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by pltm
(PLTM) - The process of international clubs falling in line with both FIFA and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) has begun, as all clubs are now required to be licensed by the grouping.
Word of the initiative came directly from Alfredo Quiros of CONCACAF’s Club Licensing Department, at a meeting on January 18 at the BVI Football Association's head office.
“Football is changing and CONCACAF wants to make the game more attractive, as well as more organized from those that run clubs to those that go watch.”
With a national criteria to be reached by the end of 2017 and more immediate target dates for the various stages of completion by the end of March 2017, all clubs are required to fill out and submit four online documents, as well as complete eleven additional criteria, such as naming a Head Coach, General Manager, media, finance and marketing personnel, budgets and various legal documents.
“Going forward, the process will be constantly reviewed and made more challenging as we look to develop stronger structures and levels of control,” Quiros said.
To facilitate the project, databases will be built for all CONCACAF’S member clubs and used to create effective tools for planning future competitions, such as the Champions League, where it will now become possible to see at a glance the type of facilities and infrastructure each participating club has.
Quiros noted, “Sanctions are yet to be determined for non-compliant clubs. CONCACAF certainly won’t be coming in and saying if you are not licensed, then you cannot play, but there has to be some incentives to comply”
The local football association remains the first point of contact to assist the clubs in the process and provide support, but then, once the online forms are submitted, a ‘First Instance Body’ will be set up locally to review the applications and grant licenses.
There will also be an 'Appeals Body', but according to Quiros, it is a win win situation and clubs should not be put off by change or in adhering to the new policies and programmes implemented by CONCACAF.
“The benefits are for all to see. We will all be doing things a little better, step by step, for players, fans, sponsors. It can help identify the need for improvements on and off the field, increase the knowledge of support staff and help everyone understand what we need to do to move forward.”
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