UEFA and European Leagues present Football Event Sustainability Manual

UEFA and European Leagues have introduced a new Football Event Sustainability Manual, a comprehensive tool designed to help clubs, leagues and national associations improve the organisation of sporting events through the implementation of environmental and socially responsible practices.

The manual brings together all of UEFA’s sustainability guidelines for the first time in a single document, making them available as a practical and easily applicable resource for the day-to-day organisation of matches and related events.

Developed in cooperation with European Leagues, the document is based on a flexible “pick-and-apply” approach, allowing users to select and adapt sustainability measures according to their needs, resources and level of organisational experience. In this way, sustainable practices can be introduced gradually, regardless of the size of the event or the capacity of organisers.

The manual is aligned with UEFA’s Football Sustainability Strategy 2030: Strength Through Unity, which aims to reduce the environmental impact of sporting activities while strengthening positive social outcomes across European football.

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The content is structured according to ESG principles (environmental, social and governance) and covers the full lifecycle of events — from planning and preparation, through implementation, to post-event evaluation. Each chapter provides clear guidance, defined objectives and identified challenges, along with a set of basic and advanced solutions that can be adapted to different organisational levels.

The manual also includes practical tools, such as checklists, which facilitate the implementation of recommendations in real event conditions.

A dedicated section highlights examples of best practice from European leagues and clubs, showing how sustainability is already being applied in practice. These include sustainable mobility solutions from the Swiss Football League, water conservation measures in the Dutch Eredivisie, inclusive programmes for people with autism at Waterford FC stadiums in Ireland, and initiatives by Germany’s SC Freiburg focused on sustainable management and reducing environmental impact.

According to UEFA, the goal of the manual is to further strengthen a culture of sustainability in European football through three key pillars — enable, empower and enhance — and to encourage broader adoption of best practices across all aspects of sports event organisation.

The document forms part of UEFA’s broader strategy of knowledge sharing and education, supported by additional training programmes for leagues, clubs and associations across Europe.

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