UEFA Proposes 5% Revenue Share for Non-Elite Clubs Development

The Union of European Clubs (UEC) has proposed a new financial system called the Player Development Reward (PDR) to UEFA, advocating that 5% of UEFA's revenue from club competitions be shared with lower-ranked clubs that develop elite players. The PDR would distribute payments based on minutes played and prize money earned by players these clubs helped develop, excluding clubs that reach the Champions League league phase, which already receive substantial funds. This system aims to address the growing financial inequality in European football by rewarding nearly 1,500 clubs that contribute to player development, with some clubs potentially receiving over €100,000. The UEC argues that UEFA's current solidarity payments are outdated and do not sufficiently support sustainable football development. The proposal has received encouraging initial feedback from the European Commission and key football stakeholders, but UEFA and the influential European Club Association (ECA) have yet to endorse it, with UEFA acknowledging the proposal but noting that their existing solidarity system was recently reviewed. The UEC, formed in 2022 as a counterbalance to the ECA, seeks a more equitable financial ecosystem that fairly compensates clubs investing in player development across Europe.