Report of the President and Executive Committee Report of the Administration 2016/17

42nd Ordinary UEFA Congress , 26 February 2018 CONTENTS

I. Report of the President and Executive Committee 2 Committee reports 22

II. Report of the UEFA Administration 42 I. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

11 July 2016 – 30 June 2017

Note: The period covered by this report begins on 11 July 2016, following the end of UEFA EURO 2016, which was covered comprehensively in the 2015/16 report of the UEFA President and Executive Committee

1 SUMMARY

UEFA and its Executive Committee can UEFA president and Executive Commit­ September 2016 to succeed Gianni look back with satisfaction on a year tee members, the proviso that candi­ Infantino, elected as FIFA president in when stability returned to European da­tes for election or re-election to the February of that year. Having worked football’s governing body after a deli­ Executive Committee must hold an for UEFA since 2008, in particular as cate and challenging previous period. active office (president, vice-president, national associations director, Theodore The Executive Committee took a series general secretary or CEO) in their Theodoridis is ideally placed with his of far-sighted decisions that set the respective national associations, and vast experience to take a key role in course for a fresh new era, while never the anchoring of good governance UEFA affairs, foster progress and soli­ losing sight of its duty to consolidate and ethics in the UEFA Statutes. This da­­rity, and guide the administra­tion UEFA’s mission to safeguard European overhaul of UEFA’s foundations has forward. football’s overall well-being. been essential in helping the body rebuild its image, restore credibility Given the turbulent events that had The road forward began in earnest at and bolster the organisation’s marked the 2015/16 period, the Execu­ the 12th Extraordinary UEFA Congress legitimacy. tive Committee was pleased that UEFA in on 14 September 2016, when was able to move on without any Aleksander Čeferin, president of the During the period under review, major impact on its overall stability. Football Association of Slovenia since several members of the Executive Having steered through difficult times, 2011, was elected as UEFA’s seventh Committee bade farewell after years UEFA arrived at the end of the current president by the body’s 55 member of outstanding service, and the Hel­ review period in a strong, confident associations. The new president came sin­ki Congress saw six new members position and moving ahead with effi­ into office with a clear vision for the elected to the committee. Thanks and ciency and purpose. future, which focussed on the further appreciation are due to Avraham protection, promotion and develop­ Luzon (Israel), Giancarlo Abete (Italy), ment of European football, putting Allan Hansen (Denmark), František UEFA is more committed than ever to the game first and safeguarding its Laurinec (Slovakia) and Marios working together with its 55 member interests. He pledged to work for unity Lefkaritis () for their tireless associations, reinforcing a relationship and dialogue within the European efforts on behalf of the European that has endured for more than six football community, reinforcing game. The newly elected members of decades. As part of the strategic visions cooperation with all the game’s major the committee are Zbigniew Boniek being put in place for the future, the stakeholders and empowering the (Poland), John Delaney (Republic of projects, ideas and proposals put for­ national associations to take on a Ireland), (Germany), ward by the associations will be essen­ bigger role in creating programmes Karl- (Sweden), Michele tial in designing ’s football of and projects. The new era, he said, Uva (Italy) and Servet Yardımcı (Turkey). tomorrow. There is great cause for would be one of “stability, hope, At the first Executive Committee satis­faction that relations with the balance and friendship.” meeting in its new composition, in national associations remain excellent, Cardiff in June 2017, it was clear that and the Executive Committee will Since Aleksander Čeferin’s election, there would be continuity in change. continue to show solidarity and back the Executive Committee has given Underlining the key value of football every move aimed at helping them to him unstinting support in his mission as a team game, the newcomers and continue to foster football in their own to implement plans and policies that established committee members countries. Dialogue and consultation were part of his election manifesto. bonded immediately in their common with European football’s other key Endorsement was given to a series of determination to take decisions that stake­holders must also be a corner­ good governance reforms designed to would benefit European football. This stone of this future. The clubs, leagues strengthen UEFA in the years to come, mix of fresh, new ideas and wise expe­ and players are central components of which were ratified by Europe’s rience promises to pay handsome the game and are due the utmost res­ member associations at the 41st dividends. pect. UEFA and the Executive Commit­- Ordinary UEFA Congress in in During the period under review, tee will work hand in hand with them April 2017. The reforms included the Theodore Theodoridis was confirmed in a constructive, positive manner for the introduction of term limits for the as UEFA’s general secretary in good of football across this continent.

2 The Executive Committee’s work has the European political authorities head-on, assuming responsibility with been a key factor in laying the continue to endorse UEFA’s policies, courage and conviction and adapting foundations for a healthy future for measures and objectives as well, and to modern times, with football’s well- UEFA. It has backed the new UEFA there is no reason to doubt that being at the very heart of every move. president in establishing a blueprint relations will remain fruitful and for progress in the coming years. The mutually supportive. The new era that began in September committee has endorsed a variety of 2016 is taking shape, and promises a actions across the broad palette of The Executive Committee is conscious fulfilling period to come. The Executive European football in areas such as the that it has an important contribution Committee is looking forward with fight to eliminate match-fixing, the to make in guiding UEFA along its optimism to the challenge. further development of financial fair future path and leading by example play to guarantee European club within a football world that sometimes football’s well-being, and ongoing seems to be evolving almost daily. At efforts to promote diversity and the Helsinki Congress, the UEFA inclusion, and to eradicate racism, president insisted that UEFA should discrimination and intolerance from not be afraid of facing the future, and the sport. The review period has seen must be prepared to meet challenges

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2016/17 3 COMPETITIONS

National team competitions Following the resoundingly successful football, a crucial source of national hosts of the youth final rounds during UEFA EURO 2016 final round in pride and footballing identity. In the review period and can look back (covered in the 2015/16 annual report), addition, the national associations are with considerable pride not only at the time arrived to look ahead to keen for more opportunities to play their top-class organisation of the forthcoming European national team national team football with more tournaments, but also at the quality of competitions – in particular, EURO 2020 sporting stakes, given the increasing the welcome and hospitality that was and the new UEFA Nations League. viewpoint that friendly matches do not forthcoming for the teams and young provide adequate competition. The players who took part. Preparations for EURO 2020 continued Executive Committee has every apace. To celebrate 60 years of the confidence that the Nations League Key decisions taken by the Executive UEFA European Football Championship, will meet UEFA’s aspirations and its Committee in April 2017 are destined EURO 2020 – the second to feature 24 member associations’ needs. to enhance the growing stature of teams – will be a unique tournament . From 2022, the UEFA Futsal staged in cities across Europe. UEFA is Preparations for an important event EURO will be played every four years getting ready to take EURO 2020 to in European women’s national team with 16 teams, instead of every two these cities and countries and seeing football were finalised during the years with 12 teams. The aim is to pro­ football acting as a bridge between period under review, as the clock vide an enhanced competition struc­ nations, while carrying the competi­ ticked down towards UEFA Women’s ture, featuring a qualifying competi- tion closer to the fans, who are the EURO 2017 in the Netherlands in July/ tion over two years, and prevent lifeblood of the game. Between August. Anticipation was high for calendar clashes with the FIFA Futsal September 2016 and January 2017, the first Women’s EURO to feature World Cup every four years. In addi­ each of the 13 selected cities* unveiled 16 teams, a tournament which was tion, a UEFA Women’s Futsal EURO will their host city logos, all of which confidently expected to demonstrate take place every two years with four feature a single bridge from the city in the relentless progress of the women’s teams from 2019, owing to the still question – the bridge emphasising the game throughout the continent, while limited number of women’s national idea of football as a significant link also giving more associations and futsal teams throughout Europe. On between people and cultures. The players the opportunity to perform on the youth front, an Under-19 Futsal UEFA president and Executive Commit­ this privileged platform. EURO will be staged every two years tee members joined national associa­ with eight teams, also starting in 2019. tion presidents, government represen­- Before the Women’s EURO took centre tatives and civic dignitaries at the logo stage in summer 2017, potential young launches to commemorate this impor­ stars of tomorrow featured at the tant step along the road to 2020. European Under-21 Championship final round, excellently organised by Before then, a new European national the Polish Football Federation and team competition will make its bow in involving 12 teams for the first time. September 2018 – the UEFA Nations Meanwhile, UEFA’s youth tournaments * At its meeting on 7 December 2017, League. This competition, the first remain a crucial element of a young the UEFA Executive Committee deci­ edition of which will take place player’s career pathway, and the latest ded to transfer the matches originally through to the spring of 2020 – and events proved this point. The national allocated to the city of Brussels to Lon­ give four associations the opportunity associations of Georgia (Under-19s), don (Wembley Stadium) due to delays to qualify for EURO 2020 – fits into the Croatia (Under-17s), Czech Republic in the Brussels Euro­stadium project. As wish of UEFA and its president to (women’s Under-17s) and Slovakia a result of this decision, UEFA EURO bolster the status of national team (women’s Under-19s) were perfect 2020 will be played in 12 cities.

4 5 Club competitions UEFA’s club competitions remain be two separate kick-off times for Europe continued its massive strides success­ful in both commercial and Champions League matches: 19.00 CET forward, thanks in no small part to sporting terms. At its meeting (two matches) and 21.00 CET (six the excellent development work being in Decem­ber 2016, the Executive matches), allowing fans a greater undertaken by Europe’s national Committee approved the full details opportunity to watch matches. associations and their clubs in of the access list, club coefficient and cooperation with UEFA. distribution systems for the club The 2016/17 Champions League gene­ competition cycle from 2018 to 2021. ra­ted total revenue of €2.12bn, while The UEFA president also reintroduced Among the key elements, the new revenue from the same season’s the presentation of the Champions access list will still give the 55 national Euro­pa League amounted to €367m. League, Europa League and UEFA associations every chance to qualify for The clubs that participated in the two Women’s Champions League trophies the group stages in the UEFA Cham­ competitions were the chief benefi­- on the pitch for the 2017 finals. His pions League and Europa League, with ciaries. reasoning was that the pitch is the all domestic champions knocked out in stage where the players perform, and the Champions League qualifying Both competitions also continued to he felt it appropriate that their rounds getting a second bite of the attract huge public interest. Almost achieve­ments should be celebrated cherry through entry into a specific 6.8 million fans attended Champions there, while giving the fans a better champions’ path in Europa League League matches in 2016/17, while view of the trophy presentation qualification. The club coefficient will nearly 6.3 million spectators went to ceremony. no longer include a 20% contribution Europa League matches. Real ’s of the respective national association domination of the Champions League continues to stage the events coefficient to avoid giving a further continued with the Spanish side that mark the official kick-off to each advantage to clubs from top-ranked defeating Juventus 4-1 in Cardiff – UEFA club competition season, and associations, as well as to avoid pena­ winning the trophy for the third time UEFA’s annual awards reward men and lising clubs with good individual in four years and the 12th time overall women players for their excellent performances but a weak association – while another European household performance in the previous cam­ coefficient. The club coefficient used name from England, Manchester paign. In polls involving selected for financial distribution purposes will United, were crowned Europa League coaches and journalists, Real Madrid’s cover the preceding ten years, and will winners for the first time after their was voted as the include bonus points for previous 2-0 success against Ajax in . 2015/16 UEFA Best Player in Europe, titles, thereby reflecting the longer- the third time he has won the acco­ term contribution of clubs to the During the review period, the lade, and Lyon’s Norwegian striker Ada competition’s brand and success. Executive Committee approved the Hegerberg was voted as the 2015/16 general principle of staging the Europa UEFA Best Women’s Player in Europe. The 32 clubs that took part in the League final in the same week as the The two awards would have slightly 2016/17 Champions League group Champions League final for the entire new titles for 2016/17 (UEFA Men’s stage, and the ten clubs eliminated 2018–21 cycle, i.e. after the close of Player of the Year and UEFA Women’s in the play-offs, shared over €1.396bn the domestic season. As a result, the Player of the Year), and in June 2017 in payments from UEFA. More than 2018/19 Europa League final will take UEFA announced the introduction of €423.1m in UEFA payments were place on Wednesday 29 May 2019 and five new players’ awards recognising shared by the 56 clubs that took part the Champions League final on the top performers in UEFA club in the Europa League group stage and/ Saturday 1 June. compe­titions during the previous or knockout phase. Just over €87m was season. The first four additional awards paid to clubs that took part in the A fourth UEFA Women’s Champions would crown the best goalkeeper, 2016/17 club competition qualifying League title went to Olympique defender, midfielder and forward of rounds. Lyonnais, equalling 1. FFC Frankfurt’s the 2016/17 Champions League season. It was also decided that there should record, as women’s club football across Another new award would be given

6 for the Europa League player of the tition’s new format with 64 teams of the new futsal strategy approved by season. – a move which has enhanced its the Executive Committee in 2017, the appeal even further – enjoyed a Futsal Cup will become the UEFA Futsal The decision to stage the UEFA Super success­ful second season, with the Champions League as from the 2018/19 Cup across Europe continues to prove finals in Nyon in April 2017 proving campaign, giving the competition its worth. Norway was the latest a resounding success as 12,000 fans added prestige, while 2017/18 will see association to be given the opportu­ in total attended the three matches. changes to the competition format, to nity to host this prestigious game A new name was added to the Youth allow the top three associations in the between the previous season’s Cham­ League list of honours, Austrians FC futsal national team rankings to enter pions League and Europa League title- Salzburg coming from behind to beat a second representative in addition to winners, with Trondheim selected as Portugal’s SL Benfica by the odd goal the domestic titleholders. the venue. Real Madrid captured their in three in the final. third Super Cup in four seasons, sealing The Executive Committee is firmly of a gripping all-Spanish contest against Kazakhstan were the latest hosts of the view that the various decisions Sevilla FC, with the only goal of the the UEFA Futsal Cup finals, and fans in taken to enhance the European game coming in the dying moments of Almaty turned out in force for a high- national team and club competitions extra time. calibre tournament. Inter FS clinched can only benefit the competitions in their fourth trophy at this level as the question and European football as a The potential top players of tomorrow Spaniards scored a record seven goals whole in the coming years. are being given crucial international without reply to convincingly grounding through participation in overcome Portuguese rivals Sporting the UEFA Youth League. The compe­ Clube de Portugal in the final. As part

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2016/17 7 Refereeing Following a successful EURO 2016 in the attention was given to Europe’s leading The Executive Committee welcomes previous review period, UEFA has conti­ female referees as they prepared for many of the initiatives of football’s nued its drive to raise the standard of Women’s EURO 2017 in the Nether­ lawmakers, the International Football European refereeing. In August 2016, lands. A pre-tournament workshop in Association Board (IFAB), and agreed to 92 male and female referees attended the host country in May 2017 served as the continuation of trials at UEFA final the annual summer gathering in Nyon, perfect preparation for the referees tournaments in summer 2017. These while in February 2017, 128 officials and assistant referees, of which 11 involved a fourth substitution in extra travelled to Malaga in Spain for the referees, 21 assistants and 2 fourth time, an alternate system (ABBA) for annual UEFA advanced and introduc­ officials from 21 national associations the order of kicks taken in penalty tory courses for experienced referees were selected for the tournament. shoot-outs, and yellow and red cards and newcomers to the international for officials in the technical area. ranks. As usual, the courses served to In the previous period, goal-line Meanwhile, the UEFA Centre of Refe­ review past competitions and matches, technology (GLT) was introduced by reeing Excellence (CORE) in Nyon and look ahead to the future, with UEFA for EURO 2016 and the 2015/16 continues to fulfil its mission to foster fitness tests, video analysis of incidents Champions League and Europa League promising young male and female and decisions, technical and instruc­ finals. The system, which enables referees on their career paths. tional sessions, and discussion and additional assistant referees to concen­ feedback exchanges between referees trate on watching for penalty-area The Executive Committee pledges its and the UEFA Referees Committee. incidents and assist referees in decision- full backing and resources to the making, went on to make its bow in the Referees Committee in the work being Assistant referees are recognised in 2016/17 Champions League season from undertaken to develop European their own right for their crucial contri­ the play-offs onwards. The Executive refereeing and produce referees of the bution as part of referee teams, and Committee took note of a positive highest calibre. they attended their own specialist UEFA feasibility study on the introduction of course in Malaga in April. GLT in the Europa League, and decided the technology would be introduced in In addition to their participation at the this competition at the start of the summer and winter gatherings, special 2017/18 season.

8 OFF THE FIELD

The Executive Committee discusses and takes decisions on issues that concern the entire breadth of European football. As part of the consultation process, various topics are discussed within the Professional Football Strategy Council (PFSC), a body which comprises the main stakeholders in European football, i.e. UEFA, clubs, professional leagues and players, to work together to find common solutions on major topical issues affecting the game. The council is composed of the UEFA president and four UEFA vice- presidents, and representatives of the European Club Association (ECA), the Association of European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) and the professional players’ union FIFPro Division Europe.

Financial fair play At the Ordinary UEFA Congress in levels in European club football are chamber, Damien Neven (Belgium), Helsinki in April 2017, UEFA’s president growing, with clubs investing €1bn in former Chief Economist of the DG welcomed the remarkable results the year on stadiums, training facilities Competition at the European Commis­ achieved by UEFA’s financial fair play and other long-term assets. sion; and Rick Parry (England), former measures since they were introduced chief Executive of Liverpool FC and of in 2009 – noting, in particular, the The findings also show that UEFA’s role the FA , were appointed considerable reductions in club debt as a financial fair play regulator has by the Executive Committee at its which have been realised. It is clear had a key impact, curbing a great deal meeting of 15 September. that financial fair play is continuing to of the excesses that had led many clubs have a significant impact on the to the financial abyss, and laying the Financial fair play continues to enjoy financial landscape of European club foundations for unprecedented growth, the support of the European football football. The turnaround that has investment and profitability. The UEFA community – and, significantly, the taken place was reflected in UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body remains a European political authorities. The eighth club licensing benchmarking steadfast monitor of club finances, Executive Committee remains optimistic report, published in January 2017. The taking appropriate measures wherever that the system will continue to make report stresses that financial fair play necessary. its mark in guaranteeing healthy pros­ has created a more stable and sustai­ perity across Europe's club football in nable financial position for Europe’s While welcoming overall develop­ the years to come. top-division clubs. Aggregate opera­ ments, the Executive Committee is ting profits are on the rise; aggregate adamant that there must be no losses have fallen considerably from complacency. The financial fair play the peak of €1.7bn to €0.3bn; net debt system should evolve with the times, as a percentage of revenue is going and further improvements should be down; football club revenues are envisaged, especially to give vital increasing; the number of loss-making support to the development of areas clubs in Europe is dropping; for the such as youth and women’s football. first time on record half of Europe’s Two new members of the Club leagues broke even; and investment Financial Control Body’s investigatory

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2016/17 9 Club licensing Club licensing continues to act as a ments also entered into force and gathering to discuss develop­ments. force for the good in club football. UEFA worked with CAFE to help clubs Participants from sister confederations Support was given to the Kosovan start to implement the requirements. (AFC, CONCACAF and CONMEBOL) Football Association, who were the The 14th UEFA Club Licensing and were also in attendance as part of the latest member association to embrace Financial Fair Play Annual Workshop continued support UEFA is providing in club licensing, helping to raise stan­ was hosted by the Malta Football respect of the imple­men­­tation of club dards and improve professionalism in Association from 21-23 September licensing systems outside of Europe. club football. The full implemen­tation with around 160 licensing and finan­ of the disability access officer require­ cial experts from across Europe

Intelligence centre A new unit came into force towards decision-takers and policy-makers. In gation into financial polarisation and the end of the year with the creation addition to reviewing the finances of competitive balance within club of the UEFA Intelligence Centre. This 700 clubs, early analyses covered club football. unit has been tasked with providing ownership, stadium development, high-quality, balanced research to aid player usage and a thorough investi­

Integrity The UEFA president has made the fight integrity programme, which included footballers to alert them to the to eliminate match-fixing, unregulated education, monitoring and work with dangers of match-fixing. The Executive betting, corruption and doping from major stakeholders, had been a Committee fully supports efforts to football one of his major priorities, resoun­ding success, with no integrity deter young players from becoming and the Executive Committee fully concerns reported. In addition, a new embroiled in any such practices. supports this commitment to ridding concept for UEFA’s integrity officers, the game of a disease that puts its who liaise between football bodies During the review period, UEFA’s anti- integrity in serious danger. and state law enforcement agencies, doping drive gained even greater announced in summer 2017, will momentum, and the Executive Com­ The Executive Committee endorses streng­then communication and mit­­tee fully recognised the need to a zero-tolerance approach which will information sharing throughout reiterate the message that doping has see anyone caught committing such Europe. no place in football. offences banned from football. It is equally clear that UEFA and the The Executive Committee was pleased In December 2016, the committee football community cannot work alone to see continued contacts taking place approved a new system whereby all in combatting match-fixing, and between UEFA, Europol, national test samples collected in the Cham­ support and cooperation from crime and gambling authorities and pions League, Europa League, Euro­ government authorities and police police forces within the UEFA working pean Football Championship and forces across Europe can only be group on match-fixing. It also recogni­ Super Cup should be stored for up to welcomed. ses the value of the UEFA betting ten years. This will enable retesting to fraud detection system, which moni­ be carried out at any time, and espe­ As part of reinforced integrity opera­ tors over 30,000 matches across Europe cially when a new detection method tions, UEFA has created a new hub annually. The system is being used as becomes available. Long-term sample within the UEFA administration which crucial evidence in detecting match- storage means that anti-doping viola­ focusses on the protection of football, fixing, and is a vital source of assis­ tions may be prosecuted up to ten and which includes the disciplinary and tance to the Court of Arbitration for years after they have been committed. ethics, anti-doping and medical and Sport (CAS) in its decision-making in This is intended to have an additional anti-match fixing units. such cases. deterrent effect on players and teams.

