UEFA Regions' Cup Returns to Italy Umeå IK Win the UEFA Women's
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
8.03 7/ UEFA Regions’ Cup returns to Italy 03 Umeå IK win the UEFA Women’s Cup 07 UEFA Champions League: the leagues’ share 11 New UEFA Cup 12 no. 16 – july/august 2003 no. 16 COVER IN THIS ISSUE Club competition calendar 10 After losing the final last Share of the revenue for the leagues 11 year, Umeå IK (Sweden) were not disappointed this time Final round of the UEFA Regions’ Cup 03 New UEFA Cup format 12 round and won the second Umeå IK win the UEFA Women’s Cup 07 Meridian Project: Meeting in Bangui 15 UEFA Women’s Cup. PHOTO: EPA Fair play campaign in Norway 08 News from member associations 16 EditorialThe success of the club competitions When the UEFA Champions League was launched in the early ‘90s, it certainly caused an upheaval on the European club football A wide scene, establishing new benchmarks, not only in financial terms but also consultation process in terms of organisation and television broadcasting. took place before the UEFA Executive There is unanimous agreement that the impact of the UEFA Champions Committee adopted a new League has been positive overall. However, the launch of this competition format for did have a few side effects. By concentrating the top clubs the UEFA Cup. in one competition, it diminished somewhat the appeal of the other UEFA competitions. A first measure to combat this devaluation was the merger of the UEFA Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup, to create a revamped second European club competition. More recently concern about the amount of football played and the balance in the club competitions, allied to a downturn in the market, led us to re-examine those com- petitions. For the UEFA Champions League, the upshot was a new format, to be launched this season. The second group phase has been dropped and matches after the one and only group stage will be played on a direct knock-out basis. The question of the UEFA Cup is more tricky, and to improve the chances of finding the optimum format, UEFA took some additional time for reflection. This time was used for an unprecedented broad consultation process, accompanied by a market survey. In a context where everyone agrees that there is no question of damaging the UEFA Champions League and where the market is no longer as buoyant as it was a few years ago, it is plain that there is no miracle solution, but that change is needed. By opting for a new group phase, in keeping with the preference expressed by a very large majority of those consulted, by alternating as far as possible the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup match weeks, and by maintaining the feed of clubs from the UEFA Champions League to the UEFA Cup, the Executive Committee has chosen the solution that appears to have the greatest chance of success. This enhancement of the UEFA Cup, together with the smaller number of matches in the UEFA Champions League, should help to redress the balance between the two UEFA club competitions and give them the stability they need to remain as popular and successful in the future. Gerhard Aigner Chief Executive SPORTIMAGE/BILDBYRÅN we care about football 02 uefadirect 7/8.03 Final round of the UEFA ARegions’ great adventure Cup The regional representative team from Piedmont/ Aosta Valley achieved the second Italian victory in three editions of the UEFA Regions’ Cup. BONGARTS FROM 22 TO 28 JUNE, THE FINAL ROUND OF THE THIRD UEFA REGIONS’ CUP tee, he currently serves on the TOOK PLACE IN THE WÜRTTEMBERG REGION OF SOUTHERN GERMANY. THE EVENT UEFA Match Delegates Panel, and is also chairman of the DFB’s Technical WAS AS SUCCESSFUL AS THE ORGANISERS HAD HOPED IT WOULD BE. Committee and Vice-President of the Württemberg regional football Which region of Europe The towns which hosted association. would succeed Venetia (Italy, 1999) the matches all have a rich history and “Our players weren’t all and Moravia (Czech Republic, 2001) many interesting tourist attractions, that keen to play the finals at as winners of the UEFA Regions’ as the participants were able home,” he said, repeating the view Cup? This question was not, how- to discover during the excursions shared by all the finalists, who firmly ever, the main preoccupation of organised as part of the tourna- believe that travel broadens the mind. UEFA, the local organisers or the ment programme. “But UEFA, having seen our organi- supporters, nor that of the major- One of the kingpins of sational skills in action, wanted ity of the team officials and ama- the 2003 UEFA Regions’ Cup in us to take on this responsibility. teur players (ranging in age from 20 Germany was in fact a resident of one We therefore enlisted Michael Hurler to 34) involved. What