UEFA–CONMEBOL memorandum of understanding

The UEFA–CONMEBOL memorandum of understanding (Spanish: Memorando de Entendimiento)[2] is an agreement between UEFA and CONMEBOL, the association football confederations of Europe and South America, respectively, signed between both parties with the aim of achieving close collaboration for the development of this sport in the regions. It was signed on 12 February 2020[3][4] and extended on 15 December 2021 in a first stage,[2][5] and on 2 June 2022 in a second stage.[6] This will permit creation of official championships in the branches of men's, women's, youth and indoor football and the possibility of exchanging referees in the tournaments organised by both entities.

UEFA–CONMEBOL memorandum of understanding
Created12 February 2020; 4 years ago (2020-02-12)
RatifiedJanuary 2022[1]
SignatoriesUEFA and CONMEBOL

In January 2022, CONMEBOL and UEFA authorities met at the CONMEBOL headquarters in Asunción, Paraguay, and ratified the agreements they had already signed for future competitions. Both parts also agreed to establish a joint office in London.[1]

Mission and objectives

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The MoU seeks to provide assistance and support between both confederations to establish and implement projects and activities related to:[4][3]

  • the promotion and development of grassroots football, youth football and women's football
  • the organisation of championships
  • marketing, legal and social responsibility matters
  • security;
  • the promotion of ethical principles and good governance in football

Committees

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In order to move forward with the projects, 4 joint committees were created through the memorandum.[4] The strategies of both confederations in the different committees are coordinated in a Joint Representation Office located in London, England, United Kingdom, inaugurated on 4 April 2022.[7]

The committees are:

Refereeing

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As of the signing of the MoU, a referee exchange program was started, allowing referees and assistant referees appointed by their respective confederation to participate in matches in competitions organised by the other signatory party.[4] Below is the list of referees appointed within the exchange program:

Appointed referees in exchange program
Organizing confederation Competition Appointed referee Role Association
UEFA Euro 2020[8] Fernando Rapallini Referee   Argentina (CONMEBOL)
Juan Pablo Belatti Assistant referee
Diego Yamil Bonfá Assistant referee
UEFA Women's Euro 2022[9] Emikar Calderas Referee   Venezuela (CONMEBOL)
Migdalia Rodríguez Chirino Assistant referee
Mary Blanco Bolívar Assistant referee   Colombia (CONMEBOL)
2021 Copa América[10] Jesús Gil Manzano Referee   Spain (UEFA)
Diego Barbero Sevilla Assistant referee
Ángel Nevado Rodríguez Assistant referee
Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea VAR
José Luis Munuera Montero VAR
2022 South American U-20
Women's Championship
[11]
Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi Referee   Italy (UEFA)
Giulia Tempestilli Assistant referee
Eliana Fernández González Assistant referee   Spain (UEFA)
2022 Copa América Femenina[12] Sandra Braz Referee   Portugal (UEFA)
Andreia Ferreira Souza Assistant referee
Rita Cabañero Mompó Assistant referee   Spain (UEFA)
2022 Copa Libertadores Femenina[13] Maria Marotta Referee   Italy (UEFA)
Tiziana Trasciatti Assistant referee
Silvia Fernández Pérez Assistant referee   Spain (UEFA)
Both confederations
(intercontinental championships)
2022 Finalissima[14] Piero Maza Referee   Chile (CONMEBOL)
Christian Schiemann Assistant referee
Claudio Ríos Assistant referee
Jesús Gil Manzano 4th official   Spain (UEFA)
Alejandro Hernández Hernández VAR
Juan Martínez Munuera AVAR
Tiago Lopes Martins AVAR   Portugal (UEFA)
2022 UEFA-CONMEBOL Under-20 Intercontinental Cup[15] Derlis López Referee   Paraguay (CONMEBOL)
Roberto Cañete Assistant referee
José Villagra Assistant referee
José Méndez 4th official   Argentina (CONMEBOL)
Germán Delfino VAR
Maximiliano Del Yeso AVAR
2022 Futsal Finalissima[16][17] Henry Gutiérrez Referee   Bolivia (CONMEBOL)
Ricardo Messa Referee   Brazil (CONMEBOL)
Gean Telles Referee
Christian Espínola Referee   Chile (CONMEBOL)
Jonhatan Herbas Referee   Ecuador (CONMEBOL)
Mario Espichan Referee   Peru (CONMEBOL)
Daniel Rodríguez Referee   Uruguay (CONMEBOL)
Yuri García Referee   Colombia (CONMEBOL)
Daniel Manrique Timekeeper
José Villar Timekeeper   Venezuela (CONMEBOL)

