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, 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 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 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 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 too, with three of UEFA’s seven seats on the FIFA Execu- tive Committee also up for renewal. ’s name is not on the ballot paper, as he has decided to

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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 , 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 (), 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 () Blatter, before being elected as a member of the and Ángel María Villar Llona (), and members UEFA and FIFA Executive Committees at the Stock- Gilberto Madaíl (), Mircea Sandu (), holm Congress in 2002. Michel Platini was elected UEFA President – and Grigoriy Surkis () and Liutauras Varanaviˇcius became an ex officio FIFA vice-president – at the () 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 , 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

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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 () 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. to assume this crucial UEFA role.” ● values that UEFA is trying to instil in the football community, especially with regard to fi nancial fair play, integrity and the priority given to the development of grassroots football. I think that the next few years will have a decisive effect on the future development of European football and I believe that with my fi nancial background, combined with is just as important to retain a certain sta- my passion for football, I can make a bility and to be able to rely on people positive contribution to achieving the with experience. There is no doubt that goals set by the UEFA Executive Com- I am such a person, since I have been an mittee. I would also like the opportunity Executive Committee member for more to be part of the Executive Committee than 20 years. My desire to contribute under the leadership of the current UEFA to the life and reputation of UEFA and president, Michel Platini. European football has not diminished in From a national point of view, I would Senes Erzik the slightest and I wish to continue devot- like to maintain my country’s presence ing my efforts and experience to our sport. on the UEFA Executive Committee as (Turkey) I am also particularly attached to UEFA I also believe in the principle of solidarity an area that I would like to see always and therefore support the fair representa- associated with our sport, and that is its tion of countries of all sizes in the UEFA Born on 18 September 1942, Senes social responsibility. For football is more executive. Erzik is honorary president of the Turkish than a game, more than a sport. It can My fi nal motivation for standing for Football Association, having been presi- and should be an important means of inte- election was the great support I have dent from 1989 to1997. He joined the gration, it can and should help our society received from the whole Maltese football UEFA Executive Committee in 1990 and to overcome the scourges of discrimina- community, who nominated me and to is currently UEFA fi rst vice-president, as tion and violence in all their forms; to put whom I would like to publicly show my well as chairman of the Club Licensing it even more simply, it can and should appreciation and gratitude. I also take Committee and the Fair Play and Social contribute to the general well-being of the this opportunity to thank my predeces- Responsibility Committee. He has been people. sor, Joseph Mifsud, for his contribution a member of the FIFA Executive Commit- European football is fl ourishing. Its public to European football during his many tee since 1996. profi le is huge. It is therefore an ideal plat- years of service on the UEFA Executive form for spreading the message of greater Committee.” ● “The last elections, held in 2009, signi- solidarity and greater sensitivity to the fi cantly changed the face of the Execu- problems of our planet. It may be utopian, tive Committee. Although it is good and but it is certainly an ideal that I would like necessary to breath new life into the to continue to promote at the highest level committee from time to time, I believe it of European football.” ●

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UEFADirect105•EN.indd 5 16.02.11 14:39 EDITORIAL I MEETINGS I COURSES I COMPETITIONS I NEWS I ASSOCIATIONS I NOTICES 6 InaugurationXXXV Ordinary de UEFALa Clairière Congress in Paris

lished a national football league body, which is responsible for organising compe- titions between our top division clubs and will promote football in the regions across virtually all of the country. Another big achievement has certainly been be- ing awarded the 2018 World Cup. This will have an important impact on football Sergey development not only in our country but in Ivan Hašek Fursenko eastern Europe as a whole. Last but not (Czech (Russia) least, we have developed and are now RFS

