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UEFA Summit
Union of European
Football Associations
Official Study Guide
 AGENDA
Assessing the viability of youth
development in modern football as a
strategy to avoid clubs from facing
financial difficulties.
 11 Letter from the Executive Board

2 Introduction to the committee

TABLE OF CONTENTS

3 List of key terms

4 Introduction to the agenda

5 Timeline of events

6 Current scenario

7 Case studies

8 FFP Articles

9 Questions a resolution must answer

10 Sources to use

11 Preambulatory and operative clauses

 Letter from the EB
Dear Delegates,

It is our honor to invite you to the UEFA Summit 2025, conducted under the Model
United Nations format. The summit unites ambitious and thought-provoking
delegates from all over the world to discuss one of the most pressing issues
confronting contemporary football: the use of youth development as a strategic
response to economic uncertainty and infringement of Financial Fair Play (FFP)
rules. In a world where football clubs are increasingly under economic pressures,
the debate about developing local talent is no longer a choice—it is a necessity.
This conference will examine how formal investment in youth academies and
homegrown player routes can not only save clubs money, but also ensure long-
term sustainability, equity, and local development throughout the sport.

As representatives, you will also be able to examine the policy implications of

such an issue, drawing from tried and tested case studies in clubs like Ajax,
Benfica, and Athletic Bilbao, whose youth systems have helped lessen reliance on
expensive transfers and fostering greater financial transparency. Your role will be
to represent your assigned country or organization, research relevant frameworks
and precedents, and work collaboratively to draft resolutions that address both
the sporting and financial dimensions of youth development. The summit will
consist of moderated caucuses, unmoderated debates, position statement
presentations, and a final resolution-writing session. This format is intended to
facilitate the exchange of different perspectives within the context of real-world
systems of football administration and financial policy.

We ask that you come to this summit with a sense of diplomacy, curiosity, and
accountability. Please review all preparatory materials and background briefing
documents handed out before the sessions. Your knowledgeable contribution is
essential to ensuring productive discussion and effective outcomes. Football is not
merely a sport—it is a global cultural power and economic sector that influences
the lives of millions. As MUN representatives, you are responsible for creating
policies that have the capacity to shape the future of youth empowerment,
financial health, and moral values within the sport. Let your voice echo not just the
role you have been assigned, but the future you see for football.

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We eagerly await the heated debate, reflective resolutions, and leadership you
will provide at this summit. Welcome again, and let this conference be an arena
for innovation, cooperation, and change for the better.

Warm regards,

ARYAN MEHTA ADHYANTH KAVINATTAMAI

Director Director

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 Introduction to the Committee
The UEFA Summit brings together stakeholders and leaders from European football.
These meetings act as venues for discussions on events, pertinent issues, rule
changes, strategic development, and governance.

Because of the nature of summits, UEFA and national football associations,

numerous clubs, and relevant leagues usually constitute the primary attendees.
The summits cover a myriad of issues, such as secondary education programs,
financial fair play, the future of UEFA competitions, and other technical
advancements in the sport. The purpose of the meetings is to foster collaboration
while safeguarding the game and its sustainable development in Europe.

UEFA clearly articulates its purpose. Their strategic goal is to manage European
football both in a balanced manner and on all levels. They wish to champion the
sport by organizing major events, while ensuring the welfare of the athletes is
prioritized. The integrity of the sport is guarded by UEFA fighting against corruption
and upholding moral values. They advocate for the proper usage of football
monetization by reallocating the funds to all levels of the sport, prioritizing
grassroots initiatives and the fundamental values of sport. In addition, UEFA
represents safety of youth and a common goal to make the game great again
which is embodied through the “United for Success” project which outlines the
vision, values, and goals which will steer the activities of UEFA from 2024 until 2030.
After thorough discussions with various national associations and stakeholders of
the European football ecosystem, the UEFA Executive Committee greenlighted the
strategy in February 2024. It is poised to offer UEFA and other major stakeholders
of the sport an unequivocal focus and bold objectives for the next six years.

