European No. 10 5 – 01-02/2011 Commissioner visits UEFA Pages 10-11 UEFADirect105•EN.indd 1 16.02.11 14:39 2 In this issue Executive Committee candidates 4 Looking ahead to the elections at the UEFA Congress in Paris in March, Michel Platini is the sole candidate for the seat of UEFA president, while 13 candidates are standing for the other 7 vacancies on the Executive Committee. UEFA Executive Committee meeting in Nyon 9 The Executive Committee held its fi rst meeting of the year at UEFA headquarters in Nyon. UEFA European Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou’s visit to UEFA 10 The Executive Committee was joined in Nyon by the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth. The commissioner’s visit, the fi rst of its kind, demonstrates the excellent UEFA relationship between UEFA and the EU. Financial fair play in club football 12 WE CARE ABOUT FOOTBALL UEFA presented its fi nancial fair play strategy Offi cial publication of the and annual European elite club benchmarking Union des associations report to the media. européennes de football UEFA Chief editor : André Vieli Produced by : Atema Communication SA, CH-1196 Gland Printing : Referee preparations in Cyprus 14 Artgraphic Cavin SA, CH-1422 Grandson The traditional mid-season UEFA referee courses were Editorial deadline : 10 February 2011 held in Cyprus this year. UEFA The views expressed in signed articles are not necessarily the offi cial views of UEFA. The reproduction of articles published in UEFA·direct is authorised, provided the source is indicated. UEFA News from member associations 19 Route de Genève 46 CH-1260 Nyon Switzerland Tel. +41 848 00 27 27 Fax +41 848 01 27 27 www.UEFA.com E-mail: [email protected] Cover With the winter break coming to an end, the second half of the international season is just around the corner, meaning more EURO 2012 qualifi ers and club competition matches. Liverpool (with midfi elder Jonjo Shelvey, pictured up against FC Utrtecht’s Edouard Duplan) are among those pursuing ambitions in the Europa League. Photo: Getty Images UEFADirect105•EN.indd 2 16.02.11 14:39 EDITORIAL I MEETINGS I COURSES I COMPETITIONS I NEWS I ASSOCIATIONS I NOTICES EditorialSurtitre 3 3 Democracy: getting what we deserve UEFA n the words of George Bernard Shaw, democracy is step down after four years of service on the committee Ia device that ensures we shall be governed no bet- and many more in football as a whole (where we hope ter than we deserve – something to consider in view of he will remain active). the forthcoming UEFA elections. The Congress in March will be asked to decide on the composition of the UEFA In this issue, we have the pleasure of introducing the Executive Committee for the next two years, with the terms different candidates and their manifestos. We hope this of the president and seven members expiring in Paris. will go some way to helping our 53 member associa- tions exercise their democratic rights in as well-informed Michel Platini is the only candidate for the position a manner as possible. After that, it is up to them to make of UEFA president, which we can surely interpret as a sure they elect the leaders they deserve! sign of widespread support for the reforms he has intro- duced since he took offi ce. Their scope and scale clearly require a certain continuity. There are 13 candidates for the 7 other seats. Of the Gianni Infantino outgoing members, 6 are standing for re-election, while UEFA General Secretary Joseph Mifsud is retiring after 17 years of valuable and loyal service. The 7 new candidates standing for elec- tion to the Executive Committee give the voters a broad fi eld to choose from and are a sign of the vitality of our association. The elections go beyond the boundaries of Europe too, with three of UEFA’s seven seats on the FIFA Execu- tive Committee also up for renewal. Franz Beckenbauer’s name is not on the ballot paper, as he has decided to UEFA •direct | 01- 0 2.11 UEFADirect105•EN.indd 3 16.02.11 14:39 EDITORIAL I MEETINGS I COURSES I COMPETITIONS I NEWS I ASSOCIATIONS I NOTICES 4 XXXV Ordinary UEFA Congress in Paris Under the electoral banner Although UEFA was founded in Basel on 15 June 1954, its fi rst administrative offi ce was in Paris, at the French Football Federation’s headquarters on Rue de Londres, where the general secretariat was led initially by Henri Delaunay, and then, after his death, by his son Pierre. n December 1959, the French capital hosted the fi rst IExtraordinary UEFA Congress, held to determine the future of the general secretariat, which moved from Paris to Berne at the start of the following year, when Hans Bangerter took over the reins. It was then almost a quarter of a century before the member association delegates met in Paris again, in June 1984, the day before the European Championship fi nal, when France, captained