CMFS Republic) implementing a social campaign aimed at encouraging respect for representatives Born on 11 March 1954, Sergey of all nationalities and countries, regardless Born on 6 September 1963, Ivan Fursenko has been president of the of gender, ethnic background, religion or Hašek, a former international foot- since February culture. I feel my responsibility in football is baller, has been president of the Foot- 2010. From 2005 to 2008 he was to develop our beautiful game and bring ball Association of the chairman of FC Zenit St Petersburg, who hope to those less fortunate than ourselves. since 2009 after having been gen- won the UEFA Cup in 2008. This is what I believe to be the essence eral secretary in 1999. He previously of fair play and solidarity throughout the coached AC Sparta Praha and the “During my term in offi ce as president world. My responsibility is also to contribute Czech national team. At UEFA, he is of the Russian Football Union, we have in- to a strong and united Europe without a member of the National Team Com- troduced many new things into the football borders – to bring together western and petitions Committee and the Jira Panel. life of our country. We have adopted a eastern Europe through football. I wish to code of honour, refl ecting the main values foster unity within the football family and “The Czech Republic is a country of Russian football, we have established to use football as model of fair play, tol- with a long football tradition. I could an ethics committee to protect these values erance, sportsmanship and transparency. mention successes from the sixties and and combat negative phenomena, and we The possibility of becoming a member seventies or the glorious performances have organised an open national students’ of the UEFA Executive Committee repre- of the Czech team during EURO ’96 league, which will become a key pillar in sents for me both a chance and a huge and EURO 2004, but our history is not the whole football structure of Russia and responsibility: a chance for me to help to the only thing we can be proud of: this will help us to fi nd new talents. Moreover, make a difference to people’s lives, and a year is looking very successful for the the open national students’ league will en- responsibility to take on the social impact Czech U21 team, which has a place able us to stage competitions among the of the game and to help to make the world at the forthcoming European Champion- student leagues of Russia and our neigh- a better place!” ● ship fi nals in . bouring countries. We have also estab- The above facts were my fi rst impetus to stand for election to the UEFA Execu- tive Committee, as I feel that our country deserves to be represented at the top of the European football governing body. Also, we should not forget the tradition of Czech football’s strong diplo- is the qualitative and quantitative growth matic presence in UEFA. Take long-time of UEFA and its member associations, member and vice-president of the UEFA without upsetting the fi nancial balance, Executive Committee, Václav Jíra, for of course. From a sporting point of view, example, or our last representative in I want to dedicate myself to the promo- the executive, František Chvalovský. Both tion of national team and club football were people with a signifi cant position equally. The club and national team tour- in European football diplomacy and Peter naments and championships staged by I would like to continue their efforts. UEFA constitute the fi nancial basis of the My standing for election to the UEFA Gilliéron organisation and, by extension, many Executive Committee cannot be considered (Switzerland) of its member associations too. It is there- as the personal ambition of Ivan Hašek. ASF fore critical that these spectacular competi- I am very well aware of the position of tions are promoted and protected in equal football in Czech sport. Ours is the big- Born on 5 May 1953, Peter Gilliéron measure. The national associations should gest sports association, with more than has been president of the Swiss Football use the funds they receive to promote 500,000 members, representing almost Association since 2009, having previ- both grassroots and professional football 5% of the population of the Czech Repub- ously served as general secretary from in their countries and, when doing so, lic and therefore infl uencing social and cul- 1994 to 2009. He has sat on UEFA remain particularly mindful of the long-term tural activities in our country. This also sig- committees since 1998 and is currently fi nancial stability of their association and its nifi cantly infl uenced my decision to stand. vice-chairman of the Stadium and Secu- clubs. Professional and grassroots football The Football Association of the Czech rity Committee. should develop alongside each other. The Republic does not care only for personal political, economic and social importance interests and problems. We see foot- “I have been passionately dedicated to of football also needs to be better recog- ball in a global context and would like, Swiss football at all levels for more than nised in society. I know what needs to be in cooperation with other football associ- 15 years and I have experienced every done to consolidate and even improve the ations, to take an active role in develop- aspect of European football. I now want to position of European football, and, being ing the central European football region apply my experience in professional and Swiss, I am used to working with people especially. With this in mind, it would grassroots football at European level, in from different cultures and in different lan- be useful for Czech football to have a the interests of UEFA and the other mem- guages. Just like on the pitch, the focus must representative in the highest organ of ber associations. At the top of my agenda be on respect and fair play.” ● European football’s governing body.” ●