It was confirmed at the very start of UEFA’s education drive on integrity Following its successful introduction in this review period that the EURO 2016 involves presentations to young 2015/16, UEFA continued

10 implementing the athlete biological careers at the outset. Consequently, medical screening process has been in passport (ABP) steroids and blood education sessions at UEFA final place for players taking part in UEFA’s module in its competitions during tournaments are invaluable. competitions. Meanwhile, the UEFA the 2016/17 campaign to reinforce Elite Club Injury Study has established the detection of steroid use. In addi­ UEFA has earned an outstanding an excellent reputation as an unrival­ tion, UEFA carried on coordinating reputation throughout the world for led historical archive of data to assist the testing programme of players the quality of its anti-doping work. clubs not only in treating, but also in taking part in its competitions with The Executive Committee will conti­ preventing player injuries, and the European national anti-doping orga­ nue to promote and support every UEFA Football Doctor Education Pro­ nisations (NADOs), ensuring that effort to ensure that UEFA’s educa­ gramme provides doctors working in UEFA has a full picture of doping tion and testing programmes stay at football throughout Europe with cru­ tests carried out on players at natio­ the forefront of recognised good cial advice in the treatment of injured nal and international level. This practice in all areas of prevention and players. In addition, UEFA readily pro­ coordination was extended across detection – with the ultimate aim motes research in the medi­cal sector. Europe by the signing of further being to protect our sport. In summer 2017, for example, it invi­ agreements between UEFA and ted research proposals to study the NADOs. UEFA is fostering coope­ The football medical sector has deve­ risk of heading the ball among young ration and partnerships in order to loped prodigiously alongside the players in European football – proof implement intelligent, deterrent and evolution of the modern game, and of UEFA’s determi­nation to protect balanced testing programmes to UEFA continues to keep pace with the health of those that play the protect clean players and teams. these developments. For some years game. now, minimum medical requirements Education is also a crucial compo­ have been implemented at UEFA nent in UEFA’s anti-doping activities, matches, to ensure that a minimum in particular in giving a strong mes­ standard of equipment and medical sage to young footballers that being services are available to deal with caught taking drugs could ruin their serious injuries, and a comprehensive

Safety and security Safety and security risks at football safety risks posed to millions of citizens a phenomenon which is still very matches remain an ongoing challenge attending matches or who live in cities present in our game – and make sure for UEFA, national associations, clubs, hosting football matches. It supports that troublemakers are excluded from venue owners and other participants. integrated cooperation involving, the game. It also goes without saying These risks can relate to stadium cons­ among others, governments, police, that effective security at venues is a truction, violence inside and outside security forces, match organisers and crucial necessity in the face of potential stadiums, the use of pyrotechnics and the general public, to counter what is a despicable and barbaric acts of potential terrorist actions. They are real and dangerous threat. terrorism. created by, among other things, failure to meet safety standards or comply The UEFA president and Executive UEFA’s security strategy through to with national safety laws, negligent Committee encourage all efforts being 2019 sees the organisation playing a safety instructions, insufficient entry or made to ensure that people can enjoy key role in European football security other controls at stadiums, and a lack football events in a safe, secure and matters. The strategy also includes of staffing. welcoming environment. All stadium constant guidance and assistance for and safety stakeholders should act fully UEFA's member associations to improve Safety issues are an ever-present reality in accordance with European and the efficiency of work across the at football matches, and the risk of national law, and all stadiums hosting continent. The Executive Committee is terrorist incidents has become a priority major football games must conform to pleased to see that the assistance concern in the wake of recent events. European safety standards. Concerted offered and funds provided are helping UEFA welcomes efforts being made, in efforts must be made by football the associations to reinforce their own particular by the European Union, to stakeholders, governments, police and safety and security infrastructures. strengthen international police coope­ public authorities to reduce violence ra­tion, in an effort to minimise the and disorder in and around stadiums –

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2016/17 11 Social responsibility The objective of UEFA's football and sibility and sustainability projects until featured on a high-profile platform in social responsibility programme is to 2019/20. Every assistance will be given October 2016, during the Fare action manage the environmental, social and to the associations in managing the weeks – at matches in the Champions economic impacts of European football, social, environmental and economic League, the Europa League and – for the game having a vital role to play in impact of football throughout Europe. the first time – the Women’s Cham­ driving social development and creating pions League, UEFA, top clubs and long-term benefits for society. Social responsibility has established players united to put across the itself as a crucial element within UEFA’s message that racism, intolerance and The Executive Committee welcomes overall vision, and the body is fulfilling xenophobia have no place in the game, UEFA’s determination to make conti­ a key responsibility as an international and that football should instead nuous progress in its social respon­ sports federation. UEFA’s social respon­ celebrate diversity and inclusion. No sibility and sustainability activities in sibility activities are based on five-year tolerance will be shown for racist or the fields of diversity, inclusion, envi­ strategic partnerships, with the current other discriminatory conduct, and such ron­ment, health, peace and reconci­ cycle due to end in 2017. Consequently, behaviour on and off the field con­ liation, solidarity and fan dialogue. UEFA has the opportunity to develop tinues to be severely punished by the Long-standing partnerships with its activities even further in the next UEFA disciplinary bodies. several organisations have also given cycle, from 2017 to 2021. An indepen­ solid foundations to this work. dent review of UEFA’s current football UEFA gave further support to a phy­ and social responsibility strategy was sical rehabilitation programme in It is also satisfying to see that coopera­ commissioned, and extensive consulta­ Afghanistan run by the International tion with UEFA’s member associations tion with key stakeholders will help Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on has intensified. In particular, HatTrick shape the future. behalf of the victims of landmines and funding will enable Europe’s national other people with disabilities. For the associations to develop social respon­ The results of the comprehensive EURO tenth successive year, UEFA donated a 2016 social responsibility and sustaina­ €100,000 cheque to the ICRC, demons­ bility activities were issued during the trating its firm belief that football has period under review. They showed that the power to help people rebuild their UEFA’s commitment to ensuring that lives. Meanwhile, UEFA's Football for this work had a positive impact and left All Abilities programme promotes a lasting legacy in France had been a social integration through football and resounding success. UEFA is determined aims to increase playing opportunities to build upon the EURO 2016 expe­ for all footballers at grassroots level. rience for EURO 2020 and other events. The 2020 tournament will present At the Champions Festival in Cardiff in parti­cular challenges, given that it will May 2017, amputee players, homeless take place in so many different host and socially excluded players, refugees, countries. The Executive Committee deaf and hard-of-hearing players, and pledges to give its full support to the players with cerebral palsy showcased drive to make these future events even their skills. more socially responsible and sustainable. Community pitches were presented to the host cities of all three flagship club The Executive Committee has given competition finals – Cardiff (Champions constant backing to UEFA’s campaign League and Women's Champions to combat racism and discrimination in League) and Stockholm (Europa football, in a long-standing partnership League) – and will hopefully inspire with the Fare network. This campaign youngsters to play football and bring

12 people together. On the environmental blished, earning winning associations groundwork was subsequently laid for front, UEFA supported the WWF Earth prize money to allocate to fair play or a new campaign, which would be Hour, uniting people to protect the respect-themed projects in their launched beyond the period under planet and act on climate change. It respective countries. review, in August 2017 – #EqualGame, backed another long-term partner, the which would seek, above all, to Centre for Access to Football in Europe At the 2017 Ordinary UEFA Congress in demonstrate and champion European (CAFE), in its campaign urging access Helsinki, the UEFA president looked to football’s diversity. and inclusion of disabled people in all the future and emphasised the impor­ facets of football. Promoting a healthy tance of UEFA being a ‘social fair play’ Football has an essential role to play as lifestyle, UEFA highlighted the organisation, showing no tolerance of a force for social good, and the Execu­ #WorldHeartDay campaign, in coope­ racism, sexism, homophobia or any tive Committee is fully behind UEFA’s ra­tion with partners the World Heart other form of discrimination. UEFA tireless efforts to make use of the Federation and Healthy Stadia, raising would set an example, he said, in stan­ game’s appeal to benefit society as a awareness of how football can play an ding up for diversity, gender equality whole. important role in keeping a healthy and social inclusion, while making heart and helping people live life to football accessible to everyone, the full. The new ‘Respect fair play’ wherever and whoever they are, and reward criteria are now well-esta­ wherever they come from. The

UEFA Foundation for Children The UEFA Foundation for Children has initiatives across the world, as it seeks Executive Committee is pleased to be now been in existence for two years, to support the young, especially those able to offer every support to this and has settled into its crucial mission, in need. Football is a powerful social admirable venture. embodying UEFA’s social and humani­ force and, during its short life so far, tarian role to help children and protect the foundation has been instrumental their rights. The foundation has in improving lives and bringing smiles launched or is involved in an impres­ to face along the way. The foundation sive number of programmes and is already making a difference, and the

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2016/17 13 Development programmes The Executive Committee continues Development Programme, the UEFA working in tandem with its national to give its unconditional support to Elite Youth Player Development associations to take women’s football UEFA’s vision in the field of football Programme and UEFA's football and forward. The new Together development – in line with the organi­ social responsibility programme. #WePlayStrong campaign, launched in sation’s mission to nurture the game’s Education has become a key pillar of June 2017, aims to change perceptions health and foster its constant progress. the HatTrick portfolio. As a result, of women’s football and increase the A crucial feature of this vision involves national association staff and football participation of women in football. providing invaluable assistance to the stakeholders receive training to help UEFA will join forces with the associa­ member associations, to enable them them develop their management skills tions to help ensure that football is the to take their own domestic football through a series of UEFA educational number one sport for women across forward in both sporting and infra­ initiatives – including the Executive Europe by 2020. A key objective of the structure terms. Master in Sport Governance (MESGO), UEFA president is also to bring more the UEFA Certificate in Football women into senior positions within The HatTrick assistance programme has Management, the UEFA Football Law football, and the UEFA Women in helped to improve the European foot­ Programme and the UEFA Executive Football Leadership Programme will ball landscape. It has enabled UEFA Master for International Players. continue to give women in football member associations to build new personal development training and headquarters, new technical training UEFA’s development work brings the skills to prepare them for leader­ centres and safe, modern stadiums. In national associations together to ship positions in our sport. addition, cooperation between UEFA, exchange information, knowledge and its member associations and local best practices. This is particularly the The Executive Committee welcomes authorities has led to thousands of case within the KISS (Knowledge and the UEFA president’s vision to bring mini-pitches being installed across Information Sharing Scenario) pro­ former players into UEFA to help Europe, boosting grassroots football gram­me. On the technical front, the football’s development, given that and youth development. Study Group Scheme sees associations they are in a position of authority to gather to swap ideas and expertise on talk about the game, having played at HatTrick also guarantees annual solida­ women’s football, grassroots football the highest levels. In the spring of rity funding to the 55 associa­tions, and coach education – while student 2017, UEFA welcomed former German enabling them to participate in UEFA coaches from across Europe come star Nadine Kessler, a winner of major youth, women’s and amateur compe­ together at UEFA courses to learn UEFA and FIFA awards during a distin­ titions, thereby giving as many players together about the numerous facets of guished career, as a women’s football as possible the chance to shine on a the coaching profession. Within these advisor with a special brief to oversee major international stage. The funding various exchanges, larger national the development of women’s football, – increased to €600m in total for the associations give the benefit of their while Dejan Stanković, a Champions 2016–20 period – helps associations to experience and know-how to their League winner with FC Internazionale cover administrative costs and intro­ smaller counterparts to help them in Milano who amassed over 100 caps for duce good governance projects, develop their further development – again an Serbia, is working for UEFA on dedica­ their integrity work, implement UEFA’s essential component in the overall ted projects and assisting national club licensing system and various UEFA drive to improve European football. associations to develop talented young conventions and charters, and finance players. their grassroots, coaching and The progress of women’s football is refereeing sectors. highly impressive, and the Executive Committee is helping to provide the HatTrick has emphasised the impetus. Funding for the Women’s importance that UEFA gives to various Football Development Programme has sectors of the game. Funding is given been extended for another four years, to the UEFA Women’s Football until 2020, and UEFA is committed to

14 Stakeholder relations UEFA is one of six continental football Association (ECA). In addition, in accor­ confederations and contributes fully to dance with the terms of the memoran­ It is a cause of great satisfaction to the the work undertaken by the world dum of understanding renewed by Executive Committee that the dialogue football body, FIFA. UEFA elects three UEFA and the ECA in 2015, a €150m with the European Union and European FIFA vice-presidents, one of whom is share of EURO 2016 revenue was distri­ political authorities and institutions proposed by the four British associations buted among a record 659 clubs for remains particularly healthy. There is (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland their contributions to the tourna­ment in consensus and agreement on many and Wales), and six members of the France in recognition of the role played issues, and a common desire to work FIFA’s new executive body, the FIFA by European clubs in the success of together for the well-being of our Council, including at least one woman. national team football. sport. In February 2017, UEFA opened a The UEFA president is an ex officio FIFA representative office in Brussels, with vice-president. During the review period, UEFA esta­ the aim of reinforcing existing bonds blished UEFA Club Competitions SA, a and building fresh relations with the UEFA fosters a positive relationship with UEFA subsidiary. Half of the company’s institutions of the European Union, FIFA, for the good of both organisations board members are appointed by UEFA Council of Europe and national govern­ and world football, and maintains its and the other half by the ECA. The ments. In addition, the Brussels office commitment to making a firm contri­ company’s role is to advise and make will act as an information and coordi­ bution to building a FIFA based on solid recommendations to the UEFA Club nation point for UEFA’s 55 member foundations, while helping football to Competitions Committee on strategic associations on issues such as EU develop across the globe. In all matters business matters before referral to the funding programmes and initiatives. relating to FIFA, the UEFA member Executive Committee for approval. associations are kept fully briefed by Proof of the common stance that UEFA about all discussions, develop­ Relations with other major stakeholders prevails between UEFA and the ments and proposals made to the world remain constructive and open to further European institutions was provided body. development. UEFA pursues regular during the review period by UEFA’s dialogue with the players’ union FIFPro support for the European Parliament In December 2016, the Executive Com­ Division Europe and the professional ‘Resolution on an integrated approach mit­tee approved a new support pro­ leagues’ body, the EPFL, and firmly to sport policy: good governance, acces­ gramme, called UEFA ASSIST, for the believes that important solutions can be sibility and integrity’ as a significant other continental confederations. The found and further progress made on a step in the right direction for the heal­ programme, which will make use of variety of issues, for the overall benefit thy development of sport in Europe. FIFA’s annual financial contribution to of European football. In turn, the resolution endorsed UEFA’s UEFA, aims to give support to the other governance model, core values and confederations in terms of knowledge- Meanwhile, after the annual meeting initia­tives, backed the governance sharing, infrastructure, football tourna­ with fan groups in April 2017, the UEFA reforms proposed by the UEFA presi­ ments, grassroots development and president urged close cooperation and dent and implemented in summer 2017, charity projects, and formalises UEFA's an open line of communication with and gave support to UEFA’s financial already ongoing support of its fellow fans, whom he described as vital mem­ fair play measures and campaign to confederations. bers of the football community who protect football’s integrity. Alongside boosted the game with their passion this, UEFA’s second Grassroots Week in The relationship between UEFA and and dedication. In September 2016, the September 2016 was aligned with the Europe’s clubs is currently a fruitful one. Executive Committee also approved first European Week of Sport, a Euro­ At the Helsinki Congress, UEFA’s mem­ special awards for the football associa­ pean Commission initiative which ber associations approved a proposed tions of Iceland, Northern Ireland, the promotes sport and physical activity reform granting two full member posi­ Republic of Ireland and Wales for the across Europe. tions on the UEFA Executive Committee passionate and uplifting support of to representatives of the European Club their fans at EURO 2016.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2016/17 15 ORDINARY AND OTHER MEETINGS

The Executive Committee met seven The Executive Committee stays in close members also chair UEFA standing times during the 2016/17 period. This contact with UEFA’s member associa­ committees. meant that the committee was able to tions by way of UEFA meetings and The following list represents a full take regular important decisions for association events. In turn, the UEFA overview of the items discussed, the benefit of European football, administration keeps committee mem­ proposals made and decisions reached receive constant updates on key deve­ bers up to date on association matters. at each meeting of the UEFA Executive lopments, and give its full attention to Executive Committee members are Committee during the reporting the wide range of issues that come responsible for following specific asso­ period. within its remit. cia­tions, and Executive Committee

Meeting summaries 25 August 2016, Monaco

• Approval of proposals for the 2018–21 UEFA club competition cycle

15 September 2016, Athens

• Confirmation of Theodore Theodoridis as UEFA to teams participating in the European Under-21 general secretary Championship final tournament in 2017 • Appointment of the NSK Olympiyski stadium in • Approval of the appointment of Rick Parry Kyiv as the venue for the 2017/18 UEFA Champions (England) and Damien Neven (Belgium) as new League final on 26 May 2018; appointment of the members of the Club Financial Control Body Lilleküla stadium in to stage the UEFA Super investigatory chamber for four-year terms running Cup match on 14 August 2018 until June 2020 • Approval of the access list for the 2017/18 UEFA • Approval of the proposals of a bureau of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League Grassroots Panel for the winners of the 2016 UEFA • Approval of the final draw procedure for UEFA Grassroots Week Awards Women’s EURO 2017 • Approval of a proposal to present special plaques • Approval of the regulations of the 2017–19 to the national associations of Iceland, Northern European Qualifying Competition for the FIFA Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Wales in Women’s World Cup and the 2017–19 UEFA recognition of their supporters’ passion, dedication European Under-21 Championship and conduct at EURO 2016 • Approval of proposed amounts for distribution

9 December 2016, Nyon calendar and distribution mechanism for the 2018–21 UEFA club competitions cycle • Approval of the draft UEFA President’s and • Decision to introduce two separate kick-off Executive Committee Report and UEFA times for UEFA Champions League matches in Administration Report for presentation to the the 2018–21 cycle: 19.00 CET (two matches) and 41st Ordinary UEFA Congress in Helsinki on 5 21.00 CET (six matches) April 2017 • Agreement to further strengthen UEFA’s • Appointment of the Stade de Lyon as the venue anti-doping programme by extending sample for the 2017/18 UEFA Europa League final storage time to ten years on 16 May 2018 • Approval of the bidding principles for the 2019 • Approval of the access list, coefficient system, UEFA Nations League final four – the hosts to

16 be selected from among the four finalists (best spectator behaviour) • Approval of the system to determine the host city • Approval of a proposal that implementation at pairing for EURO 2020 national level of the Autonomous Agreement • Ratification of the bidding concept for UEFA EURO regarding the Minimum Requirements for 2024 Standard Player Contracts be linked in future to • Approval of the bidding concept for the 2019 club some of the payments made to UEFA member competition finals associations for good governance projects • Appointment of host associations for the final • Approval of the proposed commercial strategy rounds of the following competitions: and sales launch for the 2018–21 UEFA club - European Under-21 Championship: Italy 2019 competitions - European Under-19 Championship: Armenia 2019 • Decision to decline a request by the South and Northern Ireland 2020 American confederation, CONMEBOL, for a match - European Under-17 Championship: Republic of between the 2016 Super Cup winners of the two Ireland 2019 and Estonia 2020 confederations - European Women’s Under-19 Championship: • Acceptance of a request by the Football Federation Scotland 2019 and Georgia 2020 of Ukraine for UEFA matches to be held in Kharkiv - European Women’s Under-17 Championship: again Bulgaria 2019 and Sweden 2020 • Approval of the UEFA ASSIST confederations - UEFA Futsal Cup: Almaty, Kazakhstan, 2017 support programme • Recommendation to the 41st Ordinary UEFA • Approval of proposed updates to UEFA committee Congress in Helsinki on 5 April 2017 that EY and panel membership Lausan­ne be appointed as UEFA’s external auditors • Noting of the appointment of Giorgio Marchetti as for the 2016/17 financial year UEFA deputy general secretary • Approval of the proposed performance-related distribution for the associations taking part in UEFA Women’s EURO 2017 • Confirmation of the three winners of the UEFA fair play competition. Belarus (improvement in overall fair play from one season to the next) and Estonia

9 February 2017, Nyon

• Approval of the agenda and programme for the 41st a budget of €2m over three years to support the Ordinary UEFA Congress in Helsinki on 5 April 2017 development of football in Crimea • Noting of the list of 13 candidates for election for eight • Approval of UEFA's women's football marketing plan seats on the UEFA Executive Committee at the Helsinki • Reappointment of UEFA Club Financial Control Body Congress members for the 2016–20 period • Approval of proposed amendments to the UEFA • Authorisation for the UEFA president to take a decision Statutes to be submitted to the Helsinki Congress for in the case concerning a request submitted by the approval Football Federation of Kosovo to lift the ban on UEFA • Approval of UEFA’s budget proposal for 2017/18 to be matches being played in Mitrovica (decision to be made presented to the Helsinki Congress for final approval once the UEFA inspection team had completed its work • Endorsement of good governance reforms proposed and submitted its report and recommendation) by the UEFA president, to be submitted to the Helsinki • Noting of a favourable feasibility study into the Congress for adoption (see page 20) implementation of goal-line technology (GLT) in the • Approval of the agenda and programme for the UEFA Europa League; consequently, the technology Helsinki Congress would be introduced in this competition at the start of • Endorsement of the Finance Committee’s approval of the 2017/18 season

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2016/17 17 4 April 2017, Helsinki

• Noting of the final list of candidates for the • Strategic decisions for the development of futsal: UEFA Executive Committee and FIFA Council - Staging of the UEFA Futsal EURO every four years elections at the following day’s Ordinary UEFA with 16 teams (instead of every two years with 12 Congress teams), starting in 2022 • Decision to hold an Extraordinary UEFA - Introduction of a UEFA Women’s Futsal EURO, Congress in on 20 September 2017 to be played every two years with four teams, to elect an additional member of the FIFA starting in 2019 Council, as well as to ratify the two Executive - Introduction of UEFA Under-19 Futsal EURO to be Committee members elected by the European played every two years with eight teams, starting Club Association (ECA) in 2019 • Agreement that the UEFA Congress should - Amendment of the UEFA Futsal Cup format, be invited to make departing UEFA Executive starting in 2017/18, to allow the top three Committee member (Cyprus) a associations in the futsal national team UEFA honorary member coefficient rankings to enter a second • Noting that the 42nd Ordinary UEFA Congress representative, in addition to the titleholders would take place in Bratislava, Slovakia, on 27 - Renaming of the UEFA Futsal Cup as the UEFA February 2018 Futsal Champions League from the 2018/19 • Supporting of the UEFA Finance Committee’s season proposal to make an immediate and • Confirmation that the 2019 UEFA European unconditional solidarity payment of €1m to Under-21 Championship final tournament in Italy each UEFA member association would be played between 16 and 30 June 2019 • Endorsement of the Finance Committee’s • Approval of the regulations of the following approval of a request to continue the TEP competitions: 2017/18 UEFA Champions League, kit assistance scheme to support smaller 2017/18 UEFA Europa League, 2017 UEFA Super associations from 2018 to 2022 Cup, 2017/18 UEFA Women’s Champions League • Supporting of the Finance Committee’s and 2017/18 UEFA Futsal Cup approval of a budget of €4.6m over two years • Approval of the proposed European qualification to support the joint UEFA-EU stadium and system for the girls’ and boys’ futsal tournaments security programme at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games • Approval of the general principle to stage the • Noting of the decision of the FIFA Bureau of the UEFA Europa League final in the same week Council regarding the allocation of slots for the as the UEFA Champions League final for the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup, for which whole 2018–21 cycle, maintaining different UEFA had been given 16 direct slots venues for the two finals

