Football Friends Declaration in Foča Calls for Preserving the Soul of the Game

At the 20th edition of the Football Friends tournament in Foča, Bosnia and Herzegovina, organizers and participants signed a declaration titled “Football of the Future, Future of Football.” The document urges the protection of football’s “soul” by limiting full commercialisation, keeping the sport rooted in local communities, and ensuring youth academies serve as educational institutions rather than profit factories.

The declaration was presented to Majk Fister, director of the European Football Clubs Foundation, which represents 850 clubs across Europe. Fister praised the tournament for putting Foča on the European football map and highlighted the model of regional networks created through such events. He noted that technology should support health and fairness in the sport but must never replace human emotion, creativity, passion and talent – encapsulated in the slogan “Man before technology.”

Coaches from six European nations participating in the round‑table discussion echoed the call for more street‑football and backyard play, stressing that grassroots environments are essential for nurturing future talent.