UEFA Congress announces 21% increase of HatTrick payments for 2024-2028 cycle

The 46th Ordinary UEFA Congress was held today in Vienna and was informed of a substantial increase in the HatTrick VI solidarity and development programme which has been earmarked to receive €935m in its next four-year cycle, from 2024–28. This represents an increase of 21% (€160m) from the €775m available for HatTrick V (2020–24).

Each national association will therefore be able to receive up to €17m over four years. The programme has supported UEFA member associations in implementing education and development programmes such as grassroots initiatives for girls and boys, social responsibility programmes, refereeing and coaching education, as well as financing football infrastructure – helping to build pitches, stadiums, training centres and headquarter offices. Since its creation in 2004, HatTrick has invested nearly €2.5bn in European football.

A status update on the development of women’s football in Europe was presented, highlighting the outstanding growth of the women’s game, with record attendance figures, impressive ticket sales numbers and increased interest from fans, sponsors, and broadcasters alike, both in the UEFA women’s Champions League and for the upcoming Women’s EURO that will be played across ten venues in nine cities in England from 6 to 31 July 2022.

Delegates were informed that the matches of the flagship UEFA Women’s national team final tournament this summer will be broadcast across 195 global territories via 63 broadcast partners, to reach an expected live global audience of over 250 million and that over 396’000 tickets have already been purchased by fans from 95 countries.

The Congress also approved the following items:

• The Report of the UEFA President and Executive Committee and the Report of the UEFA Administration 2020/21

• The 2020/21 financial statements and the budget for the 2022/23 financial year

Finally, the Congress ratified new members for the UEFA Organs for the Administration of Justice.

The next UEFA Congress will take place in Lisbon, Portugal on 5 April 2023.