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 List of Key Terms
Trained Compensation: A fee paid to a club that nurtured a player, even if they move on
a free transfer.

Training Compensation & Solidarity Payment: Clubs that invest in youth development
(ages 12–21) are entitled to a fee when those players sign their first professional
contracts or transfer before age 23. This fee reflects the cost of training them.

Solidarity Mechanism (Article 21): When a player transfers between clubs (domestic or
international), 5% of the transfer fee is distributed pro-rata to all clubs involved in their
training between ages 12 and 23.

Article 19 (FIFA RTSP): No international transfers until players are 18, with very limited
exceptions (e.g., family relocation, intra-EU transfers for 16–17 year‑olds with guarantees
on training, schooling, living conditions, trials under strict rules).

Articles of FIFAs RTSP: International footballing laws that must be followed.

DECLARATION OF THE UEFA CONGRESS ON THE SUBJECT OF LOCAL TRAINING OF PLAYERS:

The declaration that urges clubs to have a certain number of local players in their squad.

Treaty of Lisbon article 165: Protects the moral and physical integrity of young athletes.
Encourages sport for social, not purely economic, purposes.

Youth Academy: A structured system within a club to train and develop young players,
typically from ages 8–18.

Homegrown Players: Players trained at a club (or within the same national association)
for a minimum period, often used to meet league or UEFA squad regulations.

Player Pathway: The planned progression of a youth player from academy level to the
first team.

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Talent Identification: The process of scouting and recognizing young players with
potential to succeed professionally.

Scouting Network: A system of scouts working locally or internationally to discover

promising youth talent.

Player Development Model: A club’s philosophy and structure for nurturing and
improving youth players across technical, physical, and mental attributes.

Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP): A framework in England designed to improve youth
development by categorizing academies and setting coaching and resource standards.

Academy Categories: Levels (1 to 4) assigned to academies based on facilities,

coaching quality, and funding under the EPPP system.

Loan System: Temporary transfers allowing young players to gain experience at other
clubs, often used to bridge the gap to first-team football.

Transition to First Team: The stage where a youth player is promoted to train or play with
the senior squad.

Financial Fair Play (FFP): UEFA rules aimed at ensuring clubs do not spend more than they
earn and avoid financial risk.

Sustainable Club Model: A business model focused on long-term financial health, often
involving reliance on youth development and cost control.

Wage-to-Revenue Ratio: A key metric showing what percentage of a club’s income is

spent on wages; lower ratios suggest better sustainability.

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Transfer Market Dependency: The extent to which a club relies on buying or selling
players to stay competitive or financially afloat.

Return on Investment (ROI): The financial benefit gained from investing in areas
like youth development, usually measured by player sales or performance impact.

Cost Efficiency: Achieving maximum output (e.g. talent, performance) from limited
financial input.

Revenue Streams: Sources of income for a club, including ticket sales,

merchandise, sponsorships, broadcasting, and player transfers.

Operating Costs: Day-to-day expenses of running a club, including wages,

maintenance, and administrative costs.

Profit from Player Trading: The surplus made when selling players for more than
their acquisition/development costs.

Break-Even Requirement: A rule under FFP where clubs must not repeatedly spend
more than they earn over a set period.

Squad Value: The total estimated market value of all players in a club’s squad,
influenced by age, performance, and potential.

Amortization of Transfers: Accounting method that spreads a player’s transfer fee

over the length of their contract, affecting annual financial reports.

Long-Term Strategic Planning: A forward-looking approach to managing a club’s

sporting and financial direction, often involving youth development and
infrastructure investment.

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 Importance of the agenda
This agenda seeks to examine increased use of youth player development in
contemporary football as a viable means of ensuring financial stability without
compromising competitive integrity and the nature of football. From selling homegrown
players to constructing sustainable teams via academy products, European clubs are
looking to reshape their models to remain below FFP limits and to think of youth as a
viable option.

