The European Clubs Association (ECA) Executive Board is holding a Special General Assembly on 6-7 June in Malta.
The future of UEFA Club competitions post 2024 will be the main item on the agenda.
The ECA says that this very early stage in the process is the right time to engage with ECA Member Clubs directly, in an open and constructive manner, to share ideas that are being discussed and the overall vision that is being considered and elaborated, and to receive feedback.
It also said that this meeting fits into the Board's clear intent to maintain a process around UEFA Club Competitions post 2024 which is undertaken in a transparent, direct and engaged manner.
The shape of the competitions is now determined for 2021-24, including the refining of the Europa League from 48 to 32 teams and the addition of a third competition to expand the number of participating teams.
The ECA meeting next week will provide the opportunity for ECA Member Clubs to debate and share views on principles which are fundamental to the future of European Football beyond 2024, and around which ECA will seek to work with UEFA to continue to evolve the Club Competitions.
These are:
More European football is good for the game (for fans, for society, for cultural, sporting and financial development)
A pyramidal Pan European League System with continuity and opportunity for clubs to grow and develop from within this system
Enhancement of mobility and dynamism across the system through carefully applied promotion and relegation
European matches with higher sporting quality and a more competitive environment at all levels
An inclusive platform for all clubs, based on sporting meritocracy, not historical privilege
Open to all - keeping the dream alive
Striving to maintain symbiosis with domestic leagues (retaining access and cross-competition relevance)
Progressive and forward looking, not reactionary and preserving a sub-optimal status quo
Over 200 clubs registered for participation
Well over 200 clubs from all over Europe have registered to take part in the assembly.
Among them are top clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, Valencia, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Moenchengladbach, Hoffenheim, Schalke 04, Liverpool, Everton, Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man. City, Tottenham, Newcastle, Juventus, AC Milan, Napoli, Inter, Roma, Lazio, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Ajax, Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven, Paris SG, St Etienne, FC Porto, Benfica, Sporting Lisbon, Club Brugge, Standard Liege, Anderlecht, Ghent, Zenith St Petersburg, CSKA Moscow, Lok. Moscow, Rubin Kazan, Red Bull Salzburg, Shakhtar Donetsk, Galatasaray .
Clubs attending such meetings usually send their club president or a delegated to represent them.
So it is expected that the Malta meeting will be attended by some very well known persons in the European soccer scene.
Malta is also being represented by Valletta FC who are expected to be represented by president Victor Sciriha and Birkirkara FC, who will be represented by John Borg.
Valletta and Birkirkara are the local members affiliated to the ECA.