Michele Uva, the Executive Director for Social and Environmental Sustainability and UEFA delegate for Euro 2032, was the guest of honor on the Football Stage, interviewed by Elisabetta Esposito of La Gazzetta dello Sport. Uva, recently included in Time’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world, outlined UEFA’s strategy concerning Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its impact on European football, with a crucial focus on the stadium issue ahead of Euro 2032.

A systemic effort: Investing in CSR

Uva opened his speech by emphasizing the importance of a coordinated and collective approach to sustainability. “It is a systemic effort, the result of collective thinking that is significantly investing in CSR themes. The impact of stakeholders throughout the supply chain has generated interest even in Anglo-Saxon systems.”

UEFA bases its operations on five pillars of sustainability, essential for guiding actions across all continents. The operating logic is strictly top-down, ensuring that the commitment starts from the leadership. “Juventus was the first European club to have reported on the CSR theme in its annual financial statements,” Uva recalled, highlighting the pioneering role of some Italian clubs on the European stage.

The impact is visible: sustainability is not a cost, but a strategic investment. For example, the last European Championship saw the application of 125 themes in the ESG field, with 95 actions dedicated to the women’s sector. Strategy, a concrete action plan, and transparent measurement through data analysis are the cornerstones of this approach. The concept is scalable to any event, as demonstrated by the sustainability matrix developed for the Women’s U17 event in the Faroe Islands.

The Sustainability pyramid: reaching the base

UEFA operates through “anticipation,” analyzing social issues to disseminate best practices and positive messages (such as the fight against racism and inclusion). Clubs are now required to have reference figures in the CSR field. The top-down strategy has a clear objective: by 2030, UEFA wants to reach the base of the pyramid. “By 2030, we want to reach the base of the pyramid: fans, the community influenced by football, and amateur football level. Today there are 250,000 clubs in Europe in the amateur category. Imagine if all of them carried out one sustainable activity per day.” Regarding the Italian situation, Uva expressed appreciation: “The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) was among the first to adopt our strategy and contextualize it to our country-system according to UEFA guidelines, and then apply it.”

Euro 2032 and the Italian Infrastructure Issue

A crucial chapter of the discussion was dedicated to the Italian bid for Euro 2032. Italy has until next October to present suitable stadiums, among which the Allianz Stadium is included. “Infrastructure has been our ballast, but it is a cultural process to have a beautiful home that has social and sporting impact. It is the right of any citizen to experience a sustainable event.” The parameters for a new UEFA stadium are complex: of the 132 required standards, approximately 20% are related to sustainability, which must be integrated right from the design phase. The new stadiums must combine functionality, modernity, and, above all, flexibility and increased capacity. “We brought virtuous models like the stadiums in Bergamo and Udine to the European Parliament.” Uva noted a “great speed of investment in infrastructure also by funds, which want to create business but also connect with the territory and the community.”

Uva’s legacy at UEFA

In conclusion, the Executive Director touched upon the subject of his professional future at UEFA. “A manager’s cycle is always between 4 and 6 years. My journey is coming to an end in this area, and it is right to leave a certified legacy for European football.”