This committee will provide useful debate and consideration of whether youth can be
utilized effectively as a solution or not, It will also demonstrate each clubs dedication
towards ensuring balanced competition, youth development, and sustainable long term
in European football. We will look into the efficacy of youth-focused strategies, their
influence on competitiveness, and the necessity of new guidelines that assist clubs in
addressing the complicated financial condition of football today.

This agenda seeks to examine increasing dependence on youth development in

contemporary football as a long-term way of maintaining financial stability without
jeopardizing the competitive character and integrity of the sport. European clubs are
reassessing their modus operandi in order to meet FFP policies, both by selling matured
players and building long-lasting teams through academy products with youth
dominating as the leading solution.

This committee will provide a good debate and exchange regarding the viability of
youth as the solution. It will also lay down each club's commitment towards fair play
competition, youth development, and sustainable development in football in Europe.
This committee will assess the performance of youth policies, impacts on
competitiveness, and the need for new approaches to allow clubs to negotiate the
complex financial niceties of modern football.

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 Timeline of Events
1995 – Bosman Ruling (Europe-wide)
Impact: Allowed free transfers at end of contracts, encouraging clubs to develop youth
talent instead of overspending on transfers.

2000 – FC Nantes Academy Success (France)

Team: FC Nantes
Impact: Produced talents like Didier Deschamps and Marcel Desailly, helping the club
remain competitive on a tight budget.

2002 – Sporting CP’s Youth Boom (Portugal)

Team: Sporting Lisbon
Impact: Youth academy graduates Cristiano Ronaldo, Ricardo Quaresma, and João
Moutinho emerge; becomes a business model.

2008 – Barcelona’s La Masia Peak (Spain)

Team: FC Barcelona
Impact: Fielded 7 academy graduates in UEFA Champions League final; sustainable
success with low transfer spending.

2009 – Ratification of lisbon treaty article 165

Beginning of one of the most impactful articles in world football.

2010 – Ajax Return to Youth-Centric Policy (Netherlands)

Team: AFC Ajax
Impact: Recommitment to youth led to strong performances and big player sales (e.g.,
Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt).

2013 – Southampton FC Youth Focus (England)

Team: Southampton
Impact: Produced players like Gareth Bale and Luke Shaw; key revenue source from
selling youth players.

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2016 – Red Bull Salzburg Youth Strategy (Austria)
Team: RB Salzburg
Impact: Became known for producing young talents like Erling Haaland and
Dominik Szoboszlai and selling them for profit.

2017 – Financial Fair Play (FFP) Enforcement Begins (UEFA-wide)

Impact: Clubs started investing more in youth to comply with FFP regulations and
avoid overspending on transfers.

2019 – Chelsea Transfer Ban Forces Academy Use (England)

Team: Chelsea FC
Impact: Relied on youth like Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham, leading to
competitive performance without new signings.

2020 – COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts Club Revenues (Global)

Impact: Revenue losses forced many clubs to turn to youth academies due to
financial constraints.

2022 – Benfica’s Youth Model Profits (Portugal)

Team: SL Benfica
Impact: Sold academy graduate Darwin Núñez for over €75M; highlighted long-
term economic value of youth development.

2023 – UEFA Youth League Grows in Influence (Europe-wide)

Impact: More investment in youth teams across Europe to gain exposure, develop
talent, and ensure long-term sustainability.

2024 – Girona FC’s Youth Emphasis (Spain)

Team: Girona FC
Impact: Focus on younger squads and affordable recruitment models as part of
sustainable club growth in La Liga.

