Udinese Make History as First Serie A Club to Adopt UEFA Sustainability Manual

Udinese have become the first Serie A club to implement the UEFA Football Event Sustainability Manual as a framework for a league match. The initiative was introduced through the club’s annual Play for Sustainability programme, beginning with their Serie A fixture against Cagliari.

The project, titled Play for Sustainability: Our Planet, was officially presented at Bluenergy Stadium during an event attended by representatives from UEFA, Lega Serie A, the Italian Football Federation, and Italy’s Ministry of Environment. The programme is designed to demonstrate how football clubs can incorporate environmental and social responsibility into matchday operations.

UEFA and European Leagues launched the sustainability manual in June 2026 as a practical guide for football events. It covers approaches aimed at improving environmental responsibility while also addressing wider social considerations, giving clubs a structured framework for making sustainability part of their regular activities.

Udinese’s decision reflects the club’s broader effort to use football as a platform for initiatives that extend beyond the match itself. The Play for Sustainability programme is intended to promote long-term awareness and encourage greater responsibility across areas connected to the club and its stadium.

The move also places Udinese at the forefront of sustainability efforts within Italian football. By becoming the first Serie A club to apply the UEFA framework during a league fixture, the club has established a model that could encourage other teams to adopt similar practices in the future.