Report of the President and Executive Committee Report of the UEFA Administration 2013/14 XXXIX Ordinary UEFA Congress Vienna, 24 March 2015 WE CARE ABOUT FOOTBALL CONTENTS I. Report of the President and Executive Committee 1 Committee Reports 19 II. Report of the UEFA Administration 39 Cover Photos: National teams from each of UEFA’s 54 member associations – symbols of every country’s footballing passion © AFP, Getty Images, Sportsfile and UEFA via Getty Images I. Report of the President and Executive Committee 1 July 2013 – 30 June 2014 WE CARE ABOUT FOOTBALL © UEFA via Getty Images © UEFA SUMMARY The UEFA President and Executive Committee Off the pitch, 2013/14 was notable for UEFA’s have guided UEFA through another extremely unstinting efforts to preserve European foot- intense year. The European governing ball’s well-being and integrity. The campaign body was as busy as ever in the 2013/14 to eradicate match-fixing and corruption from period, both on and off the field, with the game was stepped up; the zero-tolerance memorable matches, goals and performances stance against racism and discrimination accompanied by key decisions aimed at taking in football was consolidated; and the fight European football into the future with against doping remained a major priority. confidence. There has been encouraging support for UEFA’s efforts from the European national associations On the pitch, the UEFA Champions League again and other sectors of the European football justified its billing as Europe’s blue-riband club community, and UEFA will continue to pursue competition in both sporting and com­­mercial education, prevention and punishment as the terms. Its sister competition, the UEFA Europa main instruments to counter these dangers. League, continues to grow as a spectacle, and In addition, UEFA’s financial fair play measures has established itself as an attractive feature on – designed to safeguard the financial stability the European football landscape. The two finals of European club football – have begun to in Lisbon and Turin respectively capped the have a positive effect, thanks in no small part season. Both competitions will be graced by to the diligent work of the Club Financial some of the young stars who made the inaugural Control Body (CFCB). The relationship with the UEFA Youth League season such a success, with European Union remains positive, with UEFA a final round in Nyon bringing the competition, defending football’s interests and the European featuring the Under-19 teams of clubs taking part political authorities understanding the need in the UEFA Champions League group stage, to for fruitful dialogue and often responding an exciting climax. favourably to UEFA’s policies and initiatives. National team football also enjoyed the spot- The UEFA President and Executive Committee light in the period under review. Women’s have remained true to their course, and have football took pride of place in July 2013 with worked hard to nurture European football’s the Women’s EURO final round in Sweden, good health. They have done so through which broke numerous records and set new careful decision-making, while also pursuing standards for this sector of the game. constant dialogue, consultation and Preparations for EURO 2016 moved on apace exchanges at UEFA events and committee/ with the qualifying competition draw in Nice in working meetings, as well as on the major February 2014, while an exciting innovation platform provided by the UEFA Congress. This will see 13 European cities host matches at policy will continue to be pursued in the UEFA 2020 – a true ‘EURO for Europe’. The future, and football will always come first. youth competitions were also staged The Executive Committee remains committed successfully by a series of outstanding hosts – to working for the good of the European Lithuania (U19s), Malta (U17s), Wales game and ensuring its overall well-being in (Women’s U19s) and England (Women’s U17s). the future. Futsal’s popularity grows yearly, and the latest Futsal EURO in Belgium in early 2014 raised the bar in terms of quality and organisation. 2 Report of the President and Executive Committee 2013/14 COMPETITIONS came to the matches, and there were record TV viewing figures. Live broadcasts took National team competitions place on all six populated continents, and 50 broadcasters aired coverage of the UEFA relishes its responsibility towards national tournament. The total cumulative TV audience team football, a source of national identity for the tournament was 133 million – more and footballing pride. This commitment was than double that for the 2009 final round – reinforced during the period under review. and the final between Norway and Germany The ’EURO for Europe’ approach to the was seen live by over 15.9 million viewers, European Championship final tournament a 59% increase on the final in Finland in 2020 received strong support from the four years earlier. Packed fan