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2025-Barcelona’s La Masia vs Chelsea’s scouting
-Impact : Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal has lit up the world on a rather global scale
and continues to thrive with a rather youth oriented team with few veterans built
around him through minimum spending VS Chelsea F.C. who Lifted the Club World
Cup Trophy with most of their squad being at a relatively young age all through
brilliant scouting, notable examples are Cole Jermaine Palmer from Manchester
City. Chelsea also have one of their own young super stars in the making-Estevao
Willian.This chelsea project is one that rallies most football fans but he question is
will it work? As of 2025 the average age of Chelsea's starting XI in the Premier

League this season was 24 years 36 days – the youngest ever by a team in a single
campaign in the competition's history, beating the previous record set by Leeds
United in 1999/00 (24 years 162 days) and they are also getting compelling results.

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 Current scenario
As the acquisition of established talent becomes prohibitively expensive, football clubs
are increasingly interested in acquiring younger football talent. FIFA has put in place
safeguards for the transfer/registration of underage players (referred to as minors) by
means of Article 19 of FIFA’s Regulation on the Status and Transfer of Players (‘RSTP’).

Article 19 was first introduced in the 2001 edition of the RSTP, restricting the international
transfer of players in the 10 to 18 years of age bracket. A small number of exceptions to
the general rule were provided, which allowed an international transfer of a minor in
cases where:

(i) the player’s parents move to the country where the offering club is based in
reason unrelated to football;

(ii) the player is aged 16-18 and the transfer is within the European Union or the
European Economic Area; and

(iii) the player’s domicile is within 50 km of a national border and no further than 100
km from the club’s headquarters.

The club needs to apply for exemption approval from FIFA’s Status Committee, through
their country’s national football association, to register the player.

Additionally, Article 19 extends the restriction to players registering with a club for the
first time (i.e. not a transfer), if the player is not a national in the country whose club with
which they wish to register. The RSTP was drafted in accordance with previous
negotiations between FIFA and the European Commission, thereby providing an
impression of Article 19 operating in amenability with European law.

In 2009, RSTP was amended to include clubs who were not registered with their national
association. In 2009 the ‘Sub-Committee’ was created, tasked with overseeing the
enforcement of Article 19. All applications for international transfers and first registration
of minors are now required to be assessed by the Sub-Committee and must be
submitted through FIFA’s Transfer Matching System. In the event that a submission is
rejected by the Sub-Committee, an associated club can appeal to the Court of

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Arbitration for Sports (‘CAS’) within 21 days of receiving the grounds of the Sub-
Committee’s decision.

The jurisprudence of both CAS and the Sub-Committee has allowed for the
creation of additional exceptions to Article 19. For example, foreign minors who
have been living for more than five consecutive years in the country in which they
wish to register, as well as exchange students seeking to register for up to one
year, have had their first-time registration approved. Other exceptional
circumstances have been dealt with on a case-by-case basis by CAS, such as
situations involving minor players seeking registration in a country where they are
currently residing as refugees.

Ultimately, one of the biggest and most controversial challenges facing CAS is in
relation to cases where a player’s parents move to the country in which the new
club is located and determine whether it is for ‘reasons unrelated to football’.
Famously, FC Barcelona brought Messi and his parents to Spain when he was 13
years old. This predated Article 19.

The Gulf region is interesting in that a huge percentage of the population are non-
nationals, meaning that there are a large number of youth players whose parents
have come to the region for non-football related reasons, i.e., they may be able to
avail of the exception and successfully sign for a local club.

A number of recent cases involving European clubs have demonstrated the

severity of sanctions, imposed in line with the FIFA Disciplinary Code, on violations
of Article 19. One such case that received extensive media coverage involved FC
Barcelona, which was brought before the disciplinary committee in 2013 for
registering 10 minors in violation of the RSTP. The club received a transfer ban
prohibiting it from signing any new players for two transfer windows; this ban was
later upheld by CAS in 2014 upon appeal by the club. More recently, the FIFA
Disciplinary Committee sanctioned Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid for breaching
the RSTP following the conclusions of investigations concerning minor players
involved with each club. Both clubs received a transfer ban restricting the
registration of any national or international players for two transfer windows,
commencing January 2017, with Real’s ban being reduced by CAS to one transfer
window, so it has now expired.

