NPFL Joins WLF To Sign Cooperation Agreement With FIFA
Chairman of the League Management Company organisers of the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, Shehu Dikko was present in Zurich as FIFA, and the World Leagues Forum (WLF), the body representing the professional football leagues at world level, signed a cooperation agreement to work together on the development of professional football.
The agreement was signed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and WLF Chairman Christian Seifert (also CEO of the Bundesliga) at the Home of FIFA in Zurich. This is the first time that the football’s world governing body and the professional football leagues have entered into such an agreement, which will see FIFA and the WLF join forces to provide together knowledge and expertise to improve professionalisation worldwide.
The agreement details the many aspects of the “development program for professional football” that will be jointly developed by the two organisations. This program will notably include training sessions and bespoke support to national football bodies to share best practices and improve standards and structures of professional football. In particular, FIFA and the WLF will organize joint conferences and seminars to support emerging football countries.
President Infantino said: “I am delighted to have signed this cooperation agreement that aims to promote and develop the professionalisation of football across the globe. I would like to thank the WLF and its Chairman Christian Seifert for the constructive and collaborative engagement and I believe this agreement will play an important role in the long-term growth of professional football in many regions”.
World Leagues Forum Chairman Seifert stated “The World Leagues Forum is particularly glad to formalize this agreement with the world governing body of football. It is one of the missions of the WLF to foster cooperation between professional leagues and help them to develop. We are delighted that for the first time ever, leagues and FIFA join forces to achieve this goal”.
Full list of World Leagues Forum Members:
Asian Football Confederation (AFC):
J LEAGUE (Japan), QATAR STARS LEAGUE (Qatar), SAUDI PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE (Saudi Arabia), MALAYSIA LLP (Malaysia), AUSTRALIAN CLUBS ASSOCIATION (Australia), UAE PRO LEAGUE COMMITTEE (United Arab Emirates)
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Confederation of African Football (CAF):
LIGUE DE FOOTBALL PROFESSIONNEL (Algeria), PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE (South Africa), KENYAN PREMIER LEAGUE (Kenya), NIGERIA PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (Nigeria), LIGUE DE FOOTBALL GUINEENNE (Guinea), ZIMBABWE PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE (Zimbabwe), LIGUE NATIONALE DE FOOTBALL PROFESSIONNEL (Morocco)
Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF):
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER (USA), LIGA MX (Mexico), LIGA NACIONAL DE FÚTBOL PROFESIONAL HONDURAS (Honduras), UNAFUT COSTA RICA (Costa Rica), LIGA PANAMENA DE FUTBOL (Panama)
South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL):
DIMAYOR (Colombia), SUPERLIGA ARGENTINA DE FUTBOL (Argentina), LIGAPRO (Ecuador)
Union of European Football Associations (UEFA):
SERIE A (Italy), LA LIGA (Spain), BUNDESLIGA (Germany), LIGUE DE FOOTBALL PROFESSIONNEL (France), PREMIER LEAGUE (England), EREDIVISIE (The Netherlands), DIVISIONSFORENINGEN (Denmark), FORENINGEN SVENSK ELITFOTBOLL (Sweden), LIGA PORTUGUESA DE FUTEBOL PROFISSIONAL (Portugal), SWISS FOOTBALL LEAGUE (Switzerland), SCOTTISH PROFESSIONNAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (Scotland), EKSTRAKLASA (Poland), SUPER LIGA SRBIJE (Serbia), UKRAINIAN PREMIER LEAGUE (Ukraine), ISRAELI PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUES (Israel), LIGA PROFESIONISTA DE FOTBAL (Romania), PRO LEAGUE (Belgium), RUSSIAN PREMIER LEAGUE (Russia)
