FIFA International Football Symposium UEFA Conference for National Coaches Berlin 2006

Media Release Date: 13/09/2006 Communiqué aux médias No. 108 Medien-Mitteilung

National Team coaches’ conference concludes

Meeting of top international football coaches ended today in Berlin

The FIFA International Football Symposium/UEFA Conference for National Coaches has ended in Berlin today after three days of intense debate and discussion on some of the major issues concerning the game, as well as a technical review of the FIFA World Cup 2006™.

In the first-ever joint technical conference between UEFA and FIFA, all 52 national team coaches from UEFA’s member associations, the 18 national team coaches from non- European countries involved at the FIFA World Cup 2006™, members of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), members of the FIFA World Cup 2006 Study Group, as well as both Technical Directors, Andy Roxburgh of UEFA and Holger Osieck of FIFA, and various technical experts from UEFA, FIFA and the German FA (DFB), all met to discuss matters involving the game.

Day one opened in the afternoon with welcome speeches from FIFA President, Joseph S. Blatter, UEFA President, Lennart Johansson, Dr. Christoph Bergner, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Ministry of the Interior, Klaus Wowereit, Governing Mayor of the City of Berlin and Dr. Theo Zwanziger, President of the DFB. There was then a presentation by Holger Osieck outlining the key findings of the FIFA Technical Report World Cup 2006 to be published shortly. The day’s session ended with a presentation to ex-Italy coach entitled “Tribute to Italy”, the FIFA World Cup 2006™ winners.

Tuesday involved presentations on the coaches’ involvement with the referee and the Laws of the Game, with interesting exchanges and clarifications on the subject of the interpretation of the offside law, players feigning injury and the tendency of simulation to try to gain an advantage. There then followed a presentation of the analysis of injuries sustained at the FIFA World Cup 2006™, a general review of the organisation of the tournament, and an afternoon spent examining individual topics in various discussion groups. The group re- assembled to listen to Andy Roxburgh interview ex-German national team coach, Jürgen Klinsmann, live by video conference from his home in the USA.

This morning the assembled national team coaches listened to the feedback from the discussion groups of the previous day, had a presentation by Andy Roxburgh on the big picture of tactical trends in 2006 and a panel discussion was held with coaches, , , Raymond Domenech and Luis Gonçalves.

The close of the conference was conducted by FIFA/UEFA Vice-President Angel Maria Villar Llona:

“This was the first time we have arranged such a joint conference and a unique experience for all of those involved. I must pay tribute to all the coaches and experts that took time to join us for the three days and contribute in such a valuable way.”

For further information on the conference’s outcomes and presentations please go to www.uefa.com and www.fifa.com