Practical aspects of self-regulation in European football in the context of ensuring its integrity and solidarity mechanism

The article examines the organization of European football based on self-regulation, using examples of regulatory initiatives by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), such as the transfer of players system, club licensing, financial fair play rules and joint selling of commercial rights of the UEFA Champions League. It highlights the interconnection of these regulatory initiatives, their role, advantages, and disadvantages in the context of ensuring of such European football values as solidarity mechanism and integrity of all its levels, from grassroots to professional football. It was determined that despite single shortcomings, the implemented regulation had a generally positive impact on European football, contributing to the strengthening of solidarity mechanism and integrity of football from grassroots to professional levels. At the same time there are cases when the adopted rules come into conflict with the interests of certain football stakeholders, mostly professional clubs, on commercial grounds, which may lead to tensions between football’s values and its commercial aspects. In such cases FIFA and UEFA are forced to adapt regulatory conditions to balance the interests of all involved parties while ensuring football’s values.