mattered most of the host towns, Wangen. Hermann to run the tournament, banking for everyone concerned was that Selbherr, 64, a warm and enterprising on his recent experience organising it was an opportunity to get together man, has enjoyed a brilliant career the European Women’s Champion- on and around a football field in with the German FA (DFB), UEFA and, ship and the European Women’s glorious weather and in a beautiful of course, the Württemberg regional Under-18 Championship”. location. It was even sometimes a bit football association. A former member “Amateur football is cer- too hot for the players. of UEFA’s Club Competitions Commit- tainly a pet subject of the DFB. Silver medals for a visibly disappointed Ligue du Maine. BONGARTS Its former president Egidius Braun However, their devilish No. 10, was one of those who revived ama- Ramazanov, a skilled futsal player, teur football at European level,” certainly made an unforgettable said Selbherr, “because he com- impression on everyone. pared football to a magnificent The Dutch team, which tree, the branches and leaves of did not have a single player over which represent the professionals 24 years of age, paid the price for and the trunk and roots the ama- its youth against more experienced teurs. We have 150,000 amateur opponents. UEFA Szabolcs Gabona Csoport (white) clubs in Germany, which adds In Group A, the German vs Ligue du Maine. up to about three million players – team stood out for their fitness and that’s a lot of people!” their skills in midfield. Libero Rentschler, the ubiquitous Demirki- Strong contenders ran and Peschel, supporting the The eight finalists were strikers, were the best individual divided into two groups, from which players. the team from Piedmont/Aosta Spain’s Principado de As- Valley (Italy, winners of Group A, turias had an incredibly strong and Heidenheim ) and Ligue du Maine talented team – collectively, no (France, Group B, Wangen) went doubt the best of the tournament – through to the final. The Württem- with key players like midfielder berg team fought hard but finally Pantin and striker Quero Lopez. UEFA succumbed to the Piedmont team, The 3-5-2 of Piedmont/ Captain Giovanni Battista receives while the French team dominated Aosta Valley was geared to the the trophy from Jim Boyce, Chairman of the Youth and Amateur Football Group B, winning all their matches attack, with the team displaying a Committee (centre), and Executive Committee member Henri Roemer. until their stormy (literally) match very strong fighting spirit. On the against District Noord from the left wing, De Marzo was a constant Netherlands. threat to defenders, and striker In terms of the strength of Montalto proved to be a constant the teams, Ligue du Maine in Group danger and a real opportunitst. B were by far the best balanced, best However, he had to leave the two organised and most talented, thanks winning goals in the final to his to the skills of midfielder Bigarret team-mate Borgna. as well as strikers Guyard and above The Swiss side from Ticino all the swift and prolific Missaye. proved that having the right attitude Hungary’s Szabolcs Gabona is not enough to win. They were Csoport got off to a disastrous start rather too short on technical skills – because of the heat, so their coach and stability in defence. Their two thought – but recovered well thanks most visible players were centre to playmaker Dora and intelligent forward David Guerra and defending counter-attacker Varga, both highly midfielder Albertoli. experienced players. With six goals in two games, Varga was the top A dream come true scorer of the tournament. The final at the charming Azerbaijan’s Gayazan could and well-equipped Albstadion in have surprised everyone, but ulti- Heidenheim was a fantastic experi- UEFA mately lacked depth and self-control. ence for Italy. Paolo Borgna had had 04 uefadirect 7/8.03 Piedmont/Aosta Valley open District Noord the score against the team from the vs Geyazan. Ticino region of Switzerland. UEFA UEFA to go home to take care of the 11 o ’ c l ock last liked to finish the match in order office he runs in Turin but night. It’s like a to keep their invincibility intact. BONGARTS returned in time to score the two dream. My two goals Despite these misadventures, winning goals. The French could won us the final”. the tournament was a great social have prevented the goals, but the French coach success, proving that friendship, opportunist streak of Borgna won René Logie was not too kinship, solidarity, understanding the day. The French made a last- disappointed. “Finish- and good-humour remain the keys gasp effort to retrieve the situation ing a tournament in to rallying and uniting footballers, and scored a goal, but the Italians second place as the at amateur level at least.