5 April 2017, Helsinki (Constitutive meeting following elections at the 41st Ordinary UEFA Congress)

• Election by the committee of the UEFA vice- • On the proposal of the UEFA president, presidents: appointment of David Gill (England) as UEFA - First vice-president: Karl-Erik Nilsson (Sweden) treasurer, and Sándor Csányi (Hungary) and - Vice-president for club matters: Fernando Michele Uva (Italy) as members of the Finance Gomes (Portugal) Committee - Vice-president for FIFA and confederation • On the proposal of the UEFA president, matters: Ángel María Villar Llona (Spain) appointment of the following UEFA - Vice-president for national association matters: representatives on the board of administration Grigoriy Surkis (Ukraine) of UEFA Club Competitions SA: Fernando Gomes - Vice-president for governance matters: (Portugal), Michele Uva (Italy), Stewart Regan Reinhard Grindel (Germany) (Scotland), Martin Kallen (UEFA Events SA chief executive) and Giorgio Marchetti (UEFA deputy general secretary)

18 1 June 2017, Cardiff

• Approval of the agenda for the 13th Women’s Under-19 Championship; Extraordinary UEFA Congress in Geneva on 20 Continuation of the trial of a new order of kicks September 2017 for penalty shootouts (ABBA system) at the • Noting of one candidate for the unfilled seat final tournaments: of the European Under-19 of European member of the FIFA Council by the Championship, and the European Women’s deadline of 20 May 2017 – Alexey Sorokin (Russia) Under-19 Championship in 2017; Approval of • Approval of the proposed updated composition amendments to the competition regulations of the UEFA organs and bodies required to carry out these trials • Introduction of comprehensive bid regulations • Approval of the nominations for the 2017 UEFA for UEFA finals and final phases Grassroots Week Awards: • Appointment of Reinhard Grindel (Germany) as - Best Grassroots Leader: Senik Arakelyan (Armenia, chairman of the five-member UEFA Governance gold); Ralf Klohr (Germany, silver): Ana Paula and Compliance Committee; appointment of Pinho Almeida (Portugal, bronze) the committee’s two independent members: - Best Grassroots Project: GiocoCalciando (Italy, José Juan Pintó Sala (Spain) and Charles Deguara gold); Kannusta Mua (, silver); Grandmas (Malta) for Football (Lithuania, bronze) • Noting of the governance and compliance audit - Best Grassroots Club: St. Oliver Plunkett FC (gold, overview for 2016/17 Northern Ireland); FV Blau-Weiß Gonnesweiler • Appointment of David Gill (England) as chairman e. V. (Germany, silver); FK Breznica Pljevlja of the Compensation Committee, Herbert Hübel (Montenegro, bronze) (Austria) as the representative of the Governance • Granting of a request by the Gibraltar and Compliance Committee, and José Pintó Sala Football Association to be exempted from the (Spain) as the independent member requirements of the UEFA Club Licensing and • Approval of the following regulations: 2017 Financial Fair Play Regulations, and to allow UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, 2017 UEFA Gibraltarian clubs to play UEFA club competition Medical Regulations, 2017 UEFA Organisational matches in a suitable stadium not within its Regulations, 2017/18 UEFA European Under-17 territory Championship, 2017/18 UEFA European Women’s • Approval of a request by the Scottish Football Under-17 Championship, 2017/18 UEFA European Association to allow two teams from the Republic Under-19 Championship, 2017/18 UEFA European of Ireland to compete in the 2017/18 Scottish Women’s Under-19 Championship Challenge Cup • IFAB matters: continuation of the trial of a fourth • Noting of a change of date for the 42nd Ordinary substitution in extra time, as well as the trial of UEFA Congress in Bratislava, Slovakia to 26 yellow and red cards for team officials in the February 2018 technical area at the following final tournaments: • Acceptance of the proposal that the 43rd UEFA Women’s EURO 2017, 2017 UEFA European Ordinary UEFA Congress be held in on Under-21 Championship, 2017 UEFA European Thursday 7 February 2019 Under-19 Championship, UEFA European

EXTRAORDINARY UEFA CONGRESS IN ATHENS

The 12th Extraordinary UEFA Aleksander Čeferin (Slovenia) was (Netherlands). In addition, Evelina Congress took place at the Grand elected by 42 votes to 13 to serve until Christillin (Italy) was elected by Resort Lagonissi in Athens, Greece, 2019 as UEFA's seventh president. The acclamation as UEFA’s female member on 14 September 2016. other candidate was Michael van Praag of the FIFA Council.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2016/17 19 ORDINARY UEFA CONGRESS IN HELSINKI

The 41st Ordinary UEFA Congress was • Granting of two full member positions • Authorisation for experts from held at the Fair Centre Messukeskus in on the UEFA Executive Committee to national associations to chair UEFA the Finnish capital, Helsinki, on 5 April representatives of the European Club committees 2017. Association (ECA) • Strengthening of the UEFA The Congress approved the annual The Congress ratified several statutory Governance and Compliance consolidated statement of accounts for changes: Committee with the additional 2015/16, the budget for 2017/18, the • Introduction of term limits for the appointment of two independent 2015/16 Report of the UEFA President UEFA president and members of the members to the current three-man and Executive Committee, and the UEFA Executive Committee, with the body 2015/16 Report of the UEFA possibility to serve for a maximum of • Inclusion of a specific article in the Administration. It also ratified the three four-year terms UEFA Statutes to ensure that venues composition of the UEFA Club Financial • Introduction of the requirement that for all UEFA competitions are selected Control Body. candidates for election or re-election in a fully objective manner through a to the Executive Committee must transparent bidding process Honorary membership of UEFA was hold an active office (president, vice- • Inclusion of a specific article in the bestowed upon Marios Lefkaritis president, general secretary or CEO) in UEFA Statutes to set ethics and good (Cyprus) for his distinguished service to their respective national association governance as a statutory objective European football.

Elections

Elections took place for eight seats on • Elkhan Mammadov (Azerbaijan) – • Dejan Savićević (Montenegro) the UEFA Executive Committee for a 24 votes four-year term until 2021. • Kieran O’Connor (Wales) – 11 votes A further European member of the The following members were elected or Kairat Boranbayev (Kazakhstan) FIFA Council was elected by re-elected by an absolute majority: withdrew his candidature before the acclamation for a two-year term • Karl-Erik Nilsson (Sweden) – elections. until 2019: 50 votes (new) • Reinhard Grindel (Germany) • John Delaney (Republic of Ireland) – Following the Congress, Karl-Erik 48 votes (new) Nilsson (Sweden) was named UEFA first The Congress was informed that an • Michele Uva (Italy) – 46 votes (new) vice-president, while Fernando Gomes Extraordinary UEFA Congress would • Zbigniew Boniek (Poland) – (Portugal), Reinhard Grindel take place on 20 September 2017 in 45 votes (new) (Germany), Grigoriy Surkis (Ukraine) Switzerland, notably to elect an • Reinhard Grindel (Germany) – and Ángel María Villar Llona (Spain) additional European member of the 44 votes (new) were appointed as UEFA vice- FIFA Council. The 42nd Ordinary UEFA • David Gill (England) – 40 votes presidents. David Gill (England) was Congress would be held in Bratislava, • Michael van Praag (Netherlands) – named UEFA treasurer. Slovakia, on 26 February 2018. 36 votes • Servet Yardımcı (Turkey) – In addition, three European members 34 votes (new) of the FIFA Council were elected by acclamation for four-year terms until The following candidates were not 2021: elected: • Sándor Csányi (Hungary) • Armand Duka (Albania) – 25 votes • Costakis Koutsokoumnis (Cyprus)

20 UEFA Executive Committee (April 2017)

President Aleksander Čeferin (Slovenia), president since 2016 Members Zbigniew Boniek (Poland), elected in 2017 First Vice-President Karl-Erik Nilsson (Sweden), vice-president since Sándor Csányi (Hungary), 2015 2017, Executive Committee member since 2017 John Delaney (Republic of Ireland), 2017 Peter Gilliéron (Switzerland), 2011 Vice-President Fernando Gomes (Portugal), vice-president since Florence Hardouin (France), 2016 2017, Executive Committee member since 2015 Borislav Mihaylov (Bulgaria), 2011 Vice-President Reinhard Grindel (Germany), vice-president since Davor Šuker (Croatia), 2015 2017, Executive Committee member since 2017 Michele Uva (Italy), 2017 Vice-President Grigoriy Surkis (Ukraine), vice-president since 2013, Michael van Praag (Netherlands), 2009 Executive Committee member since 2007 Servet Yardımcı (Turkey), 2017 Vice-President Ángel María Villar Llona (Spain), vice-president since 2000, Executive Committee member since European Members of the FIFA Council 1992 Vice-Presidents Aleksander Čeferin (Slovenia) UEFA Treasurer David Gill (England), Executive Committee member David Gill (England) since 2013, UEFA treasurer since April 2017 Ángel María Villar Llona (Spain) Members (Italy) Sándor Csányi (Hungary) Reinhard Grindel (Germany) Costakis Koutsokoumnis (Cyprus) Dejan Savićević (Montenegro)

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2016/17 21 22 COMMITTEE REPORTS

11 July 2016 – 30 June 2017

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2016/17 23 NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS COMMITTEE

The National Associations Committee received an update on governance matters within UEFA member associa­ tions, in particular with regard to the Football Federation of Kosovo and the situation of the Hellenic Football Fede­- ration, including the reasons behind FIFA’s decision to set up a normalisa­ tion committee in Greece. It was also informed about the application of the Jersey Football Association for UEFA membership and the relevant appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport by the Jersey FA against the decision of the UEFA Executive Com­ mittee not to put forward its appli­ cation for UEFA membership to the UEFA Congress. In other business, a presentation was given on the out­ comes of the TEP round tables that took place in January/February 2017. Furthermore, the committee was updated on the status of football development in Crimea and was infor­ med about the existence of two sepa­ rate associations: the Crimea Regional Football Association based in Kherson and directly linked to the Football Fede­ration of Ukraine, and the Cri­ mean Football Union with Special Status based in Simferopol and direc­ tly monitored by UEFA. Finally, the Composition of the committee on 30 June 2017

committee discussed the importance Chairman Marios N. Lefkaritis (Cyprus) of the TEP kit assistance scheme, on Deputy Chairman Fernando Gomes (Portugal) which many small national associations depend. 1st Vice-Chairman Armand Duka (Albania) 2nd Vice-Chairman Andrii Pavelko (Ukraine) Meeting: 10 March 2017 3rd Vice-Chairman Hugo Quaderer (Liechtenstein) Members Kai-Erik Arstad (Norway) Kanysh Aubakirov (Kazakhstan) Greg Clarke (England) Ofer Eini (Israel) Virgar Hvidbro (Faroe Islands) Levan Kobiashvili (Georgia) Slaviša Kokeza (Serbia) Patrick Nelson (Northern Ireland) Charles Robba (Gibraltar) Alexey Sorokin (Russia) Radu Visan (Romania) Servet Yardımcı (Turkey) Dimitar Zisovski (FYR Macedonia) Co-opted Member Noël Le Graët (France)

24 FINANCE COMMITTEE

The Finance Committee held six meetings during the period under review to advise and support the Executive Committee on all financial matters for the benefit of European football.

The committee monitored UEFA’s financial performance by regularly comparing the budget with forecasts and actuals. It also conducted a tho­ rough review of the budget for 2017/18, which placed an emphasis on greater investment in football development and support for UEFA’s member associations, in particular in relation to youth and futsal tournaments and education programmes. The budget included Women’s EURO 2017 and the increase in distributions to the participating associations. The committee approved US dollar hedging Following discussions with the Euro­ for the final two seasons of the current pean Club Association, the Finance cycle, and new non-budgeted projects such Committee approved the new distri­ as the stadium and security programme, bution model for the 2018–21 club the women’s football marketing plan and competition cycle, whereby a fixed the necessary renovation of UEFA’s restau­ cost allocation would no longer be rant facilities. applied and, instead, actual costs The external auditors performed their would be deducted from gross revenue annual audit of the financial statements to determine the distribution base. and UEFA’s internal control system. Their In addition, Champions League distri­ report and recommendations were pre­ butions would move to a four-pillar sen­ted to and discussed by the commit­ system (equal shares, performance, tee. More information can be found in market pool and a new club coefficient UEFA’s financial report 2016/17. pillar). Another important part of the negotiations with the ECA was the Meetings: 9 July 2016, 25 August 2016, 23 November 2016, 3 January 2017, 3 April 2017, 2 June 2017 creation of UEFA Club Competitions SA to deal with all club competition busi­ ness matters. Composition of the committee on 3 April 2017*

Chairman Marios N. Lefkaritis (Cyprus) Members Giancarlo Abete (Italy) David Gill (England) Allan Hansen (Denmark)

Wolfgang Niersbach (Germany) resigned on 18 December 2016. * A last meeting was held on 2 June 2017 under the new composition following the 41st Ordinary UEFA Congress and the elections to the UEFA Executive Committee – Chairman: David Gill (England); members: Sándor Csányi (Hungary) and Michele Uva (Italy).

COMMITTEE REPORTS 2016/17 25 REFEREES COMMITTEE

The Referees Committee discussed the Referee Convention following a best practices workshop involving Referee Convention specialists from all UEFA member associations. The workshop provided valuable information and ideas to the Referee Convention Panel, which will assist the Referees Committee in reviewing and updating the Referee Convention from 2018.

Four introductory and four consolidation courses were held at Colovray as part of UEFA’s long-standing CORE referee educa­tion programme, involving 61 refereeing trios representing all 55 UEFA member associations, as well as match officials from Chile, Egypt, India, Kenya, Mauritius, Trinidad & Tobago, the USA and Uzbekistan.

The committee selected and prepared the referee teams for the four annual exclusively of carefully selected specia­ youth competition final tournaments as lists. Consequently, chief refereeing well as the Under-21 finals in Poland and officer was appointed Women’s EURO 2017 in the Netherlands, as chairman, with as both of which required more than 40 deputy. The two additional refereeing match officials in all, putting them on a officers appointed to serve alongside par with EURO 2008 (the last men’s Collina, Dallas and Marc Batta were EURO without additional assistant Vladimir Šajn, responsible for education, referees). and Dagmar Damková, responsible for Tactical match preparation by qualified matters relating to female referees. coaches, as introduced at EURO 2016, was rolled out for referees in the Cham­ Meeting: 12 December 2016 pions League knockout stages and the Under-21 and Women’s EURO tourna­ ments. It was agreed that this successful Composition of the committee on 30 June 2017 initiative, which helps match officials to predict passages in play and anticipate Chairman Ángel María Villar Llona (Spain) situations, would be extended as of Deputy Chairwoman Karen Espelund (Norway) 2017/18. Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina (Italy) Refereeing Officers Marc Batta (France) The season ended in a reform of the Hugh Dallas (Scotland) composition of the Referees Committee Members Dagmar Damková (Czech Republic) and an increase in the number of refe­ David R. Elleray (England) reeing officers, from three to five. At its Herbert Fandel (Germany) Bo Karlsson (Sweden) meeting in Cardiff on 2 June, the Execu­ Nikolay Levnikov (Russia) tive Committee agreed that the Refe­ Vladimir Šajn (Slovenia) rees Committee should be composed Jaap Uilenberg (Netherlands) Kyros Vassaras (Greece)

26 NATIONAL TEAM COMPETITIONS COMMITTEE

The main focus of the National Team agreements, with assistance from UEFA EURO 2020 was another key topic at Competitions Committee was on the where required. The UEFA administra­ each meeting. The concept of host city implementation of the 2018–22 tion would supervise and coordinate pairing was approved and some national team competition cycle. the process, in order to have all friendly aspects of the match schedule were matches falling within the Nations agreed on, with a view to issuing the The calendar constraints caused by the League period confirmed by March 2018. final tournament schedule in 2018. full use of available dates by the Nations League and the European The committee had two sets of Valid bids to host the Under-21 finals Qualifiers retained the committee’s regulations to discuss and review: for in 2019 were received from the associa­ attention. It was agreed that in this the 2018/19 Nations League and the tions of Hungary and Italy. The latter new context it would be necessary to 2018–20 European Football Champion­ was appointed following Hungary’s implement additional risk mitigation ship. Particular attention was given to withdrawal. measures for the draws. In addition, the new aspects such as the format of the competition regulations were reinfor­ EURO 2020 play-offs involving teams Meetings: 18 November 2016, 28 February 2017, 13 June 2017 ced with new provisions on the proce­ from the Nations League, which was dure to follow if a match cannot analysed in depth in order to reach a commence or has to be abandoned. solid proposal that would cover the countless possible scenarios. UEFA’s centralisation of the media rights to friendly matches in 2018–22 The committee approved the bidding also required thorough analysis by the procedure for the June 2019 Nations committee, which concluded that the League finals and confirmed the national associations concerned should milestones for EURO 2024 bids. continue to make their own bilateral

Composition of the committee on 30 June 2017

Chairman Position pending Deputy Chairman Sándor Csányi (Hungary)

1st Vice-Chairman Geir Thorsteinsson (Iceland) 2nd Vice-Chairman Mahmut Özgener (Turkey) 3rd Vice-Chairman Position pending Members Angelo Chetcuti (Malta) Ludovic Debru (France) John Delaney (Republic of Ireland) Martin Glenn (England) Rotem Kamer (Israel) Alfred Ludwig (Austria) Alan McRae (Scotland) Alex Miescher (Switzerland) Jesper Møller Christensen (Denmark) Maciej Sawicki (Poland) Håkan Sjöstrand (Sweden) Terje Svendsen (Norway) Michele Uva (Italy) Bert van Oostveen (Netherlands) Damir Vrbanović (Croatia)

Wolfgang Niersbach (Germany) resigned on 18 December 2016. Sándor Csányi (Hungary) chaired the committee from 28 February 2017 onwards. The following member left the committee during the reporting period: Bjorn Vassallo (Malta).

COMMITTEE REPORTS 2016/17 27 CLUB COMPETITIONS COMMITTEE

The men’s club competition season distribution purposes, titleholder agreed on changes to the 2017/18 com­ started with an exciting all-Spanish vacancy scenarios and the Europa petition regulations, as well as draw Super Cup in Trondheim and culmina­ League access list. All points were procedures and financial matters such ted with two memorable finals in finalised by the Club Competitions as surplus revenue, accounts for the Stock­­holm and Cardiff, while the Committee in November and subse­ club competition finals and solida­rity Youth League continued to build on quently approved by the Executive payments. the success of its first three seasons. Committee. The Club Competitions Committee also fully supported the As in previous years, the committee The key topics of discussion within the idea of moving the Europa League final was regularly updated on the imple­ committee related to format develop­ to the Wednesday before the Cham­ mentation of the Club Licensing and ments for the 2018–21 cycle. It was pions League final, in order to allow Financial Fair Play Regulations, inclu­ agreed in August 2016 to recommend all domestic seasons to be completed ding the status of settlement agree­ changes to the access list, the club before both flagship finals. ments concluded with various clubs coefficient calculation system and the and the distribution of withheld revenue distribution system, as well as Another key development was the amounts. to establish a new subsidiary, UEFA introduction of a formal bidding Club Competitions SA. After the Execu­ procedure for the 2019 club compe­ Meetings: 25 August 2016, 28 November 2016, 3 March 2017, 2 June 2017 tive Committee’s approval of these tition finals. The committee fully proposals, a working group was set up supported this new approach and to discuss and analyse various open monitored the development of the issues, such as the adaptation of the bidding procedure itself and the calendar for the qualifying rounds, the associated assessment criteria. club coefficients used for revenue The committee also discussed and

Composition of the committee on 30 June 2017

Chairman Fernando Gomes (Portugal) Deputy Chairman David Gill (England) Deputy Chairman Michael van Praag (Netherlands)

1st Vice-Chairman Umberto Gandini (Italy) 2nd Vice-Chairman Sofoklis Pilavios (Greece) 3rd Vice-Chairman Andrea Agnelli (Italy) Members Nasser Al-Khelaifi (France) Josep Maria Bartomeu (Spain) Peter Fossen (Netherlands) Michael Gerlinger (Germany) Bernhard Heusler (Switzerland) Peter Lawwell (Scotland) Pedro López Jimenez (Spain) Nikola Prentic (Montenegro) Aki Riihilahti (Finland)

The following members left the committee during the reporting period: Joan Gaspart (Spain), Theodore Giannikos (Greece), Karl Hopfner (Germany), Daniel Lorenz (Portugal) and Roger Vanden Stock (Belgium).

28 YOUTH AND AMATEUR FOOTBALL COMMITTEE

The Youth and Amateur Football Committee reviewed the 2016 youth competition final tournaments and monitored the preparations for 2017 and 2018, as well as the bidding procedure and evaluation report for the selection of hosts for 2019 and 2020.

The committee proposed important changes to the youth competition regulations, which came into force on 1 July 2017. In response to demand from the national associations, one additional rest day was included between matchdays 1 and 2 at all qualifying mini-tournaments and the squad limits for all mini-tournaments and final tournaments was increased from 18 to 20. UEFA’s financial contri­ bution to qualifying mini-tournaments received a significant boost and the new system recommended by the committee was extended to other competitions with similar qualifying systems.