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Despite the strict enforcement and interpretation of Article 19, abusive transfer
practices that fall outside the coverage of the RSTP’s coverage still persist.

There has been concern that large groups of players who had just turned 18 were
trafficked and sent to mass football trials in Europe, with the players left
unattended and without a ticket to return home should they fail to be selected.
Moreover, despite FIFA lowering the minimum age limit for international transfer
certificates from 12 to 10 years of age (following the 2013 FC Barcelona
investigation), concern remains that the age threshold is still too high. It has been
suggested that clubs will simply look to even younger players and there is some
evidence of this; in 2013, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona signed nine year olds
Takuhiro Nakai, from Japan, and Sandro Reyes, from the Philippines.The RSTP
further provides that minor players cannot sign a professional contract with a term
of more than three years.

This means that when the contract term expires after the player’s 18th birthday (so
this moment cannot be later than the day before his 21st birthday) the player is
free to sign with any club he may choose. The prior club cannot force the player to
sign a new professional contract with itself. From the club’s perspective, this
provision may appear harsh, in that they have trained and developed the player
and expended considerable time and money doing so; however, the club may be
entitled to ‘training compensation’. Training compensation is paid according to a
particular formula, to a player’s training clubs, when he first signs a professional
contract and each time he is transferred until the end of the season of his 23rd
birthday.

The Neymar transfer brings us into uncharted waters as regards evaluating the
worth of a player. The continued upward trajectory in transfer fees will lead to
inevitable pressure on clubs to consider recruiting more cheaply by investing in
youth players. However, it is not a free and open market due to the sensible
restrictions FIFA has put in place. Yet, the opportunity to obtain an exemption for
the transfer/registration of youth players is probably higher in the Gulf than any
other area in the world due to the demographics and the exception where the
player’s parents move to the country for reasons unrelated to football. On the
other hand, local football associations have quotas in place in relation to the

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number of foreign players allowed to play first team football. Ultimately, it is a
matter for local football associations and their clubs to consider whether allowing
a greater number of resident youth players aligns with their objectives. Clubs must
consider these things before making any blunt statements.

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 Country Positions
FC Barcelona

Few football clubs in the world have embodied the might of young player development
as deeply as FC Barcelona. Behind its philosophy was La Masia, the club's legendary
academy that created some of history's best players. The golden generation: Lionel
Messi, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández, Sergio Busquets, Gerard Piqué, and many more
was not only a sporting phenomenon, but a financial coup. These domestic prodigies
aided Barcelona's authority over La Liga and Europe from 2008 to 2012, claiming several
Champions League and domestic trophies. The team spent comparatively moderately
on outside transfers and wages during this time with respect to its European competitors,
permitting sporting and financial effectiveness. The connection between academy
products and Pep Guardiola's tactical framework formed not only a dynasty but an
efficient model emulated globally.

But the post-Guardiola era witnessed Barcelona slowly forsake this model. The club's
management, in a bid to retain its international stature, started going wild on headline
signings that did not align with the tactical setup or yield investment return. Ousmane
Dembélé (€135m), Philippe Coutinho (€145m), and Antoine Griezmann (€120m) are
some of the most costly and ultimately unsuccessful transfers in football history. Added to
inflated wage bills, poor management of sponsorship deals, and the economic punch
caused by COVID-19, the club quickly went into crisis. By 2021, Barcelona found itself
with over €1.35 billion in debt and an operating deficit so severe that La Liga prohibited
the renewal of Lionel Messi’s contract, leading to his departure on a free transfer-an
event that stunned global football and signaled the peak of the club’s fiscal collapse.

The underlying issue was a fundamental departure from long-term planning. While La
Masia went on to create talent, the route to the first team became clogged by high-
priced foreign players and incessant managerial flux. Youngsters drifted away because
of no chance or were employed in crisis measures without integration. The club pursued
brief commercial glory at the cost of sporting continuity, devastating its age-old
advantage. Furthermore, years of unsafe financial instruments, such as loans against
future incomes and postponed salary settlements, built structural unbalances that
remained concealed until they could not be pushed further any more. Significantly, the
Bartomeu board also abused the academy's brand in formulating operational decisions
that were antithetical to its long-term philosophy.