UEFADirect105•EN.indd 6 16.02.11 14:39 2012 have confi rmed me in this decision. They are an example of the fact that, in order to achieve success, it is worth pur- 75 suing your greatest dreams and standing up to the most diffi cult of challenges. If I am elected to the Executive Com- mittee, I would like to support the devel- Grzegorz opment of children’s and youth football, Lato as well as protecting minors. I would also like to see the fi nancial fair play reg- () ulations ensure the economic well- being UEFA of all clubs, including smaller ones. I pledge to look after the interests of smaller Mircea Born on 8 April 1950, Grzegorz and medium-sized associations, ensur- Sandu Lato, a former Polish international, has ing the development of football in their (Romania) been president of the Polish Football countries and providing opportunities for UEFA Association since October 2008 and growth across the whole of Europe. is vice-chairman of the UEFA Football My motto is ‘football unites people’. Born on 22 October 1952, Mircea Committee. The universal words of my great fellow Sandu, a former Romanian international, countryman, Pope John Paul II, confi rm has been president of the Romanian “It has been over 40 years since Poland me in this belief: sport can promote such Football Federation since 1990, after was last represented on the UEFA Executive values as loyalty, honesty, friendship and having served as general secretary. Committee, by Leszek Rylski. I have decided solidarity. I can assure you that these He fi rst became a member of the UEFA that now is the right time to make good use values have always been dear to me and Executive Committee in 2007 and is of my experience as a football player and I intend to support all efforts to ensure the currently chairman of the Women’s offi cial and stand in the coming elections. close integration of our European foot- Football Committee. The effi cient preparations for UEFA EURO ball family.” ● “Firstly, I consider it a duty to share my 47 years of football experience as a is unique. This nation is proud to be the player and administrator, at both domes- motherland of some of the best players and tic and international level, for the benefi t coaches worldwide and to usually have of the whole European football family. its national teams and clubs in the most I have tried, together with the other mem- advanced stages of the top competitions. bers of the UEFA Executive Committee, to Having been president of the Portu- initiate and develop several assistance, guese FA for almost 15 years has given knowledge-sharing and cooperation pro- Gilberto me a good and real insight into the grammes in various areas, and I believe needs and diffi culties of small national that we have been successful, although Madail associations, but also a wider perspective I am well aware that there remains plenty (Portugal) of the challenges and concerns faced at to do and is still room for improvement. UEFA the highest level. In this long period the Acknowledging the total commitment Portuguese national teams have become of all the national associations to date, Born on 12 December 1944, Gilberto stronger than ever, achieving prestige enabling UEFA to run all these projects, Madaíl has been president of the Por- and respect, and the federation itself has I also decided to stand for re-election tuguese Football Federation since 1996 had the privilege of hosting EURO 2004, because – in addition to the experience and is a member of the national sports the 2005 UEFA Cup fi nal, the European I have to offer – I would like the opportu- council. He was first elected to the Under-21 Championship fi nals in 2006 nity to continue to share and develop my UEFA Executive Committee in 2007, and the European Championship ideas and projects, as well as to support after having served as a co-opted mem- fi nals in 2007, among other important the valuable programmes brought to the ber from 2004 to 2007. He is also cur- international events appreciated by all attention of UEFA by its members, its rently chairman of the National Team involved. administration and other members of the Competitions Committee. I fi rmly believe that I can continue to con- UEFA Executive Committee. We are the rep- tribute to the development of football and resentatives of UEFA’s members, together “Football is undoubtedly my passion and its unity, as I have been doing as mem- we make up the European football family, it was a great honour when I became a ber of the Executive Committee, chairman and I consider myself to be well-placed to member of the UEFA Executive Committee of the National Team Competitions Com- work on its behalf for another four years. It in May 2004. Portugal is a small country mittee and deputy chairman of the Youth is not only a duty, but also a responsibility in a global context but its love for football and Amateur Football Committee.” ● and a reason to be proud.” ●