zones in Sweden member associations. Moreover, the new emphasised the public response to the ‘Week of Football’ concept for the European tournament, which left a profound legacy for Qualifiers for EURO 2016 and the 2018 the future of the women’s game. World Cup will allow fans to watch more international football than ever before. The Top Executive Programme (TEP) strategy meeting in Dubrovnik, Croatia, in September Women’s football continues to blossom, and 2013 provided an ideal opportunity for its development at the elite level was evident the presidents and general secretaries of UEFA’s at the Women’s EURO in Sweden. Not only did 54 member associations to address important the tournament excel on the field, with sporting and political matters – and to provide outstanding games, superb goals and gifted crucial input to the UEFA Executive Committee. players – the final round set new benchmarks, especially in terms of stadium crowds and The associations have been consistent in their television audiences. Over 216,000 people wish to raise the profile of national team © Sportsfile 3 of the 32 associations were allowed to present up to two bids – one for the standard package and one for the semi-finals/ final package. The candidates had the right to change their initial host city selection, but had to submit their final bid dossier by 25 April 2014. Following the expiry of this deadline, UEFA said it had received final bid dossiers to host EURO 2020 from 19 member associations representing 19 candidate cities. The final decision on the appointment © Sportsfile of the 13 hosts of EURO 2020 was to be taken by the Executive Committee on 19 September football, and the Dubrovnik discussions were 2014 in Geneva. The voting procedure shaped by the desire of the UEFA member for the allocation of EURO 2020 matches was associations to further promote and develop confirmed, and the announcement ceremony senior national team competitions for the long was to take place at the Espace Hippomène term, while keeping in mind the agreed in Geneva after the Executive Committee’s international match calendar and respecting decision. the principle of unity and solidarity across the associations. The Executive Committee also approved the draw procedure for the EURO 2016 qualifying The European Championship final round in competition draw in Nice in February 2014. 2020 took further shape under the UEFA The participating teams were to be drawn into Executive Committee’s guidance during the nine groups: eight groups of six teams and period under review. The ‘EURO for Europe’ – one group of five teams. The nine group which emerged from an idea of the UEFA winners, the nine runners-up and the best President – will take place in 13 cities across the third-placed team will qualify directly for the continent. The Executive Committee gave the EURO 2016 final round. The eight remaining go-ahead to the project in December 2012, and third-placed teams will contest home-and- the 2013/14 period saw Europe’s national away play-off matches to determine the associations also give a warm welcome to this remaining four teams to qualify for the final innovative move, which will lend a special tournament. ambience to the tournament as it celebrates its 60th birthday. The idea also underlines the The teams drawn into the group of five teams Executive Committee’s firm wish to involve as were to have France added to their group, many national associations as possible in the for the purpose of playing centralised friendlies organisation of major UEFA events. in accordance with the ‘Week of Football’ match schedule. This scheduling format for the In September 2013, the committee was able to European Qualifiers for EURO 2016 and the confirm that 32 member associations – well 2018 World Cup involves matches taking place over half of UEFA’s membership – had declared from Thursday to Tuesday. Kick-off times are an interest in staging matches in 2020. The being largely set at 18.00CET and 20.45CET games were split into 13 different packages, on Saturdays and Sundays and 20.45CET for with 12 standard packages, including three Thursdays, Fridays, Mondays and Tuesdays. On group matches and one knockout round double-header matchweeks, teams play on match (round of 16 or quarter-finals), and one Thursday and Sunday, Friday and Monday or package for the semi-finals and the final. Each Saturday and Tuesday. 4 Report of the President and Executive Committee 2013/14 During 2013/14 , the UEFA Executive Committee the number of teams participating in the was involved in the planning and prep aration European Under-21 Championship final of a proposed new national team competition – tournament from 8 to 12 for the 2017 edition. the UEFA Nations League. This culminated in This will give more teams and players the chance the adoption by the UEFA Congress in Astana in to participate in the final tournament of the March 2014 of a four-point resolution – competition.