The curiosity of the last day of the 2024–25 Premier League season revolved around which teams might guarantee a top-five finish and Champions League football for the next season, as the title destination was already decided and the three demoted teams were already condemned.
After losing to Manchester United due to a refereeing disagreement and a subpar performance, Nottingham Forest's desperate attempt to secure a spot at Europe's top table ultimately failed, and Aston Villa was left out. To qualify for the Champions League, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Newcastle joined champions Liverpool and Europa League winners Tottenham.
To become a Champions League club, however, a team must first qualify. They then have to meet a number of requirements set by UEFA before they can play in the most prestigious club football competition.
Naturally, the first is Financial Fair Play, which in 2022 was renamed UEFA's Financial Sustainability Regulations. less memorable. FSR stipulates that clubs may report losses of up to €60 million over a three-year period; however, if a club's owner covers losses through equity, that amount may increase to up to €90 million.
In order to comply with FSR, clubs must also have no past-due payments to other teams, staff, or tax agencies. Additionally, the club's revenue cannot be used to pay salaries, transfers, or agents' fees in excess of 70%.
A club may not be granted a license to compete in UEFA competitions if they do not adhere to FSR. Champions League clubs may also have their licenses revoked or denied if their stadiums or training facilities do not meet UEFA's requirements, or if they lack the necessary qualifications for important roles like general manager, head coach, finance officer, or specific medical staff positions.
Clubs are also required to meet specific athletic requirements. These include, for example, running a program for the development of young people and providing players with proper medical care.
UEFA has also taken a number of actions to encourage environmental sustainability.
UEFA has created a "carbon footprint calculator" to help clubs evaluate their environmental impact, and all clubs participating in UEFA competitions are expected to create sustainability reports outlining their environmental goals. Additionally, each team must have an environmental sustainability officer in place who manages their club's greener practices strategy.
All of this fits into the European Football Governing Body's lofty environmental goals, which include a pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2040.
In order to encourage material reduction, reuse, recycling, and recovery in their operations, they have also implemented rules. With 30 electric vehicle charging stations and 98% renewable energy, UEFA's headquarters are located in Nyon, Switzerland.
The opportunity to demonstrate their green aims was given to UEFA by the Euro 2024 event. Compared to Euro 2016, they reported a 75% reduction in flights and an 81% increase in ticket holders' use of public transportation, as well as initiatives like zero trash to landfill.
However, the very existence and functioning of UEFA's premier club competition make their sustainability goals a challenging needle to thread as the Champions League expands.
It is predicted that the 2024–2025 campaign's extension to a 36-team group stage added 112,000 tonnes of CO₂ yearly, with a season expected to involve over 500 million air miles. What else is there to do to make the Champions League a more ecologically friendly endeavor?
A possible way to cut emissions is to make the group stage more regional. By placing teams geographically together, it is possible to drastically cut down on travel lengths and the emissions that go along with them. Teams and supporters will have to fly less, which will make rail travel and other options more feasible.
Similar to how clubs used to be able to qualify for the UEFA Cup or Europa League via the UEFA Respect Fair Play rankings, which incentivized teams to earn fewer yellow and red cards on the field, UEFA could also ask more of its rival clubs without going beyond what is reasonable.
For example, they could mandate sustainability reporting for all clubs, rather than just being a recommendation.
Such actions could fortify UEFA's dedication to sustainability and provide a standard for other sports leagues. As Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan get ready for this weekend's final, clubs are more eager than ever to be a part of the spectacle because of the prestige and financial rewards that the Champions League offers.
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