Set to announce collaboration with a major European club
Ħamrun Spartans are mulling to become new members of the Union of European Clubs (UEC) that was launched on Monday with the mission of representing “small and medium-sized” football clubs in a landscape dominated by a rich elite.
In a statement, the newly-crowned Premier League champions said that during Monday’s launching the club was represented by Victor Cassar, who is the Head of International Relations Unit, which was formed to strengthen the club’s European network.
“Our club has been invited to attend the launch of the Union of European Clubs on Monday, April 24, in Brussels Belgium,” Ħamrun Spartans CEO Marcel Bonnici said in a statement.
“The programme includes a visit to Royal Union St Gilloise, home of Maltese international Teddy Teuma.
“Our club will be represented by Victor Cassar as Head of International Relations. This new Club Association will be representing small and medium-sized clubs around Europe. The scope is to give a broader representation and a stronger voice to clubs who are not amongst the European elite.”
The Spartans said that earlier this year they had already accepted to form part of the European Club Association (ECA) Network.
“This is the first step towards full membership of this association which was formed in 2008,” Bonnici added.
“These affiliations will give our club a say in matters concerning clubs who participate regularly in European competitions.”
Bonnici also revealed that the club are planning to announce a number of a collaboration agreement with a major club in Europe.
“With regards to international relations, the club will soon announce Collaboration Agreements with a major club in Europe and other international football entities. These agreements are expected to bring about significant benefits to Ħamrun Spartans in various ways.”
The UEC was launched in Brussels, where it will be based, and said it intended “to give a voice” to around 1,400 professional clubs in Europe who, without being involved in any of UEFA’s three club competitions, do not have any proper representation among the sport’s governance.
The exact structure of the organisation remains vague as it is yet to appoint a management team or publish statutes.
However, the UEC claimed at its unveiling that 40 clubs from 25 countries had already joined up, with Premier League side Crystal Palace, Belgian league high-fliers Union Saint-Gilloise and Lokomotiv Zagreb of Croatia all at the launch.
It said it intends to function “in addition to” the powerful European Club Association (ECA) which, founded in 2008 and with more than 300 members, is the only existing body of the continent’s clubs that is represented on UEFA’s executive committee.
