Sustainability approaches must be comprehensive and anchored in sports governance if they are to be successful, according to a report compiled by UEFA.

The European football governing body’s report, Playing For Our Planet: How Sports Win From Being Sustainable, urges sports organisations to “holistically” measure social, economic and environmental parameters of sustainability.

Environmental standards and sustainability requirements must also be formalised in governance, according to the document, compiled in association with WWF and the Green Sports Alliance.

The points are two of 12 recommendations made by the report, which have been juxtaposed alongside case studies of best practice from the French Ministry of Sport, European Athletics, World Sailing and FISA, among others.

Recommendations are split into three groups of four – (1) How sports and society can play together, (2) Why sports win from being sustainable, and (3) Towards a more sustainable sports industry (see below).

UEFA president, Aleksander Čeferin said that the organisation had to “lead by example”.

“Sustainability is one of the most significant issues facing decision-makers and opinion leaders in sport as they prepare for the future,” he added. “Professional football relies on large-scale facilities and extensive use of transport infrastructure. It is, however, vital that we plan international events in a way that protects the environment and local communities.”

Read the full report here.