The committee also agreed to revise the youth competitions’ coefficient calculation system in order to better reflect long-term efforts and achieve­ ments at youth level. Composition of the committee on 30 June 2017

Chairman Sándor Csányi (Hungary) With the aim of increasing the value Deputy Chairman Grigoriy Surkis (Ukraine) and recognition of the Maurice Burlaz Trophy, the committee considered 1st Vice-Chairman Aivar Pohlak (Estonia) extending the reference period from 2nd Vice-Chairman Sergei Roumas (Belarus), two to four years and complementing 3rd Vice-Chairman Armen Minasyan (Armenia) the award with a separate mark of Members Hans-Dieter Drewitz (Germany), recognition for the association that Mustafa Erögüt (Turkey) Richard Havrilla (Slovakia) makes the most progress over the Christian Kofoed (Denmark) four years. Yordan Letchkov (Bulgaria) Trefor Lloyd Hughes (Wales) Paul Lyon (Gibraltar) Meeting: 8 December 2016 David Martin (Northern Ireland) Rudolf Marxer (Liechtenstein) Marcelino Maté (Spain) Ludovico Micallef (Malta) Savo Milošević (Serbia) Maurizio Montironi (San Marino) Joël Muller (France) Rudi Zavrl (Slovenia)

COMMITTEE REPORTS 2016/17 29 WOMEN’S FOOTBALL COMMITTEE

The Women’s Football Committee’s to give four more teams in each the The committee also kept a close eye main focus was on the preparations for opportunity play an additional round on women’s football development Women’s EURO 2017 in the Netherlands of challenging international matches matters, including the development and the 2016/17 Women’s Champions while simulta­neously simplifying the of female coaches. In this context, League season, which culminated in a qualifying path for the final it agreed in principle that teams successful final in Cardiff. The commit­ tournaments. competing in UEFA women’s national tee also monitored the bidding process team competitions should have to have for the appointment of the hosts of the Discussions on the format options for at least one woman on their coaching Women’s Champions League final in the Women’s EURO 2021 qualifiers staff. In addition, an update was 2019. were ongoing, with all members received on UEFA’s women’s football supporting the idea of abandoning the marke­ting plan and the Together The committee was presented with preliminary round in favour of a format #WePlayStrong participation campaign reviews and status reports on the 2016, that would ensure more competitive was launched in connection with the 2017 and 2018 final tournaments of the matches for all participating teams. Women’s Champions League final in Women’s Under-19 and Under-17 Cham­ Cardiff. pionships, it received declarations of The committee received an update on interest in hosting the final tournaments the status of the FIFA international Meetings: 2 September 2016, 20 January 2017 in 2019 and 2020, and recommended an women’s match calendar and approved increase in the number of groups in the the UEFA women’s match calendar for elite rounds of both youth competitions 2017/18.

Composition of the committee on 30 June 2017

Chairwoman Karen Espelund (Norway) Deputy Chairman Allan Hansen (Denmark)

1st Vice-Chairwoman Anne Rei (Estonia) 2nd Vice-Chairwoman Hannelore Ratzeburg (Germany) 3rd Vice-Chairman Jasmin Baković (Bosnia & Herzegovina) Members Minke Booij (Netherlands) Bernadette Constantin (France) Sue Hough (England) Monica Jorge (Portugal) Annelie Larsson (Sweden) Anne McKeown (Scotland) Nikola Mužiková (Czech Republic) Camelia Nicolae (Romania) Aleksandra Pejkovska (FYR Macedonia) Gudrun Inga Sivertsen (Iceland) Frances Smith (Republic of Ireland) Marina Tashchyan (Armenia) Observers Linda Wijkström (European Club Association) Laura McAllister (Wales)

30 FUTSAL AND BEACH SOCCER COMMITTEE

Futsal and Beach Soccer Committee proposed a new strategic plan for futsal, involving the launch of new youth and women’s European cham­ pion­ships in 2019, with a controlled increase in costs, and a 16-team Futsal EURO every four years after the final 12-team edition in 2018. The plan also included a proposal to improve the competitiveness and attractiveness of the Futsal Cup, which will be rebran­ ded as the Futsal Champions League as of 2018/19 and include new paths in the main qualifying round, after 15 seasons under more or less the same format. All these strategic proposals were approved by the Executive Committee in April 2017.

Meanwhile, the committee monitored the 2016/17 Futsal Cup season and the preparations for Futsal EURO 2018 in Slovenia. The launch of futsal develop­ ment tournaments, designed to prepare teams for qualification for the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, was welcomed and the positive expe­ rience seen as confirmation that a UEFA youth futsal competition would boost the development of the game.

The committee received an update on the UEFA Futsal Coaching Manual, Composition of the committee on 30 June 2017 which would be made available online Chairman Borislav Mihaylov (Bulgaria) to all futsal coaches in six different Deputy Chairman Avraham Luzon (Israel) languages.

1st Vice-Chairman Petr Fousek (Czech Republic) Finally, the committee approved the 2nd Vice-Chairman Fabrizio Tonelli (Italy) 2017/18 international futsal calendar, 3rd Vice-Chairman Ilir Shulku (Albania) with the inclusion of a new window Members Olzhas Abrayev (Kazakhstan) for international women’s futsal Emil Aliev (Russia) Alexandru Burlac (Moldova) matches. Pedro Dias (Portugal) Zoltán Drucskó (Hungary) Meetings: 29 November 2016, 13 March 2017 Boris Durlen (Croatia) Philippe Hertig (Switzerland) José Venancio López Hierro (Spain) Ciprian Parasachiv (Romania) Hans Schelling (Netherlands) Sergejus Slyva (Lithuania) Marco Tura (San Marino) Sergii Vladyko (Ukraine)

COMMITTEE REPORTS 2016/17 31 HATTRICK COMMITTEE

The fourth cycle of HatTrick programme associations and confederations soft skills required by national asso­ started on 1 July 2016 and will run outside Europe, primarily through ciations’ managerial staff who have until 30 June 2020, making €600m UEFA ASSIST and a dedicated ICT previously completed the UEFA CFM. available to the 55 UEFA member support programme. associations to support their infrastruc­ The committee also closely followed ture, administration, management, The committee monitored the the fourth edition of the Executive training and education, elite youth successful completion of the first Master in Sport Governance (MESGO), football, football and social responsi­ editions of the UEFA Football Law the targeted, tailor-made support bility, grassroots, women’s football Programme and the UEFA Executive provided through UEFA GROW, and sporting development generally. Master for International Players and and the work done to develop the the continued success of the UEFA women’s game in particular, through Two new types of programme are Certificate in Football Management the Women’s Football Development supported by HatTrick IV: elite youth (CFM), of which eight national edi­ Programme. player development programmes and tions were held in 2016/17. It was Meetings: 28 July 2016 (bureau), 13 September football and social responsibility agreed that these programmes would 2016 (bureau), 18 November 2016 (plenary), programmes. The committee was kept be supplemented by a new UEFA 27 January 2017 (bureau), 14 March 2017 (plenary) up to date on these and all other Diploma in Football Management, HatTrick projects, as well as the adding another layer to the education support UEFA provided to national provided by UEFA, focusing on the

Composition of the committee on 30 June 2017

Chairman Allan Hansen (Denmark) Deputy Chairman Giancarlo Abete (Italy)

1st Vice-Chairman Costakis Koutsokoumnis (Cyprus) 2nd Vice-Chairman Leo Windtner (Austria) 3rd Vice-Chairman Pertti Alaja (Finland) 4th Vice-Chairman Karl-Erik Nilsson (Sweden) Members Eamon Breen (Republic of Ireland) Mette Christiansen (Norway) Edvinas Eimontas (Lithuania) Peter Frymuth (Germany) Sylvain Grimault (France) Neil Jardine (Northern Ireland) Michail Kassabov (Bulgaria) Jozef Kliment (Slovakia) Miroslaw Malinowski (Poland) Filip Popovski (FYR Macedonia) Sergei Safaryan (Belarus) Amirzhan Tussupbekov (Kazakhstan) Andreu Subies I Forcada (Spain) Márton Vági (Hungary) Kurt Zuppinger (Switzerland) Observer Cengiz Zulfikaroglu (Turkey) Special Advisor Marios N. Lefkaritis (Cyprus) UEFA Executive Committee

The following members left the committee during the reporting period: Azamat Aitkhozhin (Kazakhstan), Vicente Muñoz Castello (Spain) and Sarah O'Shea (Republic of Ireland).

32 DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE

With regard to the Coaching Conven­ tion, the committee received an update on reality-based learning and how UEFA is helping its member asso­cia­tions to implement this effectively in their coach education programmes. The committee also agreed that each asso­ cia­tion has a duty to offer qualified coaches ample opportunities to enhance their skills through comprehensive further education programmes and supported the compilation of a port­ folio of best practices and recommen­ dations on how to deliver effective continuous professional development.

The committee approved UEFA Elite Youth A diploma courses in Denmark and Malta and granted provisional approval for the first UEFA Pro diploma course in Georgia, on condition that the association included the UEFA Pro licence in its national club licensing system.

In relation to the Grassroots Charter, data collection was noted as a chal­ lenge but one that needed to be addres­sed in order for the associations to be able to design appropriate deve­

lop­ment strategies. The committee Composition of the committee on 30 June 2017 supported a proposal for earmarked UEFA funding to be used for this pur­ Chairman Giancarlo Abete (Italy) Deputy Karen Espelund (Norway) pose. It also welcomed the launch of a Chairwoman football in schools project, with six

associations involved in the pilot phase. 1st Vice-Chairman Paul Phillip (Luxembourg) 2nd Vice-Chairman Janis Mežeckis (Latvia) Finally, an update was received on the 3rd Vice-Chairman Nikolai Tolstykh (Russia) successful UEFA Conference for National Members Dan Ashworth (England) Team Coaches and Technical Directors Dušan Bajević (Bosnia-Herzegovina) Karol Belaník (Slovakia) that took place in after EURO 2016. Bent Clausen (Denmark) The feedback on the new one-day Ion Geolgau (Romania) format was positive, as confirmed by Mario Gjurcinovski (FYR Macedonia) Ronen Herscho (Israel) the committee members who attended Romeo Jozak (Croatia) the event. Emil Kostadinov (Bulgaria) Stefan Majewski (Poland) Meetings: 1 December 2016 Lars Richt (Sweden) Dušan Savić (Serbia) Hannu Tihinen (Finland) Chris van Puyvelde (Belgium) Frídin Ziskason (Faroe Islands)

COMMITTEE REPORTS 2016/17 33 CLUB LICENSING COMMITTEE

The Club Licensing Committee met twice in 2016/17, primarily to review the acti­ vi­ties of the club licensing and finan­cial fair play unit and the future develop­ ment of the Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations.

It was presented with various studies on topics such as women’s football and youth academies in Europe and consi­ dered several ways to adapt the club licensing criteria to further the general development of football governance. The committee established a club licen­ sing development working group to identify how best to adapt the regula­ tions to better reflect the current foot­ balling landscape in Europe.

The committee also received updates on club licensing and club monitoring activities, and noted a consistent trend in club licensing decisions. Of the 232 clubs monitored for overdue payables during the 2016/17 season, only six were subject to measures by the investiga­ tory chamber of the Club Financial Control Body or referred to the adjudi­

catory chamber. Likewise, financial fair Composition of the committee on 30 June 2017 play continued to produce positive results, with a sustained decline in Chairman David Gill (England) Deputy Chairman Michael van Praag (Netherlands) deferred and disputed payments by top-division clubs. Deferrals decreased 1st Vice-Chairman Position pending by 37% between 2014 and 2016, while 2nd Vice-Chairwoman Ivančica Sudac (Croatia) disputes dropped by almost 72%. 3rd Vice-Chairman Thomas Christensen (Denmark) Members Roman Babaev (Russia) Finally, the committee was pleased to Bjarne Berntsen (Norway) note that, following a consultation Ludvik Georgsson (Iceland) Eduardo Herrera (Spain) process, FIFA decided to transform its Jacques Lagnier (France) club licensing from a regulatory instru­ Eamon Naughton (Republic of ment into a principles-based system. Ireland) Nick Nicolaou (Cyprus) Kieran O'Connor (Wales) Meetings: 4 November 2016, 25 April 2017 Peter Peters (Germany) Nenad Santrač (Serbia) Francesca Sanzone (Italy) Heinrich Schifferle (Switzerland) Johan Timmermans (Belgium) Vojtek (Slovakia) Yuriy Zapisotskiy (Ukraine)

The following members left the committee during the reporting period: Jorge Pérez Arias (Spain) and Aleš Zavrl (Slovenia).

34 STADIUM AND SECURITY COMMITTEE

Following the Executive Committee’s • stadium and security expert seminars; Safety, Security and Service at Football approval of UEFA’s stadium and securi­- • stewarding (train the trainer) training Matches and Other Sports Events, ty strategy and the introduction of a for member associations; which 26 states had signed and 3 had four-year UEFA member association • masterclasses for member associations ratified by the end of the reporting support programme (2017–21), a bud­ (in counterterrorism, pyrotechnics, period. The committee endorsed the get proposal was approved by the Sta­ stadium licensing and certification). joint approach of UEFA, the Council of dium and Security Committee and the Europe and the EU Think Tank in Executive Committee. The committee took part in the supporting member states and UEFA annual UEFA-EU Stadium and Secu­rity member associations to implement this The committee took note of the increa­ Conference. It also received and new convention. sing demand from national associations endorsed the conclusions of an and stakeholders for deve­lop­ment, independent research report on health Meetings: 2 December 2016, 18 May 2017 support and training, as well as of the and safety issues relating to the use of implications of the implementation of pyrotechnics in football stadiums, and the new Council of Europe convention approved the proposed multi-agency and the commitment to the UEFA-EU strategy, which includes working in Working Programme 2017–19. partnership with Football Supporters Europe. The committee endorsed the following activities for 2017–19: Finally the committee was updated on • five stadium and security strategy the new Council of Europe Convention summits; on an Integrated Approach towards

Composition of the committee on 30 June 2017

Chairman Michael van Praag (Netherlands) Deputy Chairman František Laurinec (Slovakia)

1st Vice-Chairman Elvedin Begić (Bosnia and Herzegovina) 2nd Vice-Chairman David Griffiths (Wales) 3rd Vice-Chairman Markku Lehtola (Finland) Members Bert Andersson (Sweden) Yuri Barbash (Ukraine) Donel Conway (Republic of Ireland) Jean-François Crucke (Belgium) Zoran Cvrk (Croatia) Josep Garcia (Andorra) Cécile Grandsimon (France) Adrian Ixari (Moldova) George Koumas (Cyprus) Stephan Schippers (Germany) Giovanni Spitaleri (Italy) Raimondas Statkevičius (Lithuania)

The following member left the committee during the reporting period: Volodymyr Geninson (Ukraine).

COMMITTEE REPORTS 2016/17 35 MEDICAL COMMITTEE

The Medical Committee supported the workshop on emergency medicine, national anti-doping organisations UEFA medical administration in the attended by 52 national team doctors (NADOs) and UEFA set to work with smooth running of various projects in April in Barcelona. UEFA also publi­ European NADOs to implement a during the review period. shed the three-volume UEFA Encyclo­ comprehensive and deterrent testing paedia of Football Medicine, which is programme in UEFA and domestic The topic of head injuries is currently based on the content of all three FDEP competitions. This collaboration also the focus of major attention in football workshops. The encyclopaedia is avai­ enabled the development of athlete medicine and UEFA issued a call for lable from Amazon and the Thieme biological passports. research proposals to study the inci­ medical publisher website. dence and effects of heading in youth Meetings: 29 November 2016, 30 May 2017 football across Europe. A Medical Jan Ekstrand, former Medical Commit­ Committee expert panel was also set tee vice-chairman, continues his hard up to oversee this project. The Medical work on the UEFA Elite Club Injury Committee recommended publishing Study (ECIS), to which more than 35 concussion guidelines and supported elite clubs now contribute their injury the principle of baseline testing being data. New substudies will correlate incorporated into pre-competition injury data with physical performance medical examinations. Two Medical data and coaching styles. Committee members and a concussion expert were appointed to draft these The Medical Committee also supports guidelines. the continuous development of UEFA’s anti-doping programme. By the end of UEFA organised a second Football the reporting period collaboration Doctor Education Programme (FDEP) agreements had been signed with 31

Composition of the committee on 30 June 2017

Chairman Dr Michel D’Hooghe (Belgium)

1st Vice-Chairwoman Dr Helena Herrero (Spain) 2nd Vice-Chairman Dr Henrique Jones (Portugal) 3rd Vice-Chairman Position pending Members Dr Zoran Bahtijarević (Croatia) Dr Charlotte Cowie (England) Dr Mete Düren (Turkey) Dr Ioannis Economides (Greece) Dr Magnus Forssblad (Sweden) Dr John Maclean (Scotland) Dr Tim Meyer (Germany) Dr Juan Carlos Miralles (Andorra) Dr Piero Volpi (Italy)

UEFA Prof. Pierre Rochcongar (France) passed away in December 2016.

36 PLAYERS’ STATUS, TRANSFER AND AGENTS AND MATCH AGENTS COMMITTEE

The Players’ Status, Transfer and Agents and Match Agents Committee was informed about the latest circular letters issued by FIFA on the status and transfer of players. It was also infor­ med about the leading cases dealt with by the FIFA Players’ Status Com­ mittee, the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), especially on how the 5% solidarity contribution was asses­ sed for clubs involved in the training of players. An update was also given on the CAS award dealing with the new Article 12bis of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players aimed at ensuring that clubs comply with their financial contractual obligations towards players and other clubs.

The committee was further updated on the current status of the implemen­ tation, at national level, of the Auto­ nomous Agreement regarding the Minimum Requirements for Standard Player Contracts, signed by the Euro­ pean football stakeholders in 2012.

Finally, two new legal cases were presented to the committee: the first one challenging under EU competition law the legality of the regulations of Composition of the committee on 30 June 2017 the German Football Association imple- Chairman František Laurinec (Slovakia) ­menting the FIFA Regulations on Wor­ Deputy Chairman Ángel María Villar Llona (Spain) king with Intermediaries, and the second contesting under EU law the 1st Vice-Chairman Sergey Pryadkin (Russia) legality of the regulations of the Bel­ 2nd Vice-Chairman Marco Casagrande (Finland) gian Football Association implemen­ 3rd Vice-Chairman Mario Gallavotti (Italy) ting a specific variant of the UEFA Members Oleksandr Bandurko (Ukraine) locally trained player rule. Róbert Barczi (Hungary) Sergei Ilyich (Belarus) Pavel Kolev (Bulgaria) Meeting: 4 November 2016 Paulo Lourenço (Portugal) David Newton (England) Rod Petrie (Scotland) Henrik Ravnild (Denmark) Jean-Jacques Schonckert (Luxembourg) Peter Stadelmann (Switzerland) Łukasz Wachowski (Poland)

The following members left the committee during the reporting period: Darren Bailey (England) and Thomas Hollerer (Austria).

COMMITTEE REPORTS 2016/17 37 LEGAL COMMITTEE

The Legal Committee prepared the amendments to the UEFA Statutes which were submitted to the Executive Committee and adopted by the UEFA Congress in Helsinki on 5 April 2017. These statutory amendments were mainly aimed at incorporating into the UEFA Statutes the most important features of the UEFA president’s political programme, based on good governance and transparency, as presented in his election manifesto and discussed and agreed on during the Top Executive Programme (TEP) strategy meetings in January/February 2017, i.e. term limits for the UEFA president and Executive Committee members, Executive Committee members to be genuinely “active” in their respective member associations, better balance between the different stakeholders in the composition of the Executive Committee, strengthening of the Governance and Compliance Commit­ tee, transparency of bidding proce­ dures for the staging of UEFA compe­­- titions, and other governance-related reforms. One further proposed statu­ tory amendment was aimed at amen­ ding the rules on UEFA membership in order to take account of the decision rendered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on 24 January 2017 in the case Football Association of Serbia v. UEFA. Composition of the committee on 30 June 2017

Chairman Ángel María Villar Llona (Spain) Meeting: 8 February 2017 Deputy Chairman Peter Gilliéron (Switzerland)

1st Vice-Chairman François de Keersmaecker (Belgium) 2nd Vice-Chairman Christian Andreasen (Faroe Islands) 3rd Vice-Chairman Nebojša Ivković (Serbia) Members Efraim Barak (Israel) Mark Boetekees (Netherlands) Artan Hajdari (Albania) Herbert Hübel (Austria) Vladimir Iveta (Croatia) Ainar Leppänen (Estonia) Krzysztof Malinowski (Poland) Ramish Maliyev (Azerbaijan) Krister Malmsten (Sweden) Andrew McKinlay (Scotland) Luca Miranda (Italy) Borislav Popov (Bulgaria)

38 MARKETING ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Marketing Advisory Committee was presented with the commercial concept and sales policy for the 2018– 21 club competition cycle, which it fully endorsed, and was updated on the 2018–22 national team compe­ tition cycle milestones, including the EURO 2020 logo and brand and the first host city logo launches.

On the commercial side, the committee monitored the ongoing sponsorship sales and the centralised collectibles proposal, to ensure that every national association receives revenues from such an arrangement.

An update was provided on the media rights sales for EURO 2020 and the 2018–22 European Qualifiers, and a detailed presentation was given on the marketing strategy for women’s football.

Finally, the committee welcomed the creation and successful implementa­ tion of UEFA GROW, and the response to the fourth edition of the KISS Marke­ting Awards, which attracted a record 85 nominations from 35 national associations. Composition of the committee on 30 June 2017

Meeting: 17 November 2016 Chairman Grigoriy Surkis (Ukraine) Deputy Chairman Davor Šuker (Croatia)

1st Vice-Chairman Guntis Indriksons (Latvia) 2nd Vice-Chairman Ján Kováčik (Slovakia) 3rd Vice-Chairman Stewart Regan (Scotland) 4th Vice-Chairman Tiago Craveiro (Portugal) Members Alexandr Alaev (Russia) Mark Bullingham (England) Razvan Burleanu (Romania) Ioannis Farfarellis (Greece) Jonathan Ford (Wales) Atanas Furnadzhiev (Bulgaria) Javid Garayev (Azerbaijan) Kadir Kardaş (Turkey) Denni Strich (Germany) Dušan Svoboda (Czech Republic) François Vasseur (France)

The following members left the committee during the reporting period: Olzhas Abrayev (Kazakhstan) and Ilija Kitić (Slovenia).

COMMITTEE REPORTS 2016/17 39 MEDIA COMMITTEE

The communications division shared with the committee its strategy to align with the new president’s vision, which focused on creating a perfect balance in European Football. In the months following September’s elections, plans were put in place to promote the intro­ duction of UEFA's governance reforms, the creation of a new 'protection of the game' hub, and the formation of women’s football and corporate governance units.

