BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A new group aiming to represent the interests of European soccer clubs outside the global elite launched in Brussels on Monday, seeking greater distribution of funds to smaller clubs and open and more balanced European competition.
The Union of European Clubs said some 1,400 professional clubs were not taking part in European competitions and had no voice in decisions taken by governing body UEFA that still had a bearing on them.
The UEC will accept membership applications from professional clubs playing in top two national leagues, seeing 200 members as"reasonable to target" by the end of the year. Membership is free. The ECA represents more than 200 clubs across the continent although it is dominated by the big teams, including some of the 12 initially involved in a planned breakaway Super League.
Javier Tebas, president of Spain's La Liga, which backs the UEC venture, said ECA only represented the elite.
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