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Afterwards, Barcelona was compelled to undergo a top-level overhaul. Under
President Joan Laporta, the club launched emergency cost-cutting policies,
triggered financial "levers" like the sale of future broadcasting contracts, and
started to refocus on its academy. As of 2023–2024, graduates of La Masia like
Alejandro Balde, Lamine Yamal, and Fermin Lopez, together with teenage
sensations like Gavi and Pedri (the latter bought at age 16), are at the core of the
first team. These players not only save wages but return the club's footballing
identity and sense of belonging to the fans. Their integration has been both a
necessity and reassertion of club values.

Barcelona's experience proves that youth development is not merely a cost-

cutting measure, it is a stabilizing force, financially and culturally. When academy
players are provided with clear development routes, backed up by tactical
stability and club culture, they provide long-term dividends far more extensive
than what is achieved on the playing field in the short term. The moment that
system is broken for the sake of short-term glamour or outside hype, the financial
repercussions can be catastrophic, as Barcelona's €1.35B debt showed. The case
reveals how a club can swing from global best practice to cautionary tale in just a
few years.

What distinguished Barcelona from others who completely broke down, such as
Málaga or Parma, is resilience in its brand and self-correcting ability. In contrast
with clubs whose financial downfalls resulted in relegation or dissolution,
Barcelona preserved its worldwide significance and competitive setup. This is also
partly attributable to the building heritage of La Masia and the unfathomable
devotion of its worldwide support base. Therefore, notwithstanding when in turmoil,
the club possessed instruments to start afresh via its academy infrastructure.

In summary, FC Barcelona provides an outstanding double lesson: **youth

development can maintain greatness, but not atone for financial irresponsibility**.
When used in conjunction with structural caution, it builds dynasties. When
undermined by mismanagement, it collapses under the weight of its own heritage.
For European clubs who seek to follow Barcelona's halcyon years, the message is
clear: talent pipelines must be nurtured, not cut through by speculative short-
termism.

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Olympique Lyonnais

Olympique Lyonnais is generally viewed as being among Europe's best talent

nurseries. The club's youth academy has produced world-class players like Karim
Benzema, Alexandre Lacazette, Corentin Tolisso, Nabil Fekir, and recently Rayan
Cherki and Malo Gusto. This youth development model allowed Lyon to make
huge profits from selling players while maintaining fairly low operating expenses.
For more than a decade, Lyon employed this plan to stay competitive in Ligue 1
and play frequently in European competitions, particularly the UEFA Champions
League and Europa League.

Yet, although the academy system funded the club at times, excessive use of
youth development eventually began to show its flaws. Since 2019, Lyon has had
trouble consistently qualifying for the Champions League, an essential revenue
source. As performances on the pitch began to decline, commercial popularity
and television revenue plateaued. In 2023, France's football financial monitor, the
Direction Nationale du Contrôle de Gestion (DNCG), subjected the club to
increased scrutiny for rising financial instability. Ownership instability and
managerial flux only exacerbated the situation, demonstrating how even a highly
successful academy cannot protect a club from broader systemic vulnerabilities.

Lyon is a warning tale. While youth academies are a vital resource, they cannot
stand alone. A viable financial model needs to be multi-faceted combining stable
on-field success, shrewd commercial alliances, secure governance, and European
involvement. The club's recent struggles highlight the fact that banking on talent
development, without supplementing this with diversified and strong revenue
sources, is not enough to prevent long-term financial hardship. Apart from on-field
poor performance, Lyon also encountered structural economic disadvantages
relative to clubs from wealthier leagues. Although Ligue 1 has developed
incredible talents, its total commercial appeal, television rights, and global brand
is comparatively low against the Premier League or La Liga. Since Lyon depended
so heavily on transfer gains, the club was particularly exposed to market vagaries
and transfer windows. In years when big players were not sold, or when
purchasers negotiated reduced fees, Lyon's finances tightened up, prompting cost
savings or raising debt exposure. Furthermore, prioritizing talent selling over
everything else resulted in the club frequently sacrificing team stability, diluting
their competitiveness in Europe and eroding their brand image.