The committee was informed of the merging of UEFA.org into UEFA.com, which allowed for the creation of one digital home for European football. One of the goals of the merge was to increase the exposure of corporate content profiling the work UEFA does to promote, protect and develop football. Also on the corporate front, stakeholders aligned on the creation of The Media and Public Relations unit a new RESPECT campaign focussing on focused their presentation to the inclusion, diversity and accessibility in committee on intensifying a proactive place of the No to Racism messaging PR strategy. Anticipating and placing which had debuted in 2013. messages in the media to promote the work done by UEFA and national On the editorial side, the committee associations is key in this regard. heard how records were broken for traffic on euro2016.com and how the Meeting: 16 February 2017 cooperation between UEFA and natio­ nal associations was crucial. The com­ Composition of the committee on 30 June 2017 mit­tee was also informed about tests conducted regarding the production of Chairman Avraham Luzon (Israel) rights-free content for Facebook Live. Deputy Chairman Position pending

1st Vice-Chairman Nicolai Cebotari (Moldova) 2nd Vice-Chairman Momir Djurdjevac (Montenegro) 3rd Vice-Chairman Onofre Costa (Portugal) Members Janusz Basałaj (Poland) Matej Damjanović (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Márton Dinnyés (Hungary) Nerijus Dunauskas (Lithuania) Otar Giorgadze (Georgia) Antonios Karpetopoulos (Greece) Philipp Patsch (Liechtenstein) Heather Rabbatts (England) Tomaž Ranc (Slovenia) Stilian Shishkov (Bulgaria)

Wolfgang Niersbach (Germany) resigned on 18 December 2016.

40 FAIR PLAY AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY COMMITTEE

Under the overarching theme of Res­ All six members of the Football for All for Access to European Football (CAFE) pect, the Fair Play and Social Responsi­ Abilities portfolio – the International and the European Healthy Stadia bility Committee endorsed numerous Blind Sports Federation (IBSA), the network, efforts continued in order to football-related activities and projects European Deaf Sports Organisation improve access to UEFA competition during the 2016/17 season promoting (EDSO), the International Federation finals for disabled people and to pro­ the notion of social fair play as a way to of Cerebral Palsy Football (IFCPF), vide a healthy, tobacco-free match make UEFA operations more socially the Euro­pean Powerchair Football environment. Meanwhile, awareness responsible and sustainable. Association (EPFA), the European raising on the impact of colour- Amputee Football Federation (EAFF) blindness in football was intensified. The highlights were the first year of the and Special Olympics Europe Eurasia HatTrick-funded football and social res­ (SOEE) – received support for football Ongoing dialogue was maintained ponsibility projects, for which 54 development projects aimed at increa­ with the European fan movement on member associations applied for sing grassroots playing oppor­tunities. ticket pricing, security, disciplinary funding, and the incorporation of In addition, showcase matches such as matters, accessibility and other issues, human rights criteria in bidding at the Champions Festival in Cardiff and the fourth annual UEFA Football documents for hosting UEFA enriched the club competition finals. and Social Responsibility Report was competitions, starting with EURO 2024. published in March 2017 Observers from the Fare network Three UEFA member associations seve­ monitored 114 UEFA club competition Meetings: 2 November 2016 (plenary), 23 March (plenary) and 20 April 2017 (bureau) rely affected by storms, flooding or matches and filed 25 reports on discri­ earthquakes received natural disaster minatory incidents, which resul­ted in grants to repair their football infra­ 14 sanctions being imposed on 12 clubs struc­ture. In addition, grants were by the independent UEFA Control, allocated to four Football First/We Care Ethics and Disciplinary Body. Based on projects. assessments carried out by the Centre

Composition of the committee on 30 June 2017

Chairman Peter Gilliéron (Switzerland) Deputy Chairman Allan Hansen (Denmark)

1st Vice-Chairman Norman Darmanin Demajo (Malta) 2nd Vice-Chairman Elkhan Mammadov (Azerbaijan) 3rd Vice-Chairman Position pending Members Klara Bjartmarz (Iceland) Milovan Djukanovic (Montenegro) Paul Elliott (England) Ekaterina Fedyshina (Russia) Conrad Kirkwood (Northern Ireland) Edvin Libohova (Albania) Fiona May (Italy) Edgars Pukinsks (Latvia) Teresa Romão (Portugal) Charles Schaack (Luxembourg) Gaston Schreurs (Belgium) Stefanie Schulte (Germany) Phivos Vakis (Cyprus) Johan van Geijn (Netherlands)

The following members left the committee during the reporting period: Georgios Gkirtzikis (Greece), Gül Keskinler (Germany)

UEFA and Eduard Prodani (Albania).

COMMITTEE REPORTS 2016/17 41 42 II. REPORT OF THE UEFA ADMINISTRATION

11 July 2016 – 30 June 2017

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2016/17 43 FOREWORD

The 2016/17 period brought a welcome return to stability for UEFA after a challenging previous year. We managed to get through those difficulties and, once again, I would like to express my deepest thanks to all those who made a crucial contribution to keeping the organisation up and running in delicate circumstances.

The highlight of the 2016/17 year was been created to manage the striking obviously the election of Aleksander progress made in the women’s game. Čeferin as the new UEFA president at The accent is on forward thinking. the Extraordinary UEFA Congress in UEFA is an organisation that strives to Athens in September 2016. This marked keep pace with the times and prepare the beginning of an optimistic new era the way for the future. We are for the organisation, as the new presi­ committed to being proactive, flexible dent immediately got down to putting and far-sighted in all that we do in the his ideas and visions into practice, and service of football here in Europe, and implementing measures designed to in serving the sport across the world. strengthen UEFA and lend the organi­ sation even greater credibility and My thanks go to the UEFA Executive legitimacy in the years to come. Committee for its essential role in ensuring continuity and progress in A series of important good governance troubled times, for its clear, coura­ reforms were approved at the Ordi­nary geous thinking and decision-making in devotion and professionalism in their UEFA Congress in Helsinki which setting the course for the future – and day-to-day work that is worthy of the represented a significant overhaul of for acting with the best interests of greatest respect. UEFA’s foundations, and which are football at heart at all times. designed to bring calm and stability to As UEFA looks towards an optimistic the organisation. A restructuring of the On a personal note, I would also like to future, it is heartening to know that UEFA administration has also taken thank the Executive Committee and European football and its well-being place, to help us meet the challenges of UEFA’s staff for their unfailing support are being tended to by so many people today and tomorrow: a new division is in helping me to settle into my posi­ who love and identify with our focusing on protecting the game against tion as UEFA general secretary. I am beautiful game. negative phenomena that threaten extremely grateful for the help, gui­ football’s integrity and well-being; a dance and wise advice that I have Theodore Theodoridis football division has also been set up to recei­ved to help me to fulfil this UEFA General Secretary nurture the game’s technical sector; important role. business research and intelli­gence activities have been streng­thened to It is a source of great pride to be able put UEFA at the forefront of sports to work with and count on the backing governance­ developments; and the first of my colleagues in the UEFA admini­ dedicated women’s football unit has stration, who show an unwavering

44 UEFA administration 2016/17 (1 March 2017)

General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis Directors Alasdair Bell (Legal Affairs) Deputy General Giorgio Marchetti Stéphane Igolen (Services and Management) Secretary Josef Koller (Finance) Zoran Laković (National Associations) Kevin Lamour (President and Executive Office) Giorgio Marchetti (Football) Martin Kallen (CEO, UEFA Events SA) Sharon Burkhalter-Lau (UEFA Events SA – Operations) Guy-Laurent Epstein (UEFA Events SA – Marketing)

REPORT OF THE UEFA ADMINISTRATION 2016/17 45 NATIONAL TEAM COMPETITIONS

The European Qualifiers for the 2018 begin in September 2018. It will be The competition’s visual identity was World Cup kicked off in September played under a format approved by unveiled in September 2016 at a 2016, just weeks after a hugely the Executive Committee in December ceremony in , where the semi- successful EURO 2016 in France had 2014. The 55 national associations will finals and final will be played. At the underlined the strong competitive be split into four divisions for the inau­ heart of this identity is the bridge – a quality of football across the conti­ gural competition, based on their ran­ universal symbol of connection and nent. Six matchdays of the European king in the UEFA coefficients at the unity. Inspired by this theme, the 13 Qualifiers were played during the end of the group phase of the Euro­ EURO 2020 host cities all feature a reporting period by the national teams pean Qualifiers for the 2018 World single iconic bridge in their respective of UEFA’s 55 member associations, all Cup. Nations League group matches logos, which were revealed at events vying to join hosts Russia at the 2018 will be played over six matchdays, held between September 2016 and World Cup, with Kosovo and Gibraltar made up of double dates in September, January 2017. The UEFA president, taking part in their first-ever World October and November 2018. The four Aleksander Čeferin, attended many of Cup qualifiers. Following its decision to group winners of Nations League A these festivities, allowing him to visit centralise TV rights, UEFA continued to will then compete in a final four in most of the host cities. oversee operational matters for the June 2019. European Qualifiers for the World Cup, Looking further ahead, the bidding in collaboration with FIFA. As was the While four teams will qualify for procedure for EURO 2024 got under case for EURO 2016 qualifiers, the EURO 2020 through the Nations way. A bidding workshop was held in sche­dule for the qualifiers was drawn League, via play-offs in March 2020, April 2017 following the review and up using the Week of Football concept, the majority of EURO 2020 participants communication of the bid require­ which allows fans to watch more will be determined through the corres­ ments to Germany and Turkey, the two international matches and enhances ponding European Qualifiers, which countries that submitted declarations the visibility of the competition. will run from March to November 2019. of interest. These qualifiers will allow 20 teams – While the European Qualifiers were the winners and runners-up from the going on, the draft regulations for the ten qualifying groups – to secure their 2018/19 Nations League and EURO 2020 places in the final tournament. EURO were being drafted for submission to 2020 will mark the 60th anniversary the National Team Competitions Com­ of the European Championship with mittee at its meeting in June 2017. The a final tournament spread across creation of the Nations League comes Europe, with 13 cities selected in 13 in response to a desire to improve the different countries. This unpreceden­ quality and prestige of national team ted format will allow many countries football by giving greater sporting to play a part for the first time in meaning to national team matches. staging UEFA’s flagship national team The inaugural Nations League will competition.

46 REPORT OF THE UEFA ADMINISTRATION 2016/17 47 European Under-21 Championship Five years after co-hosting EURO 2012 surprises, most notably, FYR Mace­ dominated the encounter, providing with Ukraine, Poland was the setting donia’s first appearance in the final an impressive finale to a tournament for the finals of another major national round of a UEFA competition. The that had seen Europe’s major football team competition between 16 and 30 Polish Football Association made every nations shine. Before the final tour­ June 2017, when it hosted the European effort to ensure the 21 matches, nament had even kicked off in Poland, Under-21 Championship final tourna­ played at six stadiums across the coun­ the 2017–19 competiton was launched ment. Preparations for the tournament try, were as accessible as possible to with the qualifying draw in January included a fourth site visit, the alloca­ spectators. Nearly 250,000 fans took 2017, followed by the first qualifying tion of hotels and training pitches, and advantage of the attractive admission matches. All 55 member associations the production of a manual for the prices, with no ticket costing more entered the 2017–19 European Under- participating teams. The 2017 event than €9.30, even for the final in 21 Championship, the final tournament marked a further step forward with 12 Krakow, in which Germany beat Spain of which will be hosted by Italy. An teams taking part in the final compe­ 1-0 to secure a second Under-21 title to inspection was carried out and six host tition for the first time, compared with go with their 2009 triumph. After cities were confirmed during 2016/17. eight teams in the past. While the winning their first four matches in the eight teams that had taken part in the tournament, the Spaniards had their 2015 finals were present again in eyes on a fifth Under-21 title to equal Poland, the qualifiers did spring a few record winners Italy, but the Germans

48 Women’s football By mid-May 2017, two months before finals and the last remaining prepa­ most popular participation sport for the start of the Women’s EURO in July, rations took priority in the months women by 2020. In addition, the quali­ 100,000 tickets had already been sold before a tournament that could set fying draw for the 2019 Women’s for the finals in the Netherlands. new records for attendances and World Cup was held in April 2017. The Thanks to the expansion of the tourna­ viewing figures, with matches being matches were set to begin in Septem­ ment, 15 teams were set to join the broadcast in more than 80 countries. ber 2017 to determine the eight Euro­ host nation for the first time, follo­ Before the tournament, UEFA launched pean nations which will join hosts wing qualifiers in which 47 national the Together #WePlayStrong campaign, France at the finals. teams took part. The draw for the which aims to make football Europe’s

Futsal After a very successful 2016 event in offs in September 2017. Meanwhile, EURO (with four teams) and an Under- Serbia, a new record of 47 teams six European nations took part in the 19 Futsal EURO (with eight teams) will entered the qualifiers for Futsal EURO Futsal World Cup in Colombia in Octo­ also take place every two years. In 2018, including noteworthy first-timers ber 2016, all reaching at least the last June and July 2016, youth futsal mini- Germany and Kosovo. The draws for 16. Russia fared best of all, making it tournaments were held for the first the preliminary round and the main to the final, where they lost 5-4 to time for men (Under-18, in the Czech round were held in Nyon, and a venue Argentina. In April 2017, the Executive Republic) and women (Under-17, in inspection was completed in Slovenia, Committee took several strategic deci­ Portugal). At Under-17 level, three where the final round is to be played sions concerning the development of men’s tournaments took place in 2017 in January and February 2018. At the futsal, the main one being that the – in Slovenia in April, in Serbia in May time of reporting, seven countries had Futsal EURO will be played every four and in Portugal in June – and two already qualified for the tournament, years by 16 teams (instead of every tournaments were held for women – with the remaining four teams joining two years by 12 teams), starting in in Italy and Spain in June. the host nation to be decided by play- 2022. From 2019, a Women’s Futsal

REPORT OF THE UEFA ADMINISTRATION 2016/17 49 Youth football In 2016/17, UEFA once again did in the form of mini-tournaments their requirements and attracting everything possible to enable followed by final rounds for eight popular interest with record male and female youth players teams (16 in the case of the men’s attendances. To prepare players around Europe to participate Under-17s). Inspection visits were for Under-17 and Under-19 in top-level competitions, and conducted during the season and competition, UEFA also organises thus smooth the way for these draws for the different rounds development tourna­ments for youngsters to develop and were held at UEFA headquarters, boys and girls at Under-16 level. perhaps go on to become the except for final round draws, These events, which were continent’s best footballers. which took place in the relevant launched in 2012, give a valuable The men’s and women’s European host nations in order to raise first taste of international football Under-17 and Under-19 champion­ public awareness ahead of the to youngsters whose careers may ships were played according to finals. All the final rounds were one day take them across Europe. their usual formats, with qualifiers successful, with the hosts fulfilling

European Under-19 Championship

Having previously organised the finals in Germany. Reigning champions Spain substitute during extra time. The of this tournament when it was still were notable absentees, highlighting European representatives performed contested at Under-18 level, the German the competitiveness of European well in the tournament, with England Football Association hosted the finals nations at Under-19 level. finishing champions. at Under-19 level for the first time between 11 and 24 July 2016. The France, Italy, Portugal, England and The 2016/17 qualifying round then Germans again demonstrated their Germany, who beat the Netherlands kicked off in October 2016, with 52 capacity to host major competitions, after extra time in a play-off, qualified teams taking part, 28 of whom pro­ notably with a crowd of 54,689 spec­ for the U-20 World Cup in South Korea gres­sed to the elite round, which tators at the Stuttgart Arena for the in May and June 2017, where an experi­­- deter­­mined the seven countries joining opening match between the hosts and ment approved by the Inter­na­tio­nal hosts Georgia in the finals in July 2017. Italy, setting a new record for Board (IFAB) European Under-19 Championship. The permitted teams to use a fourth cumulative attendance for the event’s 16 matches, played across ten stadiums, was 162,972, or an average attendance of 10,186 spectators per match, more than twice as many as at the previous Under-19 championship. In addition to the buzz in the stadiums, the final tournament also enjoyed widespread visibility, thanks to Eurosport coverage of all the matches. France won the title for a third time with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Italy in the final, including a goal from Jean-Kévin Augustin, the tournament’s best player and top scorer. Of the eight teams who had taken part in the 2015 finals in Greece, only four qualified for the tournament

50 European Women’s Under-19 Championship

Hosting the final round from 18 to 30 crowds of more than 1,000 spectators. consecutive final defeat. Following a July 2016 gave Slovakia the opportuni­ While most of the tournament was qualifying round involving 44 teams ­ty to showcase women’s football deve­ played in sunshine, two matches were that began in September 2016 and an lopment and handed its national team interrupted by severe thunderstorms, elite round contested by 24 teams, the chance to play in the Under-19 including France’s 2-1 victory over seven countries qualified for the finals for the first time. Three years Spain in the final, which took four 2016/17 finals, which were to take after welcoming the European Under- hours to complete after the match was place in Northern Ireland in August 17 Championship, the Slovak Football suspended for over two hours at half- 2017. Last but not least, the qualifying Association’s national training centre time to clear water from the pitch and round draw marked the start of the in Senec was the setting for six of the make it playable again. It was France’s 2017/18 competition, which will tournament’s 15 matches (including fourth women’s European Under-19 culminate with finals in Switzerland. the semi-finals and final). Slovakia’s title, equalling Germany’s all-time three matches and the final drew record, while Spain suffered a third

REPORT OF THE UEFA ADMINISTRATION 2016/17 51 European Under-17 Championship

Croatia organised the final round of a out conducted using a new system Federation used the competition to UEFA youth competition for the first (ABBA instead of ABAB) as part of an promote positive values and behaviour time from 3 to 19 May 2017. The teams experiment by the IFAB to make through various activities aimed at taking part included debutants the penalty shoot-outs fairer. With three young Croatian players and suppor­ Faroe Islands. The 32 matches, played in titles, Spain is now the most successful ters. Meanwhile, the 2017/18 season seven stadiums across the country, nation in the history of the competit­ began in December 2016 with the drew a cumulative attendance of over ion. The 2017 finals were also used to draw for the qualifying round, in which 43,000 spectators, with a crowd of determine the five European teams 52 of UEFA’s 55 member associa­tions 8,187 attending the final in Varazdin. which would take part in the U-17 took part. Germany and Portugal For the fifth time in six years, the World Cup in India in October 2017. progress directly into the elite round, champions were decided on penalties. The five would be semi-finalists Spain, and England qualify automatically for After equalising in stoppage time to England, Turkey and Germany, and the final tournament in May 2018 as make it 2-2, Spain got the better of France, who won a play-off against hosts. England with a 4-1 victory in a shoot- Hungary. The Croatian Football

52 European Women’s Under-17 Championship

From 2 to 14 May 2017, the Czech ween the Czech Republic and France the 2017/18 competition started with Republic was the setting for the 10th drawing 10,219 spectators, a new the draw for the qualifying round, and Women’s European Under-17 Cham­ record for the competition and the host inspection visits were completed in pion­ship final tournament, the largest nation’s biggest ever attendance at a Lithuania, which will host the finals in women’s football event ever to take women’s football match. Germany May 2018. place in the country. The national asso­ secured a sixth title in ten tournaments ciation stepped up efforts to make the in a closely contested event. In the tournament a popular celebration, by semi-finals against Norway (1-1, 3-2 on inviting thousands of children to attend penalties), and the final against Spain the matches in the four host cities of (0-0, 3-1 on penalties), the young Ger­ Plzen, Pribram, Domazlice and Prestice. man team held their nerve to come out This desire to attract families to football on top in the new ABBA format for and to the tournament was a great penal­ty shoot-outs being trialled by the success, with the opening match bet­ IFAB in the tournament. Meanwhile,

REPORT OF THE UEFA ADMINISTRATION 2016/17 53 CLUB COMPETITIONS

While the 2016/17 season was the mid- of the UEFA president, an additional The final access lists for the Champions point in the 2015–18 cycle, major advan­- contribution of €50m will be passed League and the Europa League for the ces were made in relation to the next from the Champions League to the 2017/18 season were approved with cycle of 2018–21. Proposals concerning Europa League, and €10m, also from places allocated to new member asso­ the access list, coefficients and revenue the Champions League, will be alloca­ ciation Kosovo. The 2017/18 regulations distribution were prepared and pre­ ted for distribution in additional for all club competitions, the last in sen­ted to UEFA’s Club Competitions solidarity payments for the qualifying the 2015–18 cycle, were also issued. Committee and formally approved by rounds. Inspection visits were conducted to the the Executive Committee. These were stadiums in Kyiv and to Parc OL in Lyon, drawn up following a long period of The top four clubs from the four which will host the Champions League consultation with stakeholders inclu­ highest-ranked associations will auto­ and Europa League finals respectively ding the European Club Association matically qualify for the group stage in May 2018. (ECA). Among the changes is a new from the 2018/19 season. It has also Champions League revenue distribu­ been agreed that two time slots will tion formula which sees a reduction in be used for the Champions League the market pool share from 40% to during the 2018–21 cycle. In the group 15% and the addition of a fourth stage, two matches will be played at criteria for classifying results over the 19.00 CET and six will kick off at 21.00 previous ten years and representing in order to allow fans to watch more 30% of the amount. On the proposal matches live.