2001 to 2005. A former international and I am working with the same passion footballer, he played 102 matches with for an even brighter future for the game. the Bulgarian national team. At UEFA, I believe I could be very useful to the UEFA he is currently vice-chairman of the Ref- Executive Committee, with my football erees Committee. and sports management knowledge. Our beautiful game is facing some exiting chal- “My life has always been connected lenges and the broader European football Borislav to football. My fi rst memory as a child is family must work hard every day to pre- Mihaylov of my father holding a ball in his hands. serve and protect the spirit of the fair play. () It could have been the same ball I later UEFA has created the most successful tour-

BFU chased for 18 years as a professional naments and brands in football and, at the player. I have had so many glorious same time, has never stopped developing Born on 12 February 1963, Borislav moments and some disappointments on the game all over Europe. I hope to get Mihaylov has been president of the Bul- the fi eld, because football is an extraordi- the chance, as a member of the Executive garian Football Union since 2005, after nary game – a projection of real life. I still Committee, to help to achieve the goals having served as vice-president from love football as much as in my early years of our organisation.” ●

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This is a relevant and well-timed chal- lenge. Nowadays, in my view, it is impor- tant to establish the idea of our football family becoming stronger in new centres of the Old World, and to ensure a bril- liant, unforgettable and unique event there for the European community. Grigoriy My top priorities in my activities on the Surkis UEFA Executive Committee and stand- (Ukraine) ing committees are our basic principles UEFA – equality, justice, solidarity, respect, fair Ángel play and caring about football. In my time María in offi ce I have been able to acquire truly Villar Born on 4 September 1949, Grigoriy invaluable experience and apply this to Surkis has been president of the Football real projects. Llona Federation of Ukraine since 2000. He My current goals for EURO 2012 are (Spain) is also vice-chairman of the Ukrainian similar to the objectives of the UEFA Youth UEFA Olympic Committee. Having been a and Amateur Football Committee, which co-opted member of the UEFA Executive I chair. In both contexts, we are talking Born on 21 January 1950, Ángel Committee from 2004 to 2007, he was about contributing to the future of football, María Villar Llona played for Ath- elected as a full member in 2007. He providing a legacy of sports infrastructure, letic Club de Bilbao before turning to is currently chairman of the Youth and renovating and building stadiums, increas- football administration. He has been Amateur Football Committee. ing the game’s fan base and strengthening president of the Spanish Football Fed- its grassroots. eration since 1988 and a member “Over the last four years, since the UEFA As part of the UEFA team which creates of the Spanish Olympic Committee Executive Committee’s decision to award football history and inspires supporters, since 1997. He was elected to the Ukraine and Poland the hosting of EURO I am honoured and determined to pursue UEFA Executive Committee in 1992, 2012, I have been assigned huge respon- this noble mission alongside my Executive becoming vice-president in 2000. He sibilities. Right away, I started lobbying for Committee colleagues. We care about is currently also chairman of the UEFA the interests of central and eastern Europe football as a diplomatic instrument and Referees Committee. He has been a on behalf of these two countries. Now, my a powerful means to unite continents. member of the FIFA Executive Com- colleagues and I are responsible for the I am proud of and utterly devoted to my mittee since 1998 and vice-president esprit de corps of European football. work.” ● since 2002.

