for FIFA international competitions without compensating the clubs. FIFA president Sepp Blatter refused to negotiate with the G-14 on the matter.^{[citation needed]}

On September 5 2005 the G-14 clubs decided to take FIFA to court over paying players for internationals after the Belgian club Charleroi lost Abdelmajid Oulmers in November for eight months when he was injured playing for Morocco.^{[citation needed]}

If the G-14 were successful in their court case against FIFA, it could effectively mean the end of international football between national teams;^{[original research?]} as so few countries' football associations would be able to afford to pay for big name multi-million earning stars to play on their team.^{[citation needed]} This would have meant national teams comprised of "affordable" low to mid level players.^{[original research?]} Even if the case were decided in favour of Charleroi, there might be a possibility to avoid such drastic outcomes if FIFA organised a system whereby countries helped with clubs player insurance costs, though even this would have cost many millions and might still not be feasible.^{[citation needed]}

Foreseeing such a situation, there was talk^[who?] of creating a "World Cup" for club teams instead and many^[who?] felt that this would be the next step after the conclusion of the court case (if the decision was in the G-14's favour).^{[citation needed]} The case was dropped following the agreement to disband G-14.

Prior to the 2006 FIFA World Cup the G-14 members demanded a 'fair percentage' of receipts from tournaments, such as the World Cup to compensate for the clubs releasing players to compete in these tournaments.^[1]

The last president of the group was Olympique Lyonnais chairman Jean-Michel Aulas, who replaced David Dein who stepped down after six months of a two year presidency after leaving Arsenal. He was elected president on May 16, 2007, after securing unanimous agreement from member clubs to the principle of expanding the G-14's membership. Aulas announced his intention to consider inviting a further 16 teams to join, stating that he wanted the G14 "to expand geographically and be strengthened by other clubs." ^[2] ^[3] In October 2007, 22 additional European clubs were invited to participate in talks towards expansion. ^[4]

On 28 May 2007, at an extraordinary congress in Zurich, UEFA President Michel Platini called upon G-14 to disband, declaring that they were "elitist" and that club grievances could be aired through a new UEFA body, the Professional Football Strategy Council.^[5]

On 15 January 2008 the G-14 and UEFA came to an agreement. FIFA and UEFA would pay compensation for international injuries and selection after a World Cup or European Championship and, in return, the G-14 agreed to disband on February 15 2008. However a new European Club Association which will feature 100 teams from all 53 UEFA nations, with at least one team from each country, will be set up in its place.^[6]