54 REPORT OF THE UEFA ADMINISTRATION 2016/17 55 56 UEFA Champions League During the 2016/17 season, Real to win the return game 6-1. In another 60.9% share of the total TV audience. Madrid confirmed their domination of of the last 16 ties, AS Monaco, who the Champions League by becoming went on to reach the semi-finals, The final also had a global impact on the first club to win the trophy twice in produced an impressive 3-1 second-leg social media, with 98 million interac­ a row since 1990. The Spanish club ran win to knock out Manchester City, tions on Facebook, over 50 million on out comfortable 4-1 victors over Juven­ after losing a memorable first leg 5-3. Instagram and 9 million on Twitter. tus in the final attended by 65,842 fans These figures show the growing digital at the National Stadium in Cardiff on 3 The group stage had its fair share of strength of the Champions League, June 2017. It was the club’s 12th victory thrilling encounters too, most notably whose official Facebook page is the in UEFA’s flagship club competition, Borussia Dortmund’s 8-4 win against world’s most followed page for a which was taking place for the 62nd Legia Warsaw, the highest-scoring sports competition, with 63 million time. Despite having only conceded match in Champions League history. fans. In another indication of the three goals in the competition before Of the 32 teams that qualified for the event’s digital reach, the official the final, the Italians were overwhel­ group phase, only Dinamo Champions League website and its med by Real and ended up as failed to hit the net. Along with FC mobile apps received 134 million visits runners-up for a record seventh time. Bruges, the Croatian club was the only during the 2016/17 season, a 10% The scorer of two goals against one not to record a single point in increase on the previous year. The Juventus, Cristiano Ronaldo finished their six matches, indicating the com­ official Instagram and Twitter accounts the competition as top scorer for the pe­titiveness of a competition in which had 14.5 and 15.6 million followers sixth time, with 12 goals. Hitting the 17 national associations were represen­ respectively, making them highly net eight times from the quarter-finals ted. Several lesser known clubs such as effec­tive tools for communicating with onwards, the Portuguese star was Real Ludogorets and FC Rostov, who were fans. Madrid’s talisman during the knockout making their Champions League debut, stages, breaking the 100-goal mark in left their mark, finishing third in their The Champions Festival, held in Cardiff a competition in which he is the all- groups. The only other newcomers to Bay from 1 to 4 June 2017, to coincide time highest scorer with 105 goals, the competition, reigning English with the men’s and women’s Cham­ ahead of on 94. cham­pions Leicester City, fared even pions League finals, created a unique better, topping their group and atmosphere for supporters from Wales While Ronaldo leads the way, goal­ reaching the quarter-finals, where and abroad. More than 100,000 visi­ scorers were inspired regularly during they lost to Atletico Madrid (0-1, 1-1). tors enjoyed a range of activities, the 2016/17 Champions League. For inclu­ding photo exhibitions, photo the first time since the competition The 2016/17 season confirmed the opportunities with the trophies, a was introduced in its new format in enormous popularity of the Cham­ floating pitch and an Ultimate Cham­ 1992, there was an average of more pions League around the world, with pions match involving football than three goals per match (3.04): 380 very high TV audiences. The final legends. The festival allowed each goals were scored in all, 9.5% more between Real Madrid and Juventus Champions League partner to set up than in the previous season. This was the most-watched sports event in stands to activate its partnership as it included a spectacular increase of 52% 2017, with an estimated average global wished. in the goals scored in the knockout audience of 160 million viewers and rounds (102 compared with 67 the 350 million unique viewers across more previous year). This big rise in goals than 220 markets, figures that were was influenced by several roller- comparable to those of 2016. In the six coaster encounters. The most memora­ main European markets, the final was ble turnaround was undoubtedly watched by an average of 39.6 million achieved by FC Barcelona in beating viewers, an 11% increase on the 2016 Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16, audience. Real’s coronation attracted coming back from a 4-0 first-leg deficit 9.1 million Spaniards to their TV sets, a

REPORT OF THE UEFA ADMINISTRATION 2016/17 57 UEFA Europa League Manchester United became the fifth Denmark and Cyprus. Together with when 80,465 supporters were at European club to win the three Euro­ the many tight results in the knockout Wembley for the surprise elimination pean club trophies thanks to a 2-0 win stages, this goes to show how closely of Tottenham Hotspur by Gent. over another historic club, AFC Ajax, matched clubs are in the Europa on 24 May 2017. 50,267 fans attended League. The tournament’s TV audiences were the match at the Friends Arena in also very satisfying, with an overall Stock­holm, with the Mancunians The presence of several big European increase of 7% in the six main markets beating a young Dutch side thanks to clubs meant that there were some very on the previous season. Broadcast in goals from and Henrikh high attendances during the competi­ over 100 countries, the 2017 final was Mkhitaryan. This first Europa League tion. 73,063 spectators watched Man­ the third most-watched in history, with title gave José Mourinho’s team a ches­ter United v Fenerbahce at Old an estimated average worldwide place in the 2017/18 Champions Trafford, a new record for a group audience of 62 million and 180 million League. game. Later in the season, the Europa unique viewers. League’s all-time record was broken A total of 48 clubs from 21 countries took part in the group phase, making the line-up even more international than the Champions League. There were lots of surprises, particularly Israeli club Hapoel Beer-Sheva, who qualified for the last 32 ahead of Southampton and . In a very evenly balanced competition, finishing first in the group stage was no guarantee of a successful run. Eventual champions Manchester Uni­ ted, for example, finished runners-up in their pool, and only two of the 12 group winners reached the quar­ter- finals.

The round of 16 included eight clubs from associations ranked outside of the top eight in the coefficient ran­ kings at the start of the 2016/17 season – three from Belgium and one each from Turkey, the Netherlands, Greece,

58 UEFA Women’s Champions League The 16th edition of UEFA’s women’s club competition saw Olympique Lyonnais crowned champions of Europe for a second time in succession and a fourth time in total to join German club Frankfurt at the top of the all-time list of champions. As had been the case in the 2016 final against Wolfsburg, Lyon needed a penalty shoot-out to win the trophy, this time in an all-French match-up with Paris Saint-Germain (0-0, 7-6 on penalties), with goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi con­ ver­ting the decisive spot kick. It was the first-ever final involving two French clubs and the first without a German team since 2007. Held in the same city and same week as the men’s Champions League final, the game enjoyed good popular support, the Football Association of Wales having taken advantage of the occasion to organise a nationwide tournament the final, confirming the interest in the be in the Ukrainian capital. During the with over 1,500 players taking part. women’s game worldwide. A total of period under review, an inspection There were many young girls in the 61 teams, a new record, from 49 visit was made to the stadium, and 22,433 crowd at Cardiff City Stadium, different associations, are taking part plans were made for a special ‘100 creating a welcoming atmosphere that in the 2017/18 edition of the Women’s days to go’ event. The 2017/18 regu­ suggested the match will have a posi­ Champions League. The final will be lations were approved and the new tive impact on the development of held at the Valeri Lobanovski Dynamo season kicked off with the draw for women’s football in Wales. 180 million stadium on 24 May 2018, two days the qualifying round, involving 40 TV viewers in 100 countries tuned in to before the men’s final, which will also clubs.

UEFA Super Cup The 2016 Super Cup was the fourth to accessible to fans all over Europe, with festive atmosphere and confirmed the be played after the decision to move Norway welcoming its first ever UEFA capacity of a medium-sized city to this annual encounter between the club final. In a third all-Spanish final in orga­nise a major sports event. The Champions League and Europa League succession, Real Madrid claimed a close Super Cup will continue to move winners around the continent. After 3-2 victory over FC Sevilla after extra around Europe. Skopje (FYR Mace­ the competition had been based in time on 9 August 2016, in front of donia) was to host the 2017 event and, Monaco from 1998 to 2012, Trondheim 17,939 spectators at the Lerkendal on 15 September 2016, the Executive became the fourth city – all in diffe­ Stadion. Several events were organised Committee designa­­ted the Estonian rent countries – to host the event since in Trondheim during the week before capital, Talinn, to host the 2018 match, 2013. This rotational hosting achieves the match and on the day, which saw seven cities bid to host the 2019 Super the objective of making the Super Cup Spanish supporters welcomed with a Cup.

REPORT OF THE UEFA ADMINISTRATION 2016/17 59 UEFA Youth League houses and a cumulative attendance of 12,000 spectators. In both the semi- finals and final, the young Salzburg team came back from a goal down to record prestigious 2-1 victories over Barcelona and Benfica. After 2014 cham­pions Barcelona, and Chelsea, who triumphed in 2015 and 2016, the Austrians became the third club to win the Youth League, showing that the competition makes it possible for clubs from outside of Europe’s biggest names to shine. Throughout the season, Youth League participants were engaged off the pitch, for example, with education meetings organised for all the clubs and the staging of the first forum for Youth League club coaches in April 2017, which saw Fabio Capello and others take part in Q&A sessions. Also in April, shortly before In its fourth edition, the Youth League Kingsley Coman and Marcus Rashford, the final competition, a meeting of the confirmed that it is now an integral who all starred in the Youth League Youth League working group was part of the European football land­ before making their mark at senior organised to discuss the future of the scape. As in 2015/16, the 2016/17 com­ level. Salzburg got their name on a competition, to prepare for the new petition was contested by 64 teams, European trophy for the first time, season and analyse the next cycle. comprising the Under-19 sides of the finishing champions in a final tourna­ clubs taking part in the Champions ment consisting of the semi-finals and League and 32 national champions final. Played as normal at the Colovray at youth level. The continent’s best stadium in Nyon, Switzerland, right young players had the chance to make next to UEFA headquarters, the event a name for themselves and follow in was a resounding success, with the the footsteps of Munir El Haddadi, three matches being played to full

UEFA Futsal Cup At the finals in April 2017, Inter FS the competition. In the semi-finals, UEFA decided to modify the format in regained the Futsal Cup, soundly Inter knocked out host club Kairat, order to allow the three top-ranked beating Portuguese club Sporting by who had the support of a huge 10,238 associations to enter a second team an unprecedented 7-0 scoreline in the crowd at the Almaty Arena, the second from 2017/18. The competition will final. The Spanish club, which had not highest attendance in the history of become the UEFA Futsal Champions won the title since 2009, triumphed for the Futsal Cup. With a record 52 teams League from 2018/19. a record fourth time in 15 editions of entering the 2016/17 competition,

60 MATCH OPERATIONS

As in previous seasons, the match ments and other content for club and and potential clashes could be prepared opera­tions unit was responsible for the national association users. in advance of the draws. Proposals for operational management of all UEFA the UEFA Stadium Infrastructure Regula­ match venues in 2016/17, doing every­ One of the unit’s most important tasks tions were reviewed in cooperation with thing necessary to ensure that the is to manage match delegates. Several the event unit and an internal revision com­pe­titions ran smoothly and hundred delegates were appointed to process was initiated. A review of the providing support to on-site venue matches throughout 2016/17, while a use of goal-line technology at EURO teams from the match command new UEFA match delegate training 2016 and in the 2016/17 Champions centre in Nyon in case any major concept was drafted, an e-learning tool League was also carried out. problems arose during matches. was launched and an induction course for potential new match delegates was Goal-line technology systems were At the start of the review period, TIME, held, followed by the first advanced installed at the stadiums hosting the a new competition administration workshop for new delegates. A number 2017 Super Cup and club competition platform, was launched to meet FIFA’s of workshops were also organised for finals, and it was decided that the tech­ requirements for the 2016–18 European venue directors, with ten internal no­logy could be used in Europa League Qualifiers and UEFA’s needs for the candidates taking part in the latest matches from 2017/18 onwards. A club 2016/17 club competition season. It venue director training programme. competition pitch quality monitoring intro­duced online match sheets, under­ A total of 399 stadiums were approved scheme was also introduced in order to went further improvements over the for use in UEFA competitions during ensure that all matches were played on course of the season and will now be 2016/17, the stadium announcements pristine surfaces, with particular atten­ rolled out for all UEFA competitions in process for 2017/18 was launched and tion paid to the stadiums hosting finals, 2017/18, providing online match sheets, numerous stadium inspections were for which a dedicated process was match information, venue announce­ conducted in order that a list of venues implemented.­

REPORT OF THE UEFA ADMINISTRATION 2016/17 61 Refereeing The UEFA refereeing unit stepped up that training Europe’s top assistant out during the final round of the its activities in 2016/17, organising referees is a key part of UEFA’s refe­ European Under-21 Championship that many courses and appointing referees reeing development programme. More allowed teams to make a fourth substi­ and observers for matches in UEFA than a year before Futsal EURO 2018, tution during extra time and enabled competitions. It has also supported the annual course for futsal referees referees to show cards to players and FIFA with the appointment of referees helped to enhance the knowledge of team officials in the technical area. An for the European Qualifiers for the referees from the lower UEFA experiment to change the order of 2018 World Cup. categories. shots in penalty shootouts, conducted by the IFAB, was also implemented in After EURO 2016, where refereeing The Referees Committee appointed 11 several competitions. performances were applauded, the referees, 21 assistant referees and two traditional summer course, held in fourth officials to officiate at Women’s The UEFA Centre of Refereeing Excel­ Nyon in August 2016 and attended by EURO 2017 in the Netherlands. All the lence (CORE) remained very active, 100 referees, made it possible to com­ referees appointed, who came from 21 running several introduction and plete an assessment of the competition UEFA member associations, prepared consolidation courses. The Executive and study the goal-line technology for the competition by attending a Committee confirmed the appoint­ system in detail. In January 2017, 128 workshop in the host nation in May. ment of two new refereeing officers, men and women took part in a winter Vladimir Šajn and Dagmar Damková, course in Malaga, Spain, involving a The finals of UEFA club competitions who specialise in education and programme of fitness tests and prac­ and the final rounds of UEFA youth women’s football respectively. This tical feedback. A course for 41 interna­ tournaments were played without any brings the total number of refereeing tional assistant referees was then held major incident from a refereeing officers to five. in Malaga in April 2017, illustrating perspective. Experiments were carried

62 Medical matters and anti-doping During the 2016/17 season, UEFA players, has entered its 16th year. this problem, there is a lack of data on continued to implement its biological Nearly 50 clubs have taken part in this the number of times young footballers passport programme, which facilitates study, which has catalogued almost head the ball, in training and matches, the detection of steroid and blood 13,000 injuries and almost two million and on the effects of heading in youth anomalies. Introduced in 2015/16, the hours of exposure to injuries. football. The objectives of the research passport makes it possible to monitor are therefore to record the number of players over time, which can reveal the The second edition of the UEFA Foot­ times young European players head effects of doping. The UEFA Executive ball Doctor Education Programme the ball and the effect it has on the Committee approved the decision to kicked off with its first workshop, structure of the young players’ brains. extend the period for retaining samples focusing on trauma and on-pitch UEFA received proposals from ten to ten years to allow for re-analysis emergency treatment. The 51 doctors universities, and discussions got under when new doping control methods from UEFA national associations taking way concerning the attribution of the become available. The samples collec­ part covered topics including fitting a two studies. ted in 2015/16 were sent to three labo­ neck brace, using a defibrillator, car­ ratories that have the capacity for long- diac massage, treating injuries and term storage to facilitate possible facial traumas. The doctors took writ­ re-analysis in the future. ten and practical tests to assess how much they had learnt during the Thanks to agreements signed in 2016/17 course. Those who passed the tests are by Norway, Belgium, Monaco and Fin­ now authorised to train their peers in land, UEFA now has 28 cooperation their own countries, encouraging the agreements with national anti-doping dissemination of knowledge and organisations (NADOs). This pan-Euro­ medical techniques across Europe. pean collaboration makes it possible for UEFA and the NADOs to coordinate anti- In April 2017, UEFA and specialised doping programmes, with tests in UEFA publisher Thieme released The Ency­ and national competitions. clo­pedia of Football Medicine, based on the Football Doctor Education All member associations received anti- Programme. Produced in English, it doping kits for national teams and consists of three volumes: clubs participating in UEFA competi­ tions. As in previous seasons, a leaflet 1. Trauma and medical emergencies; for players, which is available in seven 2. Injury diagnosis and treatment; languages, gives a reminder of the risks 3. Protecting the player. associated with doping. Information briefings were also given to the teams These publications are available to taking part in the final rounds of the purchase from online retailers and the men’s and women’s Under-17 and Thieme website. Under-19 competitions and the Youth League. UEFA has also launched a research programme to study the risk of The elite club injury study, which helps heading the ball among young players top European sides measure the level in European football. Although there and impact of injuries suffered by their have been several studies looking into

REPORT OF THE UEFA ADMINISTRATION 2016/17 63 GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL

The highlight of the 2016/17 season was UEFA Grassroots Week, which took place for a second time in Sep­ tem­ber 2016. Organised in cooperation with the European Commission during the European Week of Sport, it is intended to encourage participation in all forms of football, through events held across Europe. A maxi-pitch funded by UEFA was opened in the suburbs of , the 2016 European Capital of Sport, and, as has been the case since 2010, maxi-pitches were donated as a legacy to the cities hosting the finals of the Champions League and the Europa League. The winners of the Grassroots Awards, revealed at the UEFA’s Extraordinary Congress in Athens, were grassroots leader Yury Beletskiy from Belarus, a multicultural club from Belgium (RWDM Girls), and Teamplay ohne Abseits, a project focusing on the integration of people from immigrant communities led by the Austrian own data. The re-evaluation period support and promote the develop­ Football Association (ÖFB). An online will last until April 2018. At the end of ment of grassroots football at self-evaluation tool for the UEFA that period, each association will domestic level. Grassroots Charter has been launched discover its new status under the to allow associations to enter their Grass­roots Charter, which UEFA uses to

UEFA Regions’ Cup The final round of the tenth edition of Eight teams, including one from the from 38 UEFA member associations. this UEFA competition, which is host nation, qualified for the final Each of the countries taking part was restricted to amateur teams, was round of this the world’s biggest represented by the team that had won scheduled to take place in Turkey from amateur football tournament, its domestic competition. 1 to 9 July 2017, just after the end of following preliminary and the period covered by this report. intermediate rounds involving teams

64 SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

HatTrick programme The 2016/17 season was the first in the the Royal Netherlands Football Asso­ associations at workshops organised as fourth cycle of the HatTrick program­me cia­tion’s new football campus and the part of the FIFA Forward programme, (2016–20), which is financed entirely by construction of a multi-purpose natio­ which was launched in 2016 to improve revenue from the EURO and provides nal football complex by the Football the efficiency of football development financial support to member associa­ Federation of Kazakhstan. work. tions based on three pillars: invest­ ment funding, knowledge-sharing and The HatTrick team continued to oversee HatPro, an IT platform to centralise and education. During this cycle, for which projects approved by the committee and support the administration of the Hat­ new regulations have been approved, to make inspection visits, particularly in Trick programme, has been launched. a total of €600m will be distributed. connection with its operational support Several projects financed by HatTrick programme for national associations were completed during the season relating to the European Qualifiers. It under review, including the opening of also accompanied European national

UEFA ASSIST A key part of UEFA’s mission is to contri­ confederations and their member of youth football (through development bute to the development of football associations in Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF), tournaments and associated workshops), around the world. With this in mind, a North and Central America and the support of infrastructure projects and new international programme, UEFA Caribbean (CONCACAF), South America UEFA national association support ASSIST, was launched in 2016/17 in order, (CONMEBOL) and Oceania (OFC). The programmes, which encourage UEFA among other things, to increase solida­ programme is designed to provide member associations to organise their ri­ty, strengthen UEFA’s image worldwide practical rather than financial assistance own activities outside Europe. UEFA’s and develop sustainable projects that and to offer support through develop­ national associations division is responsi­ leave a lasting legacy of football and ment activities. UEFA ASSIST is compo­ ble for running the programme, with all human development. sed of four pillars: education and applications for funding to be appro­ knowledge-sharing (through work­ ved by the HatTrick Committee. With an annual budget of $9m, UEFA shops, conferences and mentoring in on ASSIST provides support to UEFA’s sister and off-the-field topics), development

Stadiums and security The annual UEFA-EU Stadium and The UEFA stadium and security unit was published. This study identified Security Conference took place in continued its close collaboration with the serious risks posed to health and Bucharest in September 2016 and was the Council of Europe, notably to security when pyrotechnics are used attended by over 320 delegates from improve international police coopera­ near to other people in football UEFA, the European Union, national tion for EURO 2020. Programmes for stadiums. associations, clubs, police forces and the police, clubs and leagues were other partners. Safety and security introduced in collaboration with the Events on safety and security strategy risks at football events, the potential national associations, and an inde­ in stadiums also took place in several liabilities for organisers and the threat pendent study on the use of pyro­ Asian countries (Iran, United Arab Emi­ of terrorist attacks were the main technic devices in stadiums, commis­- rates, Oman, India) as part of the assis­ subjects covered at the event. sioned by UEFA and the Football tance programme between UEFA and Supporters Europe (FSE) network, the AFC.

