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Date: 24/04/2002 No. 68 - 2002

UEFA renew Intertoto deal with European Football Pool

Contract signed for 2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup

UEFA today renewed its contract with the European Football Pool (EFP) for its partnership with the UEFA Intertoto Cup for a further one year. The contract was signed by UEFA President Lennart Johansson and Friedrich Stickler, President of the EFP, at the Sheraton Hotel, Stockholm.

The European Football Pool has been associated with the UEFA Intertoto Cup since its introduction in 1995.

The competition is now an established part of the European football calendar and gives clubs a chance to experience European action. Three places in the UEFA Cup are also available for clubs successful in the Intertoto Cup. An example of the competition’s appeal is FC Girondins de () who qualified from the 1995 UEFA Intertoto Cup to reach the 1995/96 UEFA Cup final.

The competition also gives toto companies across the opportunity to bridge domestic football’s summer break with an attractive schedule of games, the first three rounds of which are played at weekends.

Commenting on the event, Lennart Johansson said “It gives me pleasure to announce the renewal of UEFA’s partnership with the European Football Pool. This is another step in the successful and longlasting relationship which has developed over the 7 years of the Intertoto Cup.”

Friedrich Stickler, of the European Football Pool, added “The Intertoto Cup has fielded some great clubs so far in its history and we are proud to be associated with such an exciting competition. It offers clubs the opportunity to taste glory at the highest level of European competition.”

This year’s competition kicks off on 22 June with the first 40 clubs facing each other in knockout matches on a home-and-away basis. Major clubs from the top European leagues have applied to take part this year although the participants will not be known until the 29 May deadline. The three UEFA Cup qualifiers will be known on 27 August when the second legs of the three finals have been played.

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