The Premier League is much more than just a football league: behind its global success lies meticulous work aimed at benefiting local communities, carried out in synergy between clubs and dedicated organizations. This was the focus of the SFS24 panel moderated by Stefano D’Errico, Senior Schools Education Officer at Chelsea FC Foundation, featuring Mike Summers, Chief Executive of the Palace for Life Foundation, and Emma Joussemet, Head of Community Engagement at the Premier League.
With 1.9 billion people watching the Premier League worldwide, the English league has long understood the importance of investing in assets with a strong social impact. For over 30 years, the Premier League has built a solid relationship with local institutions, funding community programs and charity projects through the Premier League Charitable Fund. Each club, in fact, has its own charitable foundation that works closely with its reference community.
Emma Joussemet emphasized that the main focus is on young people, with initiatives targeting specific areas: primary schools, secondary schools, and post-education programs such as ‘Premier League Kicks‘, which involves over a hundred English clubs. These initiatives, also leveraging the positive influence of players, aim to foster a sense of closeness and create tangible impacts on clubs, stakeholders, and citizens.
Mike Summers provided an insight into the work of the Palace for Life Foundation, the charity associated with Crystal Palace, which generates an annual revenue of €3 million, one-third of which comes from the Premier League. “We operate in schools, football communities, and the disability sector, addressing issues such as mental health, particularly among 16- to 24-year-olds. All Premier League clubs develop similar programs”, Summers explained. A significant example is the initiatives aimed at engaging Muslim and South Asian communities in South London, with targeted communication projects that strengthen the bond between clubs and the local territory.
Among the strategic collaborations, the partnership with the BBC stands out, thanks to the “Super Movers” project, which uses football as a tool for education and community development. In parallel, engagement in women’s football is also a priority, with investments aimed at developing talent and making the sport more accessible for young women.
While the Premier League can boast a unique model, there is also a recognized need to increase awareness of these initiatives. “Investing in funding programs is essential for continued growth, but we must also make the work we do known to those who are still unaware of it,” the two guests concluded.
In a context like London, which hosts as many as eighteen clubs, cooperation among foundations, institutions, and stakeholders proves to be the key to creating a lasting social impact and strengthening the bond between football and communities. An example of excellence that continues to inspire the global sports landscape.
The Social Value of the Premier League: Clubs and Local Communities at the Core
The Premier League is much more than just a football league: behind its global success lies meticulous work aimed at benefiting local communities, carried out in synergy between clubs and dedicated organizations. This was the focus of the SFS24 panel moderated by Stefano D’Errico, Senior Schools Education Officer at Chelsea FC Foundation, featuring Mike Summers, Chief Executive of the Palace for Life Foundation, and Emma Joussemet, Head of Community Engagement at the Premier League. With 1.9 billion people watching the Premier
SFS24: The Football of Tomorrow Between Challenges and Growth Opportunities
"There's a lot of football, maybe too much, but the game cannot stop". With these words, Andrea Butti, Head of Competitions at Lega Serie A, opened the debate on the evolution of football competitions during SFS24. Moderated by Monica Bertini, a journalist at Sport Mediaset, the panel featuring Butti and Giorgio Marchetti, Deputy General Secretary of UEFA, highlighted how modern football is undergoing an unprecedented transformation with profound impacts on both the sporting and commercial fronts. The key issue remains scheduling,
SFS24: THE TRANSFORMATION OF FOOTBALL CLUBS INTO MEDIA HOUSES
Football is no longer just a sport; it has become an entertainment industry in constant evolution. In recent years, football clubs have started leveraging advanced technologies to transform the fan experience, both at the stadium and in the digital world. Atlético Madrid and WSC Sports are pushing innovation and personalization to new heights, as discussed during the SFS panel moderated by Carlo De Marchis — founder of A Guy with a Scarf. The panel featured Alejandro Ugarrio, Director of Atleti
Technological innovation and rehabilitation: the synergy between biosensors, artificial intelligence and telemedicine
Medicine and technology are rapidly evolving, bringing new opportunities to improve the lives of people, particularly those facing physical disabilities. An important area of development involves the use of biosensors and artificial intelligence (AI) for the personalization and enhancement of rehabilitation, both for athletes and individuals with neurological injuries. Recently, Professor Franco Molteni highlighted how innovative technologies can be used to train cognitive and physical abilities, such as self-control, which is essential for athletes during crucial moments in a competition. Studying eye movement,
SFS Saudi Edition, Ciccarese: “The partnership with Riyadh allows us to showcase the beauty of our territory and the Made in Italy”
The final panel of the SFS Saudi Edition focused on the international ambitions of Serie A, the projects of Italy's top football clubs, and the strategic importance of the Middle East for the future of football. On stage were Michele Ciccarese (Commercial & Marketing Director – Lega Serie A), Giorgio Ricci (Chief Revenue Officer – FC Internazionale Milano), Francesco Calvo (Managing Director Revenue & Football Development – FC Juventus), Maikel Oettle (Chief Commercial Officer – AC Milan), and Bobo Vieri
Giga & Mega Projects: Ambition and Innovation in Saudi Arabia’s Sports Vision
Saudi Arabia is reshaping the global sports landscape with an ambitious and innovative strategy, as highlighted during the "Giga & Mega Projects" panel recently held in Riyadh as part of the SFS Saudi Edition. During the event, Fahd Al-Subaie (Director of the Clubs Investment Department – Ministry of Sport), Abdullah Maghram (Director of the International Communication Department – Ministry of Sport), and Basim K. Ibrahim (Sport Segment Director – Ministry of Investment) showcased how the Ministry of Sport is driving
SFS Saudi Edition: Making the Arabian Peninsula an attractive sports platform and a global tourist destination
"Sport, and the tourism associated with it, is an integral part of Saudi Vision 2030. The ultimate goal is to make the Arabian Peninsula an attractive sports platform and a global tourism destination", stated the Deputy General Secretary of SAFF Ibrahim Alkabbaa during the session 'Sports Tourism and Major Events: Opportunity and Impact of Football Competitions' held as part of the SFS Saudi Edition. To discuss it with him, Laith Khayyat (Executive Director of Strategy and PMO – Mahd Sports Academy),
The Digital Challenge in Football: Strategies to Win Over the New Generations
In a panel moderated by Kike Levy, Head of NJF Sports and Media, the radical transformation of the football industry and younger generations’ communication styles and use of social media were analyzed. "Reaching and Engaging the Next Generation of Sports Fans", the name of the panel, featured Roberto Monzani – Media House Director at FC Internazionale – and Ronan Joyce – Director of Digital Innovation D2C at Manchester United – sharing their insights on a crucial topic. Football has changed not
VIVA EL FUTBOL: A NEW COMMUNICATIVE PARADIGM
"Football for the people" as Lele Adani puts it to summarize his life philosophy. During the Summit, he took the stage at the Football Stage alongside his friend and broadcasting partner Nicola Ventola. In a panel moderated by Vito Pace, CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) of Urban Vision, the two discussed the new online format 'Viva el Futbol'. After their experience with 'Bobo TV', the former footballers — together with Antonio Cassano — decided to continue their journey by launching a project
Italy and Saudi Arabia: Football as a Bridge for Globalization
On January 6, 2025, a remarkable event will take place at the Mansard Radisson Collection Hotel in Riyadh, titled "Italy and Saudi Arabia in the globalization process of football". Organized as part of the Italian Supercup and in collaboration with Lega Serie A, the Embassy of Italy in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Italian Trade Agency, the event aims to explore the dynamics of globalization in football, highlighting the strategic roles of key players like Italy and Saudi Arabia. The event, scheduled