The collaboration driving the French-speaking Swiss football scene: our story with the clubs

The Licensing Committee of the Swiss Football League (SFL) recently unveiled the results of the evaluation of club files for the 2024/25 season. Among the 22 SFL clubs, our collaboration with several football clubs in western Switzerland, including Servette Football Club, the Lausanne Sport, Stade-Lausanne Ouchy, Stade Nyonnais and Étoile Carouge, is distinguished by its solidity.

Read the Swiss Football League article.

A fruitful collaboration

As a review body, we have the privilege of working closely with several football clubs in French-speaking Switzerland. This cooperation, based on years of partnership, was recently highlighted during the evaluation of licence applications by the Licensing Committee from the SFL for the upcoming season. Indeed, each club has obtained its playing licence at first instance!

Precision financial audit

When we examine licence applications, our role primarily focuses on the financial aspect. To do this, we review the clubs' annual accounts, as well as their budgets and projected cash flows. Our objective is to ensure compliance with the regulations of the SFL (but also of the’UEFA).

A rigorous check

Certain clubs benefit from certain relaxations in budgetary controls, particularly when their operational continuity is not threatened. However, we verify financial stability and balance with a view to operational continuity and the long-term viability of the clubs.

Substantial resources

Sound resource management is key for any sporting project. Indeed, clubs invest in training, players, infrastructure, and day-to-day management. The proper management of a club requires qualitative administrative, technical, and sporting leadership to enable the identification of future talents, the training of successors, team cohesion, and sustained support for the club by partners and fans. These are clearly substantial investments for clubs to make.

Evolution of administrative and financial aspects

Clubs' development projects are not limited to the pitch. Behind the scenes, clubs are equipping themselves, modernising, digitalising their administrative processes, and strengthening their financial management. This transformation is essential for their steering and the achievement of their objectives, or even their success. We are proud to contribute to this indirectly through our audits and our partner relationship with the clubs.

Dependence on patrons

Our founder Charles Berney's article in Le Temps already highlighted at the time that football clubs sometimes remain (too) dependent on patrons. Our role is also to advise clubs so that this dependence does not compromise their long-term financial stability and sustainability. We therefore encourage clubs to diversify their funding sources and their forms of support.

See the article in Le Temps.

Charles Berney, founder of Berney Associés, held important positions in Romandie football. Successively treasurer of the Servette FC in the 80s, he then, more recently, took over the presidency of the Stade Lausanne Ouchy, thus testifying to an unbreakable bond with the club he has loved since childhood.

His father, Alfred Berney, had also helped to revitalise the Stade Lausanne Ouchy after the Second World War, thereby highlighting the Berney family's deep attachment to the club.

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Financial balance mastery

A club's financial balance is delicate, but our audited clubs are clearly mastering it brilliantly to date. Thanks to our expertise, they can calmly face the financial challenges required by the SFL for obtaining a playing licence.

Our long-standing partnership with football clubs in Switzerland and the’Swiss Football Association as well as our expertise in reviewing financial data for the licensing commission, demonstrate our commitment, our shared passion for sport, and our love of numbers. This commitment and interest in sports extend beyond football, as we also work with other team sports clubs for their financial audits and specific reviews regarding gaming licences (hockey, basketball, volleyball, etc.).

We thank our experts, Fabio Spano and Claude Heri, who work and collaborate daily with these clubs for many years with the aim of verifying compliance and adherence to the renewal requirements for these valuable licences and thus ensuring them another serene season in the elite of Swiss football.