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Adding to this is the increasing challenge from richer clubs now poaching youth
stars earlier. Premier League and Bundesliga clubs increasingly recruit France's
youth ranks and provide greater wages and more promising routes to the highest
level of football. This development makes it increasingly difficult for Lyon to hold
on to its most promising young talent after the age of 18, thus diluting the
academy's capacity to provide first-team-ready players consistently. Furthermore,
the club's strategy in looking abroad for investment, for example in creating the
women's team in America and forging worldwide partnerships under OL Groupe,
has been criticized as stretching resources too thin without quick payoff while
French domestic consolidation was critical.

In the end, Lyon illustrates the potential and the precariousness of a youth-based
financial model. While talent development keeps wage bills down and creates
capital in the form of transfers, it is also risky if not underpinned by strong
commercial planning, on-field success, and reinvestment. The current financial
weakness of the club indicates that successful academies are not enough to be a
financial lifeline. Rather, youth development should be part of a hybrid model,
balancing immediate performance with long-term asset development. For
European clubs seeking to replicate the Lyon formula, this case provides a
salutary warning: talent might be abundant, but stability requires much more.

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 FFP Articles
1.DECLARATION OF THE UEFA CONGRESS ON THE SUBJECT OF LOCAL TRAINING OF PLAYERS

1. The training and development of young players is of crucial importance to the future
of football. Every football club in every national football association should play a part in
this process.
2. Football clubs have an important social and educational role in their local
communities, in their regions, and in their countries. In this context, the nurturing of local
talent is not only beneficial for football as a sport. It is also beneficial for society as a
whole.
3. UEFA recognises that finance plays an important part in football today. But football
should not be a mere financial contest. It should above all be a sporting contest. This
sporting element means that every club must accept some responsibility for training,
and not rely solely on acquiring those players who were trained by others.
4. Training should be encouraged in every national member association of UEFA. This
will, in turn, help to provide a pool of playing talent in every European country and can
also help to increase the quality of, and competition between, national teams.
5. For all these reasons, on 2 February 2005, the UEFA Executive Committee adopted a
rule which will, starting from the season 2006/07, require clubs playing in UEFA club
competitions to have a minimum number of local trained players within their overall
squad limit.
6. We, the Presidents of the 52 member associations of UEFA, take the opportunity of this
Congress to endorse this new rule, and the sporting

the UEFA Congress Declaration on the Issue of Local Training of Players (2005)
also emphasizes that training and development of young players are crucial for
football's future. It emphasizes that every club has an obligation not only to play but also
to produce talent.

Clubs are recognized as having a major social and educational role to play within their
local communities, to the extent that academies benefit the sport and society at large.

In order to establish this principle, UEFA implemented a regulation from the 2006/07
season whereby clubs in UEFA competitions must include a minimum number of locally
trained players in their squads. This provision compels clubs to invest in their academy
sides and not merely select material developed elsewhere.

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2. UEFA Financial Sustainability Regulations (FFSR) 2023

These rules replaced the previous Financial Fair Play system and aim to ensure clubs
balance their income and spending appropriately. The break-even concept is at the
heart of this, which is to avoid excessive spending that may be detrimental to clubs
financially.

Revenue from sales of academy players can be accounted for, but UEFA demands that
clubs submit open and honest financial reasons not to be tampered with.

The FFSR also impose ceilings on wage bills, transfer spending, and agent commissions,
even the playing field out to a fairer competitive field and averting potential financial
meltdown.

