13th UEFA Disciplinary Workshop in Athens reinforces knowledge-sharing and international cooperation

Members of UEFA’s disciplinary bodies, ethics and disciplinary inspectors and key stakeholders from the wider football family gathered in Athens, Greece, on 29 October for the 13th UEFA Disciplinary Workshop, hosted with the valuable support of the Hellenic Football Federation.

The workshop brought together representatives from UEFA, FIFA and confederations for a full day of discussions on disciplinary matters, legal developments and evolving jurisprudence, providing an important forum for the exchange of expertise and best practices across football’s judicial landscape.

The event opened with welcoming remarks from Makis Gkagkatsis, President of the Hellenic Football Federation, followed by an introductory session on the latest updates, figures and trends, led by Angelo Rigopoulos, UEFA Executive Director Integrity & Regulatory.

An initial focus of the workshop was the presentation of the amendments introduced by the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations 2026, as well as their implementation and practical application. Participants were briefed on the latest regulatory developments and their implications for disciplinary proceedings and decisions across UEFA competitions.

The programme also featured a comprehensive review of selected jurisprudence from UEFA’s disciplinary bodies, providing participants with valuable insights into recent decisions, the rationale behind them and emerging disciplinary trends. Further presentations examined recent case law from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), offering an overview of key rulings, leading arguments and arbitration developments relevant to disciplinary proceedings and CAS awards.

One of the highlights of the afternoon programme was a presentation which offered participants a valuable external perspective on disciplinary proceedings and an opportunity to reflect on the role of sanctions as a compliance tool, as well as on the practical experiences of parties involved in judicial processes.

The workshop concluded with a roundtable discussion bringing together representatives from UEFA, FIFA and confederations. The panel highlighted current disciplinary developments across the global football landscape and reinforced the importance of cooperation and consistency among football’s judicial bodies.

The discussions also underscored the value of knowledge-sharing and the exchange of expertise among stakeholders in an increasingly complex regulatory environment. Participants explored common challenges and opportunities for further alignment of disciplinary practices across the confederations and football more broadly.

“Bringing together members of UEFA’s disciplinary bodies, ethics and disciplinary inspectors, as well as our key stakeholders to exchange expertise and best practices remains the primary objective of this workshop,” said Angelo Rigopoulos. “The discussions held in Athens once again demonstrated the importance of cooperation and dialogue in ensuring that disciplinary matters are addressed consistently and effectively across the game.”

“Our workshop provides a valuable forum for exchanging views on topics directly relevant to our work and addressing the challenges we collectively face in disciplinary matters,” added William McAuliffe, UEFA Head of Disciplinary. “The insightful discussions and active engagement of participants once again demonstrated the importance and continued value of this annual gathering.”

The 13th UEFA Disciplinary Workshop further reinforced UEFA’s commitment to integrity, good governance and international cooperation, while providing an important platform for ongoing dialogue among those responsible for safeguarding the disciplinary framework of European and world football.