“At 61, football has given me almost everything: happiness, disappointments, friends, challenges and unforgettable moments that demonstrate the beauty I strongly believe that UEFA should bal- of the game, the skill of the striker, ance the interests of club football with the agility of the keeper, the courage those of the national associations. As one of the referee, the tactical prowess of the of the longest serving national association coach... It is these real-life experiences presidents in Europe, I am pleased to have that have given me the strength today to noticed a shift in UEFA towards coopera- want to continue dedicating my life to tion with the associations. football and to what it can give to future On my initiative, the Executive Com- Liutauras generations by doing everything I can mittee has agreed to a new set of rules Varanaviˇcius to ensure our game remains a symbol whereby every appointment of a member of unity and solidarity among all people (Lithuania) association offi cial to a UEFA position UEFA – men and women. is coordinated with the corresponding My vision for football is based on national association. I am also happy 6 key areas, which are consistent with Born on 17 March 1970, Liutauras that my constant promotion of media the 11 values adopted by the UEFA Varanaviciusˇ has been president of the rights centralisation has brought this idea Congress in : football is a Lithuanian Football Federation since to a point where it is very close to becom- game, a sport and a form of entertain- 2000. He is also member of the Lithua- ing a reality. This will be of paramount ment; the equality of member association nian Olympic Committee. He has sat on importance to the fi nances of the national rights and obligations is fundamental; UEFA committees since 2002 and was associations across Europe and will allow us football must retain its autonomy, rooted fi rst elected to the Executive Committee to concentrate on football development. in good governance; solidarity between in 2009. He is currently chairman of the However, I feel making more progress national associations is vital; minors must Media Committee. was rather diffi cult during a relatively short be protected; and women’s football two-year term in the offi ce and I am per- and referee training and education are First of all I would like to express my fectly confi dent of my ability to contribute important areas for development.” ● gratitude to the wide football community more. Consequently, I have put forth my that supported my candidacy for a seat on candidacy for another term at the UEFA the UEFA Executive Committee two years Executive Committee. ago. I believe continuity is important in foot- Prior to my election, I pledged to con- ball and I hope that I can further pursue my centrate on the interests of the national objectives in working for the interests of the associations, making their partnership with whole European football family. ● UEFA as effective as possible.

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ithh specialspspepeeccicciaiaaall guestgueest AndroullaAAnnd oulla Vassiliou,Vas ilio European As regards the UEFA Grassroots Charter, the Football WCommissionerCoCoommmmmmisissssioonerr fforor EdEEducation,ucat on CCulture, Multi- Association of has obtained its fi rst star, while lingualismissmm anaandnndd YYoYouthouuthh (s(seesee papagesgees 1010-11),11 in attendance, and Russia have both received their fi fth. The next the memeetingeeeeteetititininngng waswwaass used,uuseedd, amongammong othero he things, to discuss Grassroots Day will be on 25 May and the publicity currenteenentntnt aaffairsafaffaffaffffaaaiairirirsrss in EuropeanEuurooppeaan football,foootball including thee ppopossibleososssssssibsissibibbleblb e susussuspensionspeennsioon off ththehe FFootball Fed- erationraratatiatatiotiiiooonn ooff UkraineUUkrkrainee ass a resultreesu of state inter- feferference.ereerererenenencnnccecee.. ThTThehhe cocommitteeommmmitteee wawas unanimous in its ssusupsupportupupppppopoportortortt oof FIFAFIFIFA’sFA’ss posipopositionsition on the matter, which isis aalsalalsosoo iinn linel ne wiwwithith Article 7bis of the UEFA StaSStStatuStatutes.taatuaatutetuuteuutesteees.. SinSincece thet FoFFooFootballootootbbbalall FedFFederation is also under threat of ssuspsuspesuspension,usu pens the Executive Committee took aap precautionary measure with regard to the 2011–13 European Under-21 Champion- ship. It decided that the teams of these two associations would be drawn into groups of six instead of fi ve at the draw in early Feb- ruary, to minimise the potential for disruptions (result of the draw on UEFA.com). The committee also had the task of ap- pointing a host for the fi nal round of the competition. After the withdrawal of , and the Republic of Ireland, fi ve UEFA candidates remained: the national associa- tions of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, England, Israel campaign surrounding the event will be even bigger and Wales. The National Team Competitions Commit- than last year, thanks to UEFA.com, big-name ambas- tee’s assessment of all fi ve bids had been positive but in sadors and activities organised all over Europe, the fl ag- a single ballot the Executive Committee selected Israel. ship event being a Grassroots Festival in London in the week leading up to the UEFA Champions League fi nal. Futsal Cup in Kazakhstan The Executive Committee also decided who would Regions’ Cup in Portugal host the fi nal round of the 2011 UEFA Futsal Cup, which In other matters, the Executive Committee approved is taking place from 28 April to 1 May. It entrusted the renewal of the memorandum of understanding semi-fi nalists Kairat Almaty and the Football Federation between UEFA and the Alliance of European Football of Kazakhstan with this task. The other teams in the fi nal Coaches’ Associations for another three years (until round are SL Benfi ca, ASD Città di Montesilvano C/5 December 2013) and the programme and agenda and Sporting Clube de Portugal. of the Ordinary UEFA Congress, taking place in Paris Another item on the agenda was the UEFA Conven- on 22 March. tion on Referee Education and Organisation, which The committee was also given a progress report on continues to extend its reach. The Executive Committee the Legacy project, the aim of which is to preserve the approved seven new signatories, namely the member video archives of European football, centralising, digi- associations of , England, , , talising and cataloguing them, and then making them Romania, Spain and Ukraine. It also authorised a spe- easily accessible online. cial agreement with the Football Associa- Finally, the committee noted that the fi nal round of the tion giving the association the status of partial signatory UEFA Regions’ Cup would take place from 21 to 28 June to the convention. in Portugal. ●

