MESGO launch is good news for football

A unique study programme focusing on sports governance, which has UEFA's full support, has been launched in Paris.

The Executive Master in European Sport Governance (MESGO) is open to elected officers and association managers, as well as senior managers from European, international and national sports federations, leagues and clubs, European institutions and governments, or partners of sports organisations.

The programme has kicked off at Sciences Po in Paris, and other eminent academic institutions will deliver nine one-week seminars over a 20-month period. The MESGO came into being when a convention creating the master was signed at UEFA's headquarters last year.

UEFA is giving its full backing to the programme – European football's governing body believes it will be a resounding success and make a major contribution to football management in Europe, as well as to the long-term good functioning of its member associations. MESGO modules will take place in Paris, London, Mainz/Frankfurt, Barcelona, Geneva/Nyon/Lausanne and New York. A MESGO brochure is available, as is information online at mesgo.org/.

Under the executive master programme, key stakeholders of European sport will come together to analyse the characteristics of its specific model, its main challenges and measures that could be put in place to guarantee its future prosperity.

The course has been developed and is delivered by a number of academic bodies: Birkbeck Sports Business Centre, Birkbeck College, University of London; Centre de Droit et d'Economie du Sport, Université de Limoges; Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz; Institut Nacional d'Educació Física de Catalunya, University of Lleida; and Sciences Po, Paris.

In addition, team sport partners – UEFA, European Handball Federation (EHF), International Basketball Federation – Europe (FIBA – Europe), European Rugby Association (FIRA-AER) and the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) – are giving their support.

MESGO has been created at a time when professional sport has undergone considerable changes, given the commercial, social and financial environment that has emerged, as well as the development of European legislation. As a result, new avenues need to be examined in sports management.

The programme will help participants better understand the specific nature of the European sports model, consider the regulatory natures which are required to ensure sport's properity, and study the current and future challenges facing international sports organisations on a European and international level.

On Monday, Sciences Po in Paris welcomed the 20 participants in the first week-long module. They are from various nationalities, sporting backgrounds and professional positions – including European sports federations. UEFA representatives also attended a gala dinner to celebrate the launch.