Lega Serie A chief executive Luigi De Siervo has been elected chair of the World Leagues Association (WLA) for a four-year term, succeeding Premier League CEO Richard Masters.
The appointment strengthens the profile of Italian football in the international game, with De Siervo taking charge of the organisation at its annual meeting in Czechia.
The WLA’s gathering brought together more than 100 representatives from football leagues around the world. The organisation has been operating for 10 years and was established to give professional domestic competitions a stronger collective voice in football’s global governance.
Masters’ term as chair has reached its natural conclusion, but he will remain involved with the association as vice-chair. He will share that role with Don Garber, commissioner of Major League Soccer in the USA.
“I am honoured to have been elected Chair of the World Leagues Association at such an important moment,” said De Siervo.
“Over the past ten years, the WLA has steadily grown, bringing together 51 leagues from across all continents. It reflects the importance of cooperation and of giving national leagues a stronger voice in the governance of world football.”
De Siervo has served as CEO of Lega Serie A since December 2018, taking up the position during a particularly challenging period for Italian football.
The World Leagues Association was founded in 2016 and represents 51 professional leagues across the globe. Its stated aim is to reinforce the role of national leagues in the way football is governed worldwide.
