
During the seminar, FIFA and external experts presented the key objectives of FIFA’s Club Licensing System, its implementation process and its fundamental role as a development tool.
“Federations across Africa have started to implement the club licensing system and the whole continent is eager to make it become a success,” commented Riadh Bennour on behalf of the Organising Committee for Management of CAF Club Licensing System.
FIFA’s Club Licensing System is based on five key criteria: sporting, personnel and administrative, financial, infrastructure and legal. These criteria aim to safeguard the credibility and integrity of club competitions while improving the level of professionalism within the football family and promoting transparency in the finances, ownership and control of clubs.
“We are organising this seminar to raise awareness about the significance of club licensing and the benefits it brings to club football, especially as a development tool for national football in the African continent,” concluded James Johnson, FIFA’s Senior Manager of Member Associations.
The Club Licensing System is a priority for FIFA’s 2015-2018 development cycle. Worldwide implementation is planned to be completed by 2016.