Women's football

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The agreement provides a development strategy for this branch in all its member associations, as well as the creation of different competitions. The first women's football championship planned from the MoU is the UEFA-CONMEBOL Women's Finalissima, a tournament that emulates the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions in the women's branch.[6]

Development and coaches

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The purpose of this committee is to provide a joint project for the creation of:

  • Elite young player development programs
  • Scout Development[4]
  • Joint coaching licences: A mutual recognition of titles and coaching licences (for example, equivalence between UEFA Pro License and CONMEBOL PRO License) is planned for 2023.[6]

Competitions

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The competitions created under the memorandum are the following ones:

References

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  1. ^ a b El acuerdo entre UEFA y Conmebol toma más fuerza y Argentina podría jugar la Liga de Naciones en Europa on Perfil, 20 January 2022
  2. ^ a b La CONMEBOL y la UEFA amplían el Memorando de Entendimiento on Conmebol, 15 December 2021
  3. ^ a b CONMEBOL y UEFA renuevan Memorando de Entendimiento on AFA, 12 February 2020
  4. ^ a b c d e "UEFA and CONMEBOL renew Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation". Nyon: UEFA. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  5. ^ a b "UEFA and CONMEBOL renew and extend Memorandum of Understanding". Nyon: UEFA. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "UEFA and CONMEBOL launch new intercontinental events". Nyon: UEFA. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  7. ^ Iveson, Ali (8 April 2022). "UEFA-CONMEBOL joint office in London opens". Inside the Games. Dunsar Media. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  8. ^ "UEFA Euro 2020 – Referees and Assistant referees" (PDF). Nyon: UEFA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  9. ^ "UEFA Women's EURO 2022 Match Officials" (PDF). Nyon: UEFA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  10. ^ "CONMEBOL Copa América 2021– Árbitros convocados" (PDF) (in Spanish). Luque: CONMEBOL. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  11. ^ "Prosigue intercambio y colaboración entre árbitros de la CONMEBOL y la UEFA" (in Spanish). Luque: CONMEBOL. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Árbitras convocadas para la CONMEBOL Copa América Femenina 2022" (in Spanish). Luque: CONMEBOL. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Árbitras convocadas para la CONMEBOL Libertadores Femenina 2022" (PDF) (in Spanish). Luque: CONMEBOL. 21 September 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Árbitros confirmados para la Finalissima" (in Spanish). Luque: CONMEBOL. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Árbitros confirmados para la Sub20 Intercontinental" [Referees confirmed for Under-20 Intercontinental] (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  16. ^ "¡Comienza la acción en la Futsal Finalissima 2022!" [All set for 2022 Futsal Finalissima!] (in Spanish). Conmebol. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  17. ^ "Argentina vs. Paraguay, por un lugar en el podio de la Futsal Finalissima 2022" [Argentina vs Paraguay, for a spot in 2022 Futsal Finalissima podium] (in Spanish). Conmebol. 17 September 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  18. ^ "CONMEBOL y UEFA amplían su cooperación" (in Spanish). Luque: CONMEBOL. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  19. ^ "Todo lo que debes saber de la Sub-20 Intercontinental" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  20. ^ Conmebol (7 July 2022). "Calendario de torneos de la CONMEBOL 2023" (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  21. ^ "UEFA and CONMEBOL launch Club Challenge between winners of UEFA Europa League and CONMEBOL Sudamericana". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  22. ^ "El UEFA CONMEBOL Desafío de Clubes 2023: Todo lo que necesitas saber" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.