by Michel Platini, won their fi rst major international football title. The congress confi rmed Jacques Georges as UEFA President, a position he had held on an interim basis since Artemio Franchi’s death in an accident in August 1983. A presidential election will also be on the agenda at this year’s congress on 22 March, as the current UEFA President, Michel Platini, reaches the end of his term of offi ce. By the deadline of 22 December, the outgoing UEFA president was the only candidate to have put his name forward. Michel Platini (France) As well as electing the president and carrying out the Born on 21 June 1955. A former professional usual statutory tasks, such as approving UEFA’s accounts footballer and three-time winner of the Ballon d’Or, he played for AS Nancy-Lorraine, AS Saint-Etienne, and budget, the congress on 22 March will also elect Juventus and the French national team, which he seven Executive Committee members. The fi fth vice- then coached from 1988 to 1992. president, Joseph Mifsud (Malta), who has been an Exe- Co-president of the 1998 FIFA World Cup Organ- cutive Committee member since 1994, is the only one ising Committee, Michel Platini was also vice- of the outgoing members not standing for re-election. president of the French Football Federation and special adviser to the FIFA president, Joseph S. The other six, i.e. vice-presidents Senes Erzik (Turkey) Blatter, before being elected as a member of the and Ángel María Villar Llona (Spain), and members UEFA and FIFA Executive Committees at the Stock- Gilberto Madaíl (Portugal), Mircea Sandu (Romania), holm Congress in 2002. Michel Platini was elected UEFA President – and Grigoriy Surkis (Ukraine) and Liutauras Varanaviˇcius became an ex officio FIFA vice-president – at the (Lithuania) are all standing for re-election, alongside UEFA Congress in Dusseldorf in 2007. ● seven other candidates. ● European representatives on the FIFA Executive Committee The FIFA Executive Committee includes eight preceding the fi nal round of the European Foot- European members. The UEFA president is an ex ball Championship. This year the terms of offi ce offi cio vice-president of the world governing body. of Ángel María Villar Llona (vice-president) and Another vice-president’s seat is reserved for a rep- Franz Beckenbauer (member) are expiring. The resentative of the four British associations (England, latter is not standing for re-election and his com- Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales). patriot Theo Zwanziger is the only candidate to The third vice-president and one of the fi ve replace him. Ángel María Villar Llona is also the European members are elected, in accordance only candidate for the vice-president’s seat. with the UEFA Statutes, during the calendar year UEFADirect105•EN.indd 4 16.02.11 14:39 5 5 Presentation of the 13 candidates My involvement in the Belgian/Dutch bid to host the 2018 World Cup, as well as my recent election to the FIFA Legal Committee, also show that my knowledge and expertise are valued. If given the chance to work at the next François level up, I would put my international De contacts and legal insight to the service of UEFA’s smaller member associations in Keersmaecker particular. Norman (Belgium) As the European competitions continue Darmanin UEFA to grow and become ever more important, Demajo dominating the international calendar, Born on 12 April 1958, François I wish to use my knowledge to protect the (Malta) De Keersmaecker has been president of UEFA national teams and ease the congested the Royal Belgian Football Association international calendar. This objective is since 2006, before which he was vice- also perfectly in line with the strategy Born on 19 April 1952, Norman president for ten years. of the UEFA president, Michel Platini. Darmanin Demajo has been president Moreover, I fully support UEFA’s policy of the Malta Football Association since “After more than four years as president on centrally managing the national teams’ 2010, having previously held the posi- of the Royal Belgian Football Association TV rights, which would benefi t all the tion of treasurer from 1992 to 2001. and thanks to my three years’ experience associations. In fact, at the Royal Belgian At UEFA, he was a member of the as second vice-chairman of the UEFA Legal Football Association, TV rights and com- Youth Committee from 1994 to 2001. Committee, I have extended my knowledge mercial revenue have increased steadily and increased my network of international over the last four years. “I have decided to stand for election to contacts, which I believe makes me an excel- To sum up, with my knowledge and the UEFA Executive Committee because lent candidate for one of the seats avail- experience, I think I am perfectly placed I strongly believe in and support the able on the UEFA Executive Committee.