The key objectives of the FIFA Women’s Football Strategy are to grow participation, enhance the commercial value and build the foundations.
Club licensing is a development and control tool that MAs can use to raise standards in the key strategic areas of football clubs.
Traditionally, this includes (but is not limited to) the following areas: sporting, infrastructure, administration, legal and financial. The system uses a set of criteria that clubs must meet to receive a licence and be permitted to participate in a specific club competition, assuming the club qualifies based on sporting merit.
MAs act as licensors, determining the domestic competitions for which clubs will require a licence in order to participate and establishing the minimum criteria that clubs must meet.
Ultimately, club licensing provides a framework with the flexibility to be adapted to the domestic reality of each MA in order to improve club football.
Why Club licensing?
When properly implemented, club licensing can:
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Bring MAs closer to their clubs
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Increase coaching qualifications
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Raise the levels of professionalism in club management
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Promote financial transparency in clubs
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Promote and improve good governance at each club
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Increase clubs’ financial stability
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Increase the number of youth development teams and players
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Encourage investment in the game
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Increase trust in and the integrity of clubs
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Increase the understanding of club ownership groups
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Improve the stadiums, office spaces and training facilities of clubs
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Assist in risk and crisis management
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Enhance the integrity of competitions
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Provide a practical tool to improve conditions for players