The Union of European Football Associations (French: Union Européenne de Football Association, also referred to by its acronym UEFA ( /juːˈeɪfə/ ew-AY-fə)) is the administrative body for association football in Europe and, partially, Asia. It is one of six continental confederations of world football's governing body FIFA. UEFA consists of fifty-three national associations members.
UEFA represents the national football associations of Europe, runs nation and club competitions, and controls the prize money, regulations and media rights to those competitions.
UEFA was founded on June 15, 1954 in Basel after consultation between Italian, French, and Belgian associations. Initially the European football union was accounted for 25 members which later doubled by the early 1990s. Not all sovereign countries of Europe are members of UEFA, yet all of those are micro states. Several countries that geographically located in Asia were also admitted to the European football association, particularly Israel and Kazakhstan that in the past were members of the Asian football association.
Until 1959 the main headquarters was located in Paris, and later in Bern. Since 1995 UEFA headquarters transferred to Nyon, Switzerland. Henri Delaunay was the first General Secretary and Ebbe Schwartz the first president. The current president is Michel Platini.