Dissatisfaction with European Club Association's governance reforms: Shakhtar CEO speaks out

Serhii Palkin is critical of process that culminated in ECA’s recent governance reforms, saying there was a lack of time to review. ECA deny the claims and say reforms were subject to “a thorough process."

Under the reforms the stranglehold of clubs from Europe’s top 6 leagues decreases, but despite benefiting the likes of Shakhtar, Palkin says his club abstained from voting as a point of principle.

Why it matters: Dissatisfaction with big clubs’ dominance of ECA saw internal governance changes to challenge perceptions and democratise the organisation. But it hasn’t stopped dissent or the creation of a rival Union of European Clubs.

The perspective: Palkin says that governance changes have “specific and real-life impact” and gives the example of FIFA’s transfer rules following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which he says cost Shakhtar €40 million.