REPORT OF THE UEFA ADMINISTRATION 2016/17 65 Education programmes and research For the first time, UEFA organised an during the period covered by this The seven researchers who received ‘education week’ across its social net­ report, when it broke the 500-graduate UEFA research grants for the 2016/17 works. The initiative made it possible mark since the launch of the pro­ season submitted their final reports to highlight the wide range of educa­ gram­me in 2011. Editions of this and the application process was com­ tional courses that UEFA offers Euro­ programme for the staff of national pleted for candidates for the 2017/18 pean football’s stakeholders to improve associations and their stakeholders season. Based on their potential contri­ the administration and organisation of have been organised all over Europe. bution to European football, six the game. The Georgian Football Federation has research proposals were selected by even translated the course into Geor­ the programme’s jury from the 55 Among the latest programmes laun­ gian and adapted the content to its applications received. They came from ched, the UEFA Football Law Program­- local setting, while the Romanian university researchers active in the me saw its first 24 students graduate, Foot­ball Federation has introduced a fields of history, law, management, and 24 former international players programme specifically for clubs. political science, sociology and medical participated in the first UEFA Masters These two initiatives at domestic level science. All the proposals were suppor­ for International Players, which aims to both received support from UEFA. ted by UEFA member associations. enable them to complete a successful transition at the end of their playing With its fifth Women in Football On a separate note, the results of the careers. After benefiting from sessions Leadership Programme, UEFA conti­ studies on diversity and inclusion on strategic marketing and operations nued its work to promote women’s commissioned by UEFA from the Uni­ management, these retired players access to leadership positions at UEFA versity of St Gallen were presented to successfully submitted their final reports and its member associations. The the administration and discussed with at Birkbeck College in London in May programme’s objective is to identify senior management. Following a ten­ 2017. individuals with high potential and to der process, an external company was help them to develop their skills and then appointed to organise diversity Other courses already in place for gain new responsibilities. and inclusion training for all UEFA several seasons continued to add value staff. to the football community. Participants 120 marketing specialists from UEFA in the fourth edition of the Executive member associations took part in a Master in European Sports Governance seminar in Athens followed by an (MESGO), for executives working in awards ceremony as part of UEFA’s football and other sports, took part KISS (Knowledge and Information in sessions covering the format and Sharing Scenario) programme. A total regulations of sports competitions and of 85 projects were submitted by 23 governance issues relating to events. associations in the five award The UEFA Certificate in Football Mana­ categories. gement passed a symbolic milestone

Top Executive Programme A series of round tables were held in governance which would be submitted financial statements were also high on Geneva and Lausanne as part of this to the UEFA Congress. The potential the agenda. Furthermore, UEFA gave programme for supporting national launch of a collective travel consultative support to CONCACAF association executives in their decision- programme, Air UEFA, was also and to executives from several UEFA making. At these events, the member discussed. The launch of a tender for member associations who asked for it associations expressed their backing the TEP kit assistance scheme and the based on their needs. for the reforms to promote good analysis of national association’s

66 Coach education The major event during this period was the Conference for National Team Coaches in Paris, attended by the coaches and technical directors from the 55 UEFA member associations. They looked back on EURO 2016 and identi­ fied the main trends that emerged during the event, while UEFA presented its technical report on the competition, written by technical observers under the leadership of UEFA coaching ambas­sador Sir Alex Ferguson. The report collates a wide range of statistics together with the conclusions and opinions of the technical observers. Its aim is to provide a complete record of the final competition for technicians tournaments and technical observers respected English coach Roy Hodgson, across the game. were appointed to produce technical who talked about his career and answe­ reports on all the tournaments held red questions from the participants. The 18th UEFA Elite Club Coaches during the season, to analyse what The UEFA Coach Development Project Forum was held in Nyon with the conti­ happened during the events, showcase for Women made sustained progress nent’s best coaches taking part. In technical matters and compile statistics. during the reporting period. UEFA B addition to discussions on the trends at diplomas were delivered in FYR Mace­ EURO 2016 and in club competitions, UEFA Coaching Convention working donia and Hungary following the the coaches exchanged views on techni­ groups provided information on reality- success of courses reserved for women, cal matters such as the importance of based learning, the development of and several A licence scholarships were the away goal rule, extra time and coach educators and further education, awarded. penalty shoot-outs, and the permitted which had previously been identified as number of substitions. priority areas. Seminars were also orga­ A meeting for UEFA experts on goal­ nised on these topics and received posi­ keeper coaching took place in Amster­ The technical reports for EURO 2016 tive feedback from the participating dam and several UEFA A licence and the 2015/16 Champions League and associations. goalkeeper coaching courses were Europa League were printed in the approved. Assistance was also given three official UEFA languages (English, For the seventh year in a row, sessions for the launch of a UEFA-approved French and German), and published in of the UEFA Pro licence student programme for educating futsal seven languages on UEFA.com. Techni­ exchan­ge programme were organised coaches. cal reports were also written for the at the UEFA campus in Nyon in 2016/17. Women’s Champions League and youth One of the sessions was led by

Study Group Scheme The 2016/17 season was the ninth for Scheme seminars focused on three new host counterparts from other countries. events under the Study Group Scheme, pillars: physical fitness in football, During the review period, 20 seminars which facilitates technical exchanges hands-on coach education, and the were organised by 15 associations for a between associations and aims to raise development of coach educators. Each total of 545 participants. standards across Europe. Study Group seminar sees one member association

REPORT OF THE UEFA ADMINISTRATION 2016/17 67 Women’s football development A report on the practice of football by aim of the campaign is to change the exercises for different age groups and women across UEFA's 55 member asso­ perception of women’s football, relevant video content was produced ciations was published, thanks to data encourage girls to play the game and for WePlayStrong.org. received from the associations through make football Europe’s number one an annual survey in September 2016. participation sport for women by 2020. Following on from the publication of a The report measured developments in Supported by the 55 UEFA member report on the 2012–16 Women’s Foot­ women’s football over the previous associations and the European Com­ ball Development Programme, project five years, during which the number of mis­sion, Together #WePlayStrong will proposals continued to flood in and registered players, qualified referees feature prominently across multiple interim reports were received and and youth teams continued to increase. platforms, with many events taking analysed as part of the programme. A Six countries (England, France, Ger­ place, particularly during Women’s joint UEFA-FIFA meeting about gender ma­ny, Netherlands, Norway and EURO 2017. equality in football was also held in Sweden) reported more than 100,000 March 2017. registered players. Overall, there were Following the launch of the campaign, 1.27 million active players registered a workshop for the development of At the final of the Women’s Cham­ across Europe. women’s football brought together pions League in Cardiff, many activities the football associations of Cyprus, the were organised for young women A highlight of the year in this sector Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Luxembourg, players, most notably the final of a was the launch of Together Malta and San Marino to discuss the national tournament involving 1,597 #WePlayStrong, the biggest women’s challenges faced by small associations female footballers. football campaign ever, which got when promoting and developing the under way with a video broadcast just women’s game. Assistance has been before the kick-off of the Women’s given to a number of associations as Champions League final between part of UEFA's Free Kicks initiative and Olympique Lyonnais and Paris Saint- the UEFA GROW programme. In addi­ Germain in Cardiff on 1 June 2017. The tion, a platform offering training

Elite youth player development For the third season in succession, Contact was made with other national UEFA member associations travelling support and monitoring was provided associations interested in the project. to the host country of each tourna­ for Armenia, Belarus, Georgia and FYR All UEFA member associations received ment to take part. These tournaments Macedonia, the four associations visits and benefited from the introduc­ allow the young participants to gain piloting the youth academies project tion of elite youth development pro­ their first experience of international at U14 and U15 level. During 2016/17, grammes for improving their youth football, with the importance of UEFA-supervised sessions were run development structures. educational, development and cultural with these four associations, which experiences taking precedence over organised recruitment days to identify Under-16 development tournaments – results on the pitch. talented new youngsters who could 14 for boys and 12 for girls – took place join their academies in 2017/18. during the 2016/17 season, with four

68 REPORT OF THE UEFA ADMINISTRATION 2016/17 69 GOOD GOVERNANCE

Good governance projects UEFA opened a representative office to UEFA at various EU/Council of Europe with UEFA's financial fair play regula­ the EU in Brussels, established a new events (e.g. hearings on the transfer tions and the ban on third-party owner­- UEFA internal working group on EU system and good football governance) ship (TPO). By the end of the year under matters and revamped its strategy on EU as well as at the Council of Europe Con­ review, a new memorandum of under­ affairs. ference of Sports Ministers in Hungary standing had been concluded between on 28/29 November 2016, where impor­ UEFA and the EPFL. Following intense advocacy work by tant resolutions on good governance, UEFA, a major European Parliament doping and the fight against match- Social dialogue meetings (including resolution on sport was adopted. The fixing were adopted. a plenary meeting in Brussels on 17 resolution provides political support for November 2016) were organised a wide range of policies, key proposals UEFA took part in the EU Sport Forum regarding the implementation of the and core values promoted and advo­ in Cyprus on 6 December 2016 and in minimum requirements for standard cated by UEFA and the UEFA president. an EU-structured dialogue meeting player contracts in Bosnia and Herze­ on major sporting events in Brussels on govina, the Czech Republic, FYR Mace­ Meanwhile, the EU and stakeholder 5 December 2016, as well as moderating donia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Malta, affairs unit prepared the UEFA presi­ an EU seminar on sport diplomacy in Serbia, Slovakia and Romania. Several dent’s meeting with the EU commis­ Brussels on 6 December, at the invitation national associations were assisted with sioner for sport, Tibor Navracsics, in of the European Commission. the social dialogue process. Helsinki on 5 April 2017 and secured his participation in the UEFA Congress on Another achievement was to secure the As part of its regular business activities, the same day. backing of the European Commission for the unit represented UEFA at the gene­ UEFA's Together #WePlayStrong cam­ ral assemblies of European professional Elsewhere, a new service was launched paign aimed at making football the football stakeholders: ECA on 6 Septem­ to assist UEFA member associations in number one sport for women across ber 2016 and 28 March 2017, EPFL on 21 accessing EU funding. The new service Europe by 2020. October 2016, 31 March 2017 and 6 June was presented at various UEFA work­ 2017, and FIFPro Division Europe on 16 shops. It coordinated several applica­ Finally, the period under review saw a and 17 May 2017. tions for EU funding under different number of positive judgments in cases programmes. The unit also represented regarding the compatibility of EU law

Corporate governance and compliance Governance remained high on UEFA’s May 2018, heavier sanctions, notification view to addressing areas such as agenda in 2016/17, as demonstrated by obligations and other considerations will compliance culture, risks, programmes, the approval of new good governance be introduced. In this context, particular organisation, communication, assess­ reforms at the Congress in Helsinki at attention will need to be paid to the ment and monitoring in a more efficient the end of the review period. During the way UEFA deals with the personal data way. One of the objectives is to mitigate year due diligence, monitoring and of EU citizens. A project charter and the risks of non-compliance by having controls continued and several gover­ impact analysis were produced by the the right tools and programmes in place. nance and compliance audits took place, corporate legal, ICT and corporate The satisfactory results achieved in the leading to constructive exchanges and governance and compliance teams. The period under review are the fruit of recommendations being submitted to corporate governance and compliance cross-divisional cooperation and a clear UEFA’s senior management. team also took time out to investigate a understanding of the fact that possible revision of UEFA’s risk manage­ compliance is both an individual and a With the EU’s General Data Protection ment system and examine UEFA’s collective responsibility. Regulation (GDPR) coming into force in current compliance framework, with a

70 Club licensing and financial fair play Club licensing and financial fair play with a significant drop in the number of that had qualified for a UEFA competi­ activities continued throughout the clubs under investigation. Its assessments tion on sporting merit. A thorough review period. also indicated a 92% decrease in overdue investigation was conducted into the payables since 2011, as well as a drop in case of FC Salzburg and RB Leipzig after The Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) disputed and deferred payments to doubts were raised about their com­ assessed the break-even situation and players. pliance with competition integrity rules, overdue payables of the 232 clubs taking but following significant governance and part in the 2016/17 UEFA club competi­ Meanwhile, the financial statements of structural changes by the clubs concer­ tions, meeting with a number of clubs more than 700 top-division clubs were ned, the CFCB decided to admit them and conducting various compliance visits submitted, enabling the CFCB to analyse both into the 2017/18 Champions over the course of the season. In June in detail the latest trends and the clubs’ League. 2017, the CFCB investigatory chamber financial situation. It found that combi­ published its conclusions: only one club ned club losses had decreased in 2016 for UEFA representatives attended a had failed to comply with the break-even the fifth consecutive year, and now meeting with FIFA and the club licensing requirement but agreed to sign a stood at €270m. managers of all confederations as part of settlement agreement. the ongoing consultation process sur­ UEFA’s annual club licensing and roun­ding the FIFA Club Licensing Regul­ After assessing the situation of the clubs financial fair play workshop, held in ations. Support was provided to confe­- that had signed settlement agreements Malta in September 2016, saw experts derations and national associations in previous seasons, the CFBC concluded from all 55 UEFA member associations outside Europe in relation to their own that three of them had met the targets and representatives of other confede­ implementation of financial regulations, laid down in their respective agree­ rations discuss possible improvements to and presentations were given at various ments. As a result of this and the one the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial conferences and academic programmes new agreement signed, there were 12 Fair Play Regulations. to explain the latest developments in settlement agreements being monitored club licensing and financial fair play, as the 2016/17 season drew to a close. At the end of the 2017/18 licensing how the system works and the positive process, 491 top-division clubs were impact it has had on European club The CFCB noted that the general impact granted licences and 65 applications football. of financial fair play had been positive, were refused, including five from clubs

Sports integrity In February 2017, the fourth meeting of European countries to strengthen operation, monitoring more than 30,000 the UEFA match-fixing working group cooperation in the fight against UEFA and European domestic competi­ brought together numerous stake­ match-fixing, and resolutions on the tion matches in 2016/17, and two UEFA holders in the fight against match- subject were adopted at a Council of integrity officer workshops were held to fixing and unregulated betting, Europe conference of European sports exchange information and experiences inclu­ding representatives of Europol, ministers. UEFA further stepped up its with the UEFA administration, discuss the Council of Europe and gambling efforts to protect the game by disciplinary proceedings and coordinate authorities throughout Europe. The regrouping the integrity, disciplinary, action. As in previous seasons, UEFA also participants were reminded that anti-doping and medical units within organised education sessions for some stopping the manipulation of matches, a new ‘protection of the game’ hub, 6,000 youth players and hundreds of unregulated betting and corruption alongside the club licensing, financial referees and coaches to warn them of was a priority for UEFA. With this in fair play and security units, and a new the dangers associated with mind, meetings were also held with intelligence centre. UEFA’s betting match-fixing. public authorities from various fraud detection system remained in

REPORT OF THE UEFA ADMINISTRATION 2016/17 71 RESPECT

Activities organised around the theme closely since 2001. The campaign was it seeks to promote the values of inclu­ of Respect constitute a core pillar publicised at 60 top men’s and sion, gender equality and the fight of UEFA’s social responsibility pro­ women’s matches during the 2016/17 against discrimination. Ahead of the gram­me, alongside the promotion season, reaching millions of fans inside campaign launch, video shoots took of diversity, peace and reconciliation, the stadiums and on TV. With activities place throughout the continent to football for all abilities, health, respect organised across UEFA’s 55 member create a TV spot starring some of the for the environment and the fight associations, the No to Racism cam­ biggest names of European football, against discrimination, racism and paign aims to eliminate racism, intole­ such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo violence. rance and xenophobia. On match­- and Paul Pogba, alongside grassroots day 3 of the Champions League and players from all forms of the game, The annual No to Racism campaign Europa League group stage, all team both disabled and non-disabled. Writ­ took place in October 2016 during the captains wore No to Racism branded ten articles, videos and photos were two Football People action weeks armbands. also prepared for distribution via organised by Fare, a pan-European UEFA’s various communication chan­ network of bodies committed to the UEFA decided to launch a new cam­ nels in order to give the campaign fight against intolerance and discrimi­ paign on this theme at the start of the maximum exposure. nation, with which UEFA has worked 2017/18 season. Known as #EqualGame,

72 SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

The 2016/17 season was the last of the describes the innovative strategy previous seasons, UEFA also celebra­ 2012–17 cycle of the UEFA football deve­loped by UEFA and EURO 2016 ted World Heart Day, which raises and social responsibility (FSR) SAS that enabled the tournament to public awareness about the problem programme. Numerous new projects obtain ISO 20121 certification, with of cardiovascular disease, through a and initiatives were launched in a new reference criteria drawn up for campaign supported by a host of spirit of social fair play with the aim tournament social responsibility. The UEFA ambassadors and football of making UEFA’s activities more winners of the EURO 2016 Respect the legends, including , socially responsible and sustainable. Environment Awards were also Patrik Andersson, , Ruud van announ­ced, recognising environ­ Nistelrooy and Andrés Palop. This season saw the introduction of mental measures taken by the host a social responsibility programme cities and stadiums, as well as by UEFA UEFA also gave its backing to the fifth for the national associations, which and EURO 2016 SAS internal project week of action of the Centre for is funded by the HatTrick programme teams. Access to Football in Europe (CAFE) in to the tune of €2.75m per year. March 2017. Numerous activities were Perfectly symbolising the close held all over Europe as part of this As part of its efforts to make event affiliation between UEFA’s major annual social responsibility campaign, organisation more inclusive and competitions and social responsibility, which calls for greater inclusion of sustainable, UEFA is committed the Real Madrid captain, Sergio disabled people in football. Also in to making stadiums fully accessible Ramos, handed over a cheque for March, UEFA operated an hour-long to disabled people and encouraging €100,000 to the International social media black-out to mark the host cities, in their mobility plans, to Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) tenth edition of Earth Hour, an event ensure that venues are accessible and before the Champions League round that brings together millions of easily reached by public transport, of 16 first-leg match against SSC people across the world to highlight on foot or by bicycle. Through its Napoli. It was the tenth year in a row the issues of climate change. no-smoking policy, UEFA promotes in which UEFA had donated funds to a safe and healthy environment by the ICRC rehabilitation programme In November 2016, representatives of protecting all spectators attending for landmine victims and other people the Serbian, Swiss and Ukrainian foot­ matches from the known risks asso­ with disabilities in Afghanistan. Social ball associations, and of German clubs ciated with passive smoking. responsibility events were also held at and FC Schalke the UEFA club competition finals, 04, participated in a seminar designed During the season under review, the including a football match showcasing to give participants a better unders­ 2015/16 UEFA football and social how colour-blind people see the tanding of the social responsibility of responsibility report was published, game, designed to raise awareness European football. As the end of the listing UEFA’s various social responsi­ about this issue, at the fan zone 2012–17 FSR cycle approached, stake­ bility activities, in which around ahead of the Europa League final in holders were consulted on UEFA’s €4.2m was invested, in areas such as Stockholm. future social responsibility strategy. inclusion, diversity, solidarity, peace The social responsibility and sustai­ and reconciliation, health, fan dialo­ A number of other projects benefited nability criteria for the club compe­ gue and the environment. The report, from UEFA support in 2016/17, star­ tition finals’ bid requirements were published for the fourth year running, ting with the Homeless World Cup defined, as were draft criteria on was unveiled at a meeting of UEFA’s held in Glasgow from 10 to 16 July human rights for EURO 2024 bidders, social responsibility partners held at 2016, right at the beginning of the produced in cooperation with the UEFA headquarters in June 2017, period under review. This event, Sport and Rights Alliance. shortly before the end of the 2012–17 which attracted over 500 participants cycle. from 52 countries, promoted impor­ tant values such as social inclusion, The EURO 2016 social responsibility respect, gender equality and team and sustainability post-event report spirit, with one day of the tournament was published in November 2016. It designated UEFA Respect Day. As in

REPORT OF THE UEFA ADMINISTRATION 2016/17 73 UEFA FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN

In its second full year of operation, the UEFA Foundation for Children, which aims to use sport to support humani­ tarian projects linked to children’s rights in fields such as health, education and integration, stepped up its activi­ ties throughout Europe and beyond.

The foundation’s first activity report, covering the period from April 2015 to June 2016, was published in December 2016. It revealed that 51 projects in 44 countries and 500,000 children and young adults had benefited from the foundation’s support during its first year. In October 2016, the foundation’s board of trustees decided to earmark €1m of financial support for 12 new projects following a call for projects for the 2016/17 season. For those projects, UEFA also promised to donate equip­ ment, such as balls and bibs, that had been used at various UEFA courses, as well as IT equipment previously used at including the final. Meanwhile, six the chance to take part in sports and UEFA competitions. young people aged between 12 and 16 socio-educational activities, in parti­ honed their film production skills by cular football. Further initiatives have The foundation ran various activities creating a special documentary at the been launched in order to offer new during UEFA competitions, giving 2016/17 Youth League finals. hope to refugee and migrant children children some unforgettable expe­ in European countries affected by the riences. For example, two children from The first UEFA Foundation for Children mass influx of migrants. conflict zones – an Afghan and a Syrian Awards ceremony was held at the – escorted the Real Madrid and Sevilla House of European Football in Nyon in Four new members (Esther Gascón players at the 2016 Super Cup, while October 2016. Awards were presented Carbajosa, Nathalie Iannetta-Sabattier, disadvantaged children from Stockholm to five charities promoting peace, Elkhan Mammadov and Fiona May) accompanied the players onto the pitch integration, greater social harmony, were elected to the foundation’s at the 2016/17 Europa League final respect for differences and board of trustees at a meeting in May between Manchester United and Ajax non-discrimination. 2017, when it was also decided that in the Swedish capital. More than 800 the €1m in prize money for the 2017 children and parents linked to Cardiff- A major project financed by the UEFA UEFA Foundation for Children Awards based charities that form part of the Foundation for Children, launched in should be shared among 20 organi­ streetfootballworld network were 2015, reached fruition with the inau­ sations nominated by 20 national given free tickets for the 2016/17 guration of the House of Sports at the associations. Women’s Champions League final, at Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan. This which 15 girls and their parents raised a project gives 15,000 children from giant banner in the centre circle before local communities in Jordan, which are kick-off. A number of youngsters were home to many child refugees from invited to Champions League matches, Syria and other countries in conflict,

74 COMMUNICATIONS

The 2016/17 season was a busy one for fine-tuned UEFA’s overall communi­ Festival and the Champions Gallery the communications division before, cations strategy in 2016/17 to ensure a ahead of the finals in Cardiff, and during and after the Extraordinary modern, open and transparent inter­ produced cross-channel coverage of UEFA Congress in Athens in September nal and outward image for the orga­ social responsibility events organised 2016, when the new UEFA president nisation. It contributed to several in the host city. was elected. Information on the candi­ major projects, including the overhaul dates was provided in the run-up to the of UEFA.org. Workshops were held in The media & PR unit published media event and 170 media representatives order to determine the requirements releases and press kits, and organised were looked after on the day of the for the development and improve­ press conferences and round-table Congress and at the following day’s ment of UEFA’s corporate online con­ meetings, all with the aim of explai­ Executive Committee meeting. Follo­ tent, a survey was sent out to identify ning and promoting UEFA’s activities. wing Aleksander Čeferin’s election, the users’ and stakeholders’ needs, and Its part in informing the media about communications division presented his staff and external consultants were the evolution of the UEFA club com­ vision and plans and gave full coverage invited to share their ideas about how petitions for the 2018–21 cycle and the of his first official functions across best to revamp the site. UEFA’s digital club competition revenue distribution UEFA’s various communication channels. production team in ICT was also system was especially vital. The launch Meanwhile, the media intelligence closely involved in ensuring that the of the EURO 2020 host city logos was team provided the new president with objectives and deadlines were met. another key event for the media & PR comprehensive briefings to help him This lengthy but highly constructive unit, which also managed the men’s settle into his role and get a clear, process culminated in the merger of and women’s UEFA Best Player in comprehensive picture of the state of UEFA.com and UEFA.org at the begin­ Europe awards, organising the votes the European game. ning of July 2017. for both awards in conjunction with the European Sports Media (ESM) The first UEFA Congress to be chaired UEFA’s No to Racism campaign and the group, and ensured the smooth run­ by the new president, in April 2017, was Fare network’s Football People action ning of media activities during the covered across all communication weeks were hugely successful, thanks Ordinary UEFA Congress in Helsinki channels, with a solid content plan in no small part to the exposure provi­ in early April 2017. ensuring much broader exposure on ded by UEFA’s competitions. Buoyed digital platforms. by the success of the Respect cam­ In addition to the monthly editions of paign at EURO 2016, plans were then the new-look UEFA Direct, the publi­ A total of 650,000 UEFA.com users cast drawn up for a new campaign – cations team produced various book­ 7.15 million votes for the 2016 UEFA #EqualGame – which will promote lets, club manuals, brochures and Team of the Year, the results of which respect by advocating inclusion, com­petition technical reports, were announced in January 2017. The diversity and accessibility. Before it including the technical report on announcement of the team generated was launched, video shoots involving EURO 2016. It also published UEFA huge media coverage and high levels of big names in football such as Lionel EURO 2016 – The Story, providing a web traffic, as did various digital inno­ Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Pogba full retrospective on that memorable vations such as Facebook Live coverage and Ada Hegerberg took place all over tournament and all the work involved of the UEFA club competitions, inclu­ Europe for the purpose of TV spots behind the scenes. Among the many ding training sessions and press confe­ promoting the campaign. other publications produced in 2016/17 rences. This new video content, made were the EURO 2016 social responsi­ possible with the support of UEFA A tremendous amount of work was bility and sustainability post-event Events SA, generated growth in terms put into promoting the activities of report and the latest report on of both reach and views. This is reflec­ the UEFA Foundation for Children in women’s football across the national ted in the excellent figures for UEFA’s its second year of operation, as well as associations, not to mention the digital platforms in 2016/17, building on UEFA Grassroots Week and the start of annual reports of the UEFA president, the impressive results achieved at EURO the EURO 2020 countdown. The corpo­ Executive Committee, committees and 2016. rate communications team also prepa­ administration, which covered UEFA’s The corporate communications team red and managed the Champions activities between July 2015 and July