3. FIFA Rules on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP)

The RSTP are the central rules of FIFA on transfers and the registration of players, and
Articles 5, 6, 7, and 19 specifically protect youth. They apply a general ban on
international player transfers under 18 years of age, except in special cases, as a means
of protecting minors against exploitation.

They also establish training compensation to compensate clubs for their investment in a
player's development and solidarity payments, which ensure training clubs are paid a
share of future transfer fees when their players are transferred.

Together, these provisions guarantee academies are identified and compensated

financially for their role in helping develop professional footballers.

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4. Lisbon Treaty (Article 165 – TFEU)

Article 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union defines the EU role in
sport, affirming it should complement, supplement, and coordinate national policies.

It upholds the protection of the moral and physical integrity of young athletes and the
development of sport as an economic factor and as a social, educational, and cultural
value.

By including sport in the law of the EU, this treaty also strengthens the basis of fair
competition, ethical governance, and safeguard of young players in Europe.

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 Questions a Resolution Must Answer
1) What legal frameworks must be set up to promote youth development as a financial
strategy but also monitor the amount of youth players being sold?

2) What measures must clubs take individually to integrate and rely on youth systems
instead of unnecessarily splashing money?

3) What role can national league boards play in encouraging academy development?

4) To what extent can UEFA regulate and support youth-driven financial models across
Europe?

5) How can smaller clubs benefit from youth systems without being exploited by bigger
clubs?

6) What financial incentives or restrictions can be introduced to promote fair reliance on

youth?

7) What legal bodies can be invited to stay as an oversight to monitor overselling youth
players?

8) What consequences can be set if there is a violation of the RTSP or Lisbon Treaty
(Article 165)?

9) What goal can be set for clubs to raise a certain amount of money from selling young
players in a specific proportion without violating any interclub treaties?

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 Sources to Use
The Right Sources:

1.Official UN Websites, Articles, and Libraries

2.UN Ratified Sites. Eg: Aljazeera, Britannica, Amnesty International, etc.
3.Governmental Websites (of your country)
4.Websites ending with “.org” that follow fact-based reporting
5.Websites of NGOs (that your country is associated with)

These sources are verified with accurate information your portfolio could use. A UN
website is the most reliable as it is UN-ratified and gives you more in-depth information
about your country’s stance.

The Wrong Sources:

1.Buzzfeed
2.Wikipedia
3.Quora
4.Websites ending with “.com” that have a vested interest
5.Op-ed articles

All of the sources listed above are opinionated with the perception of the article’s writers.
These sources also answer questions from a person’s individual knowledge domain with no
proven accuracy.

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Preambulatory and Operative Clauses

Preambulatory clauses:
Acknowledging Fulfilling Taking note
Affirming Fully alarmed Viewing with appreciation
Alarmed by Fulfilling Welcoming
Approving Aware of
Fully alarmed Noting with appreciation
Believing
Fully aware Noting with approval
Bearing in mind
Confident Fully believing Noting with deep concern
Congratulating Further deploring Noting with regret
Contemplating Further recalling Noting with satisfaction
Convinced Guided by Observing
Declaring Having adopted Pointing out
Deeply concerned Having considered Reaffirming
Deeply conscious
Having considered further Realizing
Deeply convinced
Having devoted attention Recalling
Deeply disturbed
Deeply regretting Having examined Recognizing
Deploring Having heard Referring
Desiring Having received Reminding
Emphasizing Having studied Seeking
Expecting Keeping in mind Taking into account
Expressing its appreciation Noting further. Taking into consideration
Expressing its satisfaction

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Preambulatory and Operative Clauses

Operative clauses:
Accepts Designates Recommends
Affirms Encourages Regrets
Approves Endorses Requests
Appreciates Expresses its hope Resolves
Asks Further invites Seeks
Authorizes Further proclaims Strongly affirms
Calls for Further recommends Strongly condemns
Calls upon Further requests Strongly urges
Condemns Further resolves Suggests
Congratulates Hopes Trusts
Confirms Proclaims Transmits
Deplores Proposes Urges

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