Aberdeen join Union of European Clubs as Cormack targets revenue sharing and academy rewards

Aberdeen have officially joined the Union of European Clubs (UEC), aligning with a growing coalition of non-elite teams pressing UEFA, leagues and regulators on competitive balance, financial sustainability and youth development compensation.The club said the decision followed “extensive discussions” and reflected a shared view of the structural pressures facing domestic leagues, particularly the widening gap created by UEFA competition revenues and the influence of Europe’s biggest teams in decision-making.Dave Cormack, Aberdeen’s chairman, said: “Joining the UEC is a natural step for us. Throughout our discussions, it became clear that we share a common understanding of the key challenges facing football today and an alignment of what some of the potential threats are on the horizon.“There are recurring themes across most of the domestic leagues in Europe, and we believe the UEC is the right platform to help drive meaningful change, from improving financial and competitive balance to ensuring youth development is properly recognised and rewarded.”The UEC, formed in 2023, says it represents more than 140 clubs from 25 national associations, positioning itself as a counterweight for small and mid-sized professional teams that argue they are under-represented in European football’s policy ecosystem.Aberdeen said their priorities within the group will include greater solidarity mechanisms inside domestic competitions and reform of training compensation, as clubs look to protect academy investment at a time when player trading and cross-border movement have accelerated.The club pointed to proposals previously discussed within Scottish football around sharing revenues generated by participation in UEFA league stages more widely across the domestic game, a model that would mirror broader European debates over how far continental prize money should be treated as private club income versus a driver of widening competitive imbalance.UEC policy positions have included advocacy for “one club, one vote” principles and efforts to limit the concentration of influence among a small cohort of teams that dominate European revenues and political leverage.Dennis Gudasic, the UEC’s general secretary, said: “Aberdeen FC is a historic club that stands for strong values and forward-thinking leadership. Their commitment to fairness, solidarity and reform aligns perfectly with the UEC’s mission. "We are delighted to welcome them and look forward to their active contribution as we continue to advocate for a more balanced, democratic and sustainable future for European football.”The UEC has sought to build momentum by linking its agenda to issues that resonate beyond the traditional “big club” ecosystem, including protecting domestic media rights value, sustaining competitive leagues and ensuring the financial incentives of European competition do not further entrench inequality.