REPORT OF THE UEFA ADMINISTRATION 2016/17 75 2016. The online editorial team laun­ Champions League trophy tour, the activities and developments within ched a new and improved version of various legs of which were supported UEFA, remained a vital internal the European Qualifiers app and pro­ by a number of high-profile players communication tool. Helping staff duced various online products for including Ryan Giggs in Egypt, and members to keep abreast of impor­ UEFA competition coverage. A Chinese , Luis García and Ronal­ tant UEFA events and topics, they are website devoted to the Champions dinho in Colombia, India and Vietnam. proving a great success, as demons­ League was launched and mobile trated by the high levels of atten­ positioning was discussed with a view Meanwhile, Robert Pirès and Christian dance seen in 2016/17. The intranet to further development next season. Karembeu attended the Youth League and the Inside UEFA quarterly maga­ finals in Nyon, and served as Cham­ zine are also key internal commu­ Thanks to the football relations team, pions League ambassadors on Face­ nication platforms. Discussions and UEFA was able to call on a network of book Live alongside Peter Schmeichel consultations were held and proposals famous ambassadors. The 2016/17 and . Patrik Anders­ examined with a view to improving Champions League group stage draw son and Ian Rush performed their roles both to support exchanges of infor­ in Monaco was attended by a host of as club competition final ambassadors mation, foster relationships between stars, including Ian Rush and Patrik perfectly, giving numerous interviews divisions and units and give staff a Andersson, 2017 Champions League and visiting the fan zones, and more sense of ownership and involvement. and Europa League final ambassadors than 30 legends of the game lined up respectively. The team also made all for the 11th Ultimate Champions exhi­ the necessary arrangements for the bition match at the Champions Festi­ various nominees for the UEFA Best val in Cardiff. Player awards. Testing of the first version of the UEFA ambassador app Back in Nyon, Time Out meetings, was launched during the autumn designed to inform staff of the latest

76 LEGAL AND FINANCIAL ISSUES

Legal Legal support was provided through­ and the commercial regulations for the UEFA’s admission of Kosovo, and out 2016/17 in a number of areas new cycle were published at the start mediation in Greece to enable the relating to EURO 2016, such as the of the period under review. These 2016/17 domestic season to get under distribution of revenue, management regulations, which cover the European way, including meetings with the of a criminal case in relation to volun­ Qualifiers, the Nations League and Greek sports minister and the Hellenic teers and the winding up of EURO friendly matches, were subsequently Football Federation in Athens. Advice 2016 SAS, and no major tax, visa or amended to allow for earlier payments was given to several UEFA member customs issues were encountered. As to the national associations. The associations, in particular the Gibraltar always, UEFA’s legal team was active in centra­­lisation of national association FA, concerning amendments to their a variety of other areas, in particular and player imagery also kept the legal statutes, and having opened a repre­ the organisation of future club compe­ team occupied, and preparations for sen­tative office in Brussels, UEFA tition cycles. One major step forward EURO 2020 continued apace, with the established new services that helped a was the formal incorporation of UEFA evaluation of several organisational number of associations to access EU Club Competitions SA, a UEFA subsi­ models for the competition, the EURO funding. Finally, UEFA’s efforts to diary whose role is to advise and 2020 trademark registration process, safeguard the long-term prosperity of submit recommendations to the Club the implementation of tax agreements football in Europe were bolstered by Competitions Committee on matters in each host country and the establish­ long-awaited judgments issued in relating to commercial strategy. ment of regular contact with the host three financial fair play cases by courts Amend­­ments were made to UEFA’s associations and cities. The EURO 2024 in Paris and Prague. memorandum of understanding with bidding procedure and drafting of the ECA ahead of the 2018–21 club related documents were also high on competition cycle and numerous media the legal division’s agenda. rights agreements were concluded for the forthcoming cycle, notably in During the review period, UEFA dealt France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the US, with legal cases concerning a number China and Japan. of national associations: the Jersey Football Association’s application for On the national team competitions UEFA membership and its related front, the national association decla­ appeal to the CAS, the Football Asso­ rations for 2018–22 were completed ciation of Serbia’s appeal against

Finance UEFA’s financial assets stood at €2.1bn cases, are even subject to negative €150m thanks to the increase in at the end of June 2017. Although interest rates. The sale of rights for the income. Meanwhile, the Compensation UEFA’s assets usually fall sharply in the 2015–18 club competition cycle was a Committee, which is responsible for year following a EURO, this figure is great success, with income 38% higher overseeing matters linked to the very close to that recorded at the end than for the 2012–15 cycle. Also during remuneration of UEFA’s senior of the 2015/16 financial year (€2.2bn). the 2016/17 season, the new club management, held its first meetings Using these funds, UEFA continued to competitions revenue distribution during the review period. A more invest in corporate bonds in order to model for 2018/19 onwards was detailed analysis of all financial aspects ease some of the pressure on its adopted, whereby UEFA’s share will of the 2016/17 financial year can be current accounts, which are not decrease as a percentage of total found in the 2016/17 financial report. generating any interest or, in some revenue, but will remain at around

REPORT OF THE UEFA ADMINISTRATION 2016/17 77 OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

By 30 June 2017, UEFA had 514 emplo­ during which UEFA’s computer systems official EURO 2016 book and technical yees, 470 of whom were on permanent were successfully protected, a detailed report, Congress and Executive Com­ contracts and 44 on fixed-term study was undertaken in order to mit­tee meeting minutes, and the pre­ contracts. optimise ICT operations and services vious reports of the UEFA president, going forward. Meetings were held Executive Committee and adminis­ During the review period, a Staff with Google to discuss the possibility tration. The unit also provided inter­ Council was established within the of using its Street View technology to preters at official UEFA meetings UEFA administration. The council, create virtual tours of the EURO 2020 throughout the year. composed of elected employees, is a stadiums, and a request for proposals working group whose role is to ensure was then launched to take the ‘virtual The travel, accommodation and confe­ regular dialogue with senior manage­ stadium’ project forward, with a view rences unit booked several thousand ment and act as a collective voice for to conducting virtual stadium visits to overnight stays and flights for UEFA UEFA’s staff. This ensures that the limit or complement on-site inspec­ staff, officials, partners and guests staff’s interests are taken into account tions. Various studies and requests for during the 2016/17 season. It also wor­ in decision-making that affects wor­ proposals were launched in relation to ked on a number of medium and long- king practices and continuing profes­ the migration of part of the ICT infra­ term projects, including the bid requi­- sional development. structure to the cloud and other pro­ re­ments for future club competition jects relating to cybersecurity and finals and EURO 2024 as regards The HR unit’s UEFA People campaign, UEFA’s communication platforms. The accommodation. which aims to increase awareness of integration of the UEFA.org website UEFA as an employer across Europe into UEFA.com was a significant deve­ The project to digitise all historical and showcase UEFA’s staff, entered its lopment, as was the launch of a web­ archives, including minutes, reports second season in 2016/17. Meanwhile, site dedicated to the Together and other official documents, entered a host of activities, including health #WePlayStrong campaign. its third phase: around 4,300 checks, a talk on how to maintain a documents (36,000 pages) were healthy work-life balance and visits to Facility management carried out nume­- selected and catalogued, and tests the match command centre, were rous maintenance works across the were run on the future UEFA archive organised as part of the I Care About UEFA campus during the period under management system (OpenText My Health and Football First initiatives, review. The pitches at Colovray sta­ eDocs), to be rolled out in autumn which are both very popular with dium were maintained throughout the 2017. Meanwhile, work continued on UEFA staff. The selection of continuous season, with the main pitch receiving the revision of UEFA’s records professional development courses special attention ahead of the Youth management policy, in cooperation offered to employees was also League finals in Nyon. Meanwhile, with the legal affairs division. expanded. new meeting rooms were installed or renovated and the groundwork was The results of a staff survey on laid for the renovation of the kitchens diversity and inclusion, conducted in and restaurant in the main UEFA buil­ partnership with the University of St ding, where preparations were also Gallen, were presented at the begin­ made for major electrical upgrades. ning of March 2017, together with the measures that would be taken in The language services unit managed a response, and an extraordinary staff large number of documents, amoun­ meeting was held to remind staff of ting to more than 3 million words the process for dealing with workplace during the period under review. The conflicts and of UEFA’s commitment to three language sections (English, stamping out harassment. Based on French and German) dealt with most lessons learned from EURO 2016, requests in-house, including the

78 UEFA EVENTS SA – Marketing

After a 2015/16 season in which UEFA’s promote the competition both in doubled compared with previous sea­ successful EURO 2016 marketing Europe and beyond. In the autumn, the sons. Meanwhile, a licensing deal was activities were especially prominent, trophy, presented by UniCredit, travelled signed with Panini to produce physical 2016/17 gave its partners strong visibility to Romania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herze­ and digital sticker albums for Women’s across a broad range of programmes, govina, Croatia and Hungary, before EURO 2017. The invitations to tender for initiatives and events. A review of the leaving European shores in spring 2017 the supply of the official match balls, activities carried out during EURO 2016 to be presented by Heineken in Panama, apparel and merchandising rights for began as soon as the tournament con­ Colombia, Egypt, India and Vietnam. the 2018–21 Champions League and cluded. Reports on fan experience, Europa League cycle were issued in on-site activities, sponsor digital expo­ Ahead of the Champions League final in January 2017. sure and global TV audiences were Cardiff, two UEFA fan competition win­ published. The EURO 2016 sponsors gave ners and 38 partner competition win­ In November 2016, a KISS marketing extremely positive feedback about the ners played in a fan match, in which workshop and awards ceremony, held in sponsorship programme at debrief former England goalkeeper David James Athens, saw 17 nominees – selected sessions, praising on-site delivery and participated. A similar match took place from 85 applications – present their the strong viewing and digital figures. at the Europa League final in Stockholm. projects in front of representatives from The numbers obtained on the licensing In addition, six UEFA fan competition around 50 national associations. Repre­ side were also very high, with record winners and 244 partner competition sentatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina, sales of over 4.7 million for the official winners attended the Champions Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Kosovo, sticker album and 280 million packets of League final in the company of ex- Romania, Serbia and Slovenia took part five stickers sold. Meanwhile, 550,000 England international Teddy in the first-ever regional marketing purchase copies of PES 2016, the official Sheringham. meeting in Zagreb, while the UEFA EURO 2016 video game, were sold and GROW programme provided marketing one million free downloads were On the day of the Women’s Champions support to 27 national associations. recorded by existing Pro Evolution League final in Cardiff, UEFA launched Soccer 2016 users. its marketing campaign for women’s Numerous agreements were signed for football, which is aiming to make UEFA competition media rights, with Internal debrief and review sessions football the most popular women’s broadcasters remaining eager to acquire were held in the months following sport across Europe by 2020. The these competitions. Contracts have EURO 2016 in order to build on the Together #WePlayStrong campaign is already been signed in many countries tournament’s success. Meanwhile, designed to offer all UEFA member for EURO 2020, as well as for the 2018– preparations for EURO 2020 were associations a dynamic programme to 22 cycle of national team competitions. already in full swing, with the unveiling increase women’s participation in Following the appointment of Polsat of the tournament logo at London’s City football. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Eurosport as host broadcasters for Hall on 21 September 2016, in the pre­ and Giphy accounts were opened, along the European Under-21 Championship sence of the UEFA president, Aleksander with activations on the Musical.ly final round and Women’s EURO 2017 Čeferin, and the mayor of London, Sadiq platform. respectively, many other broadcasting Khan. The bridge, symbolising the link and sublicensing contracts were signed. between cultures, is the central element A Champions League and Europa Meanwhile, invitations to tender for the of the logo of a tournament that, to League partner workshop was held at 2018–21 Champions League and Europa mark its 60th birthday, will be staged the draw for the two competitions in League rights were launched and initial right across Europe. All 13 host city logos Monaco at the start of the 2016/17 contracts were signed in countries inclu­ were launched at official ceremonies season, the second of the sponsorship ding the United Kingdom, France, Italy held between September 2016 and and licensing programme for the 2015– and the USA (Spanish-language rights). January 2017, many of them attended by 18 club competition cycle. With the help the UEFA president. of product improvements and enhanced social media promotions, the number of In the run-up to the final, the Cham­ engaged users across Champions League pions League trophy tour helped to sole and exclusive products more than

REPORT OF THE UEFA ADMINISTRATION 2016/17 79 TV production During the 2016/17 season, and building delivery of the European Qualifiers for on the award-winning delivery of EURO 2018 World Cup, ensuring that all UEFA’s 2016, the TV production unit was respon­- technical and production requi­rements si­ble for quality control, coordination were met. The unit was on hand and delivery of host broadcasts across through­out the season to monitor TV all UEFA competitions. It also provided coverage from all of UEFA’s compe­ UEFA’s various broadcast partners with titions back in Nyon in UEFA’s dedicated a wealth of additional programming match command centre, from where content as well as digital broadcasting broadcasters were provided with com­ solutions for their second screen prehensive support and feedback. acti­vations. The additional programming team The team was heavily involved in all delivered a wide selection of club and three club competition finals. For the city profiles and promotional trailers to first time, key unilateral services to enable broadcasters to promote UEFA’s broadcasters were centralised, thereby competitions in their territories. Broad­ ensuring the highest level of control. casters were also provided with an ins­ Site visits, workshops and preparations tant highlights feed showing all the key had begun more than a year before the match action in real time each match showcase events. In Cardiff, the team night, centrally produced high­lights worked very closely with BT Sport in delivered at the close of the evening, their delivery of the Champions League and extended magazine programmes. final, supporting them in particular with The team also worked very closely with their ultra-high definition (4K) cove­ the communications division to provide rage. Coverage of the Europa League live social media coverage of press con­ final in Stockholm, delivered by Disco­ fe­rences, training sessions and other very Networks Sweden, was equally events around mat­ches, and delivered comprehensive. various in-house UEFA videos and cove­ rage, including those screened at the Other live broadcast highlights from the UEFA Congress. season include the coordination of the European Under-21 Championship final Digital broadcasting activities included tournament in Poland with host broad­ the first live streaming of a Champions cas­ter Polsat. On-site support was also League final in 360° virtual reality, using provided for the Futsal Cup finals in 12 dedicated cameras. Subscribing Kazakhstan, where Eurosport was the broad­cast partners also had the oppor­ host broadcaster. Preparations for EURO tunity to harvest 360° clips online. The 2020 continued throughout the year team coordinated the streaming of the under review, including site visits to the Champions League draws on UEFA.com 13 stadiums and to a number of poten­ and social media, and worked closely tial sites for the international broadcast with BT Sport and PlayStation in the centre (IBC). delivery of their apps for the final. UEFA’s digital strategy was also high on Visits, workshops and on-site broad­ the agenda during the period. caster support were also implemented across Europe to ensure the successful

80 REPORT OF THE UEFA ADMINISTRATION 2016/17 81 UEFA EVENTS SA – Operations

UEFA EURO 2020 The operations team closed the EURO The LOS project leaders were then cooperation with the finance division, 2016 project at the start of the period joined by 32 host city representatives at for example, it has compiled financial under review, organising a number of the first EURO 2020 host city workshop and workforce-related needs for the debrief sessions to assess the manage­ at UEFA headquarters in March 2017. tournament and helped the legal ment of – and learn lessons from – the The agenda for the workshop, which division by answering key organisational tournament in France prior to the publi­ received a positive response from parti­ questions related to the tournament’s cation of the final report. ci­pants, included host city relations structure. Working with the football management, tournament promotion, and social responsibility unit, the CEO The team’s focus then quickly switched fan zones, social responsibility and office also established the key priorities to preparations for EURO 2020, inclu­ding su­s­tai­nability. for future events in terms of social the organisation and management of responsibility and sustainability. A the host city logo unveiling programme. Meanwhile, members of the operations comparison was also made between team paid initial working visits to Glas­ sustainability-related EURO 2020 As a direct result of the broad geogra­ gow, London, , Rome, , bidding requirements and the host phical spread of the EURO 2020 host Bucharest, , Bilbao and cities’ proposals. cities, one of the main challenges for . the tournament organisers is efficient Another significant organisational communication between UEFA and A second round of visits was planned change during the period under review each of the local organising structures for between November 2017 and March was the reorganisation of the logistics (LOS). With this in mind, an ambitious 2018, and a number of potential sites operations unit, which was renamed online communication and document- for the International Broadcast Centre event operations. The new name better sharing platform was developed over (IBC) were inspected. describes the wide range of activities several months and its launch was an undertaken which fall outside logistics important milestone of the 2016/17 The CEO office of UEFA Events SA, in its traditional sense, such as signage season. Known as Bridge in order to established during the final quarter of and the design and production of a reflect the central theme of EURO 2020 2016 to take responsibility for various broad variety of branded items bearing (each host city’s logo features one of its tasks previously spread across the com­ the different UEFA competition marks. iconic bridges), the platform was laun­ pany, was quickly pressed into service. ched in June 2017 after the LOS teams The unit works closely with the CEO of had received intensive training. UEFA Events SA in the areas of manage­ ment and administration, and is respon­ The EURO 2020 LOS liaison office also si­ble for knowledge management, held a workshop in February 2017, brin­ event training, event workforce mana­ ging together the LOS teams and UEFA ge­ment, programme management, colleagues for the second time, follo­ sustainability and innovation. It has wing an inaugural meeting in Nyon a already carried out a number of impor­ year earlier. tant tasks related to EURO 2020. In

82 Other national team competitions Preparations for Women’s EURO 2017 particular, a European Under-21 The operations team remained busy (in the Netherlands) and the European Championship event promotion work­ throughout 2016/17 with preparations Under-21 Championship finals (in shop was held in Warsaw, involving for the various youth competition final Poland) continued well in advance of representatives of all the host cities tournaments, including site visits in all the respective tournaments, with site and commercial partners. Attendances the host countries. Its efforts were visits conducted at the different at the matches in Poland were plea­ duly rewarded as all the tournaments venues. The draws, held in the respec­ sing, while sponsors added to the ran seamlessly and were well atten­ tive host countries, provided an oppor­ public’s excitement with numerous ded. Two official site visits also took tunity to organise various workshops activations. ­place for Futsal EURO 2018 in Slovenia. before public ticket sales began. In

Club competition finals Preparations for the 2017 club compe­ An unprecedented 120,778 requests for in Stockholm, while 531 UEFA and 500 tition finals were a common thread 45,932 general public tickets were LOC volun­teers were deployed at the throughout the 2016/17 season. Seve­ received for the Europa League final. finals in Cardiff. ral site visits to the final venues were Staged at the Friends Arena in Stock­ completed, each facilitating further holm, where the pitch had been repla­ A number of site visits took place at fine-tuning as the event approached. ced shortly before the event, this final the stadiums that will host the 2018 The city of Cardiff, which hosted the generated €3.97m, with all public Champions League and Europa League 2017 Champions League and Women’s tickets (46,961 spectators) and hospi­ finals in Kyiv (Ukraine) and Lyon (France) Champions League finals, received tality areas sold out. Swedish House respectively. Initial planning for both particular attention, with a focus on Mafia had planned to perform at the finals got under way and a comprehen­ city activities and Champions Festival opening ceremony but all ceremonies sive status report was submitted to the plans ahead of the finals themselves. were cancelled after the terror attack Ukrainian Football Federation (FFU) in Manchester days before the final. A regarding key issues related to the At the Champions League final, the total of 266 volun­teers contributed to preparations. trophy ceremony took place on the the success of the Europa League final pitch and the Black Eyed Peas perfor­ med at the opening ceremony. Public interest in the final remained strong, with applications received for almost 350,000 tickets. The match was played in a sold-out National Stadium of Wales (65,842 people) and generated a total of £12.5m. Hospitality areas were sold out and over 100,000 supporters visited the Champions Festival in Cardiff Bay. Meanwhile, 22,433 specta­ tors, the second largest crowd for a women’s final, watched the Women’s Champions League final at Cardiff City Stadium.

REPORT OF THE UEFA ADMINISTRATION 2016/17 83 LEADING BY EXAMPLE

During the period under review, those involved in the game, UEFA was across the globe, and UEFA will UEFA entered calmer waters after the steadfast in its commitment to ensuring continue in its every action and turbulence of the previous year. The that the European football community decision to lead by example – while election of Aleksander Čeferin as UEFA stayed united, pursuing dialogue and always remembering the core belief president was the perfect catalyst for consensus in the search for constant that football must come first in European football’s governing body development. everything that UEFA does. to start approaching the future In his address to the Ordinary UEFA with confidence and determination. Congress in Helsinki, Aleksander A new era meant new challenges, Čeferin emphasised that UEFA must not as UEFA strives to keep pace with be afraid of the future – it must fully football’s ever-changing environment, accept its responsibilities and be and there is great satisfaction and ready to meet tomorrow’s challenges. pride that the first months of the new Football is a sport loved by millions president’s term of office brought continual progress and a series of far- sighted measures that will stand UEFA in good stead in the years to come. Countless people have undertaken tireless work to take UEFA forward over the past year. The organisation remained true to its mission and essential values, and never lost view of its duty to protect, promote and nurture football on this continent. Adopting a spirit of solidarity, support, openness and transparency towards all

84 Photos: UEFA, Getty Images, Sportsfile, Domenic Aquilina, UEFA Foundation for Children

Setting: LargeNetwork, Geneva. Printing: Artgraphic Cavin, Grandson, Switzerland UEFA ROUTE DE GENÈVE 46 CH-1260 NYON 2 SWITZERLAND TELEPHONE: +41 848 00 27 27 TELEFAX: +41 848 01 27 27