UEFA •direct | 01- 02.11

UEFADirect105•EN.indd 9 16.02.11 14:40 EDITORIAL I MEETINGS I COURSES I COMPETITIONS I NEWS I ASSOCIATIONS I NOTICES 10 European Affairs

European Commissioner visits UEFA

The UEFA Executive Committee had a very special guest at its meeting on 28 January in Nyon: the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Androulla Vassiliou of Cyprus, who – although it is not in her job title – also has responsibility for sport. This was a historic occasion, as it was the fi rst time a European Commissioner had ever visited UEFA and was in itself a crystal-clear sign of the excellent relations between UEFA and the EU institutions.

he Executive Committee meeting on Friday morning of relegation and promotion, as well as the organisation Tstarted with the commissioner presenting the Euro- of sport as a national concern. Ms Vassiliou’s presenta- pean Commission’s recently published communication tion was followed by a lively exchange of views with the on sport, a sort of roadmap for sports policy in the EU. Executive Committee members. Many points raised in the document are fantastic news for European football. Among other things, the Euro- Women’s football gains ground pean Commission blueprint advocates the centralised In her opening remarks, the commissioner noted the sale of audiovisual rights and supports many of the cor- absence of women in the room, something that many nerstones of the European sports model: fi nancial soli- Executive Committee members picked up on in their darity between the grassroots and professional game, comments. Theo Zwanziger was the fi rst to take fl oor, open competitions, the pyramid model and its principles assuring the commissioner that UEFA “takes the promotion of women’s football very seriously.” He went on to high- light recent achievements in promoting women’s football in , and the chairman of the UEFA Medical Committee Chairman, Michel D’Hooghe, pointed out that in many European countries football was the number one sport among women. But, of course, a lot of work still remains to be done.

Hard work bears fruit All the committee members complimented the com- missioner on the perseverance and hard work that the ambitious communication on sport had required. Ángel María Villar Llona also thanked her for her vision: “I think the document is overdue but it has arrived, so I congratu- late you on that, because you led this effort and we are very pleased with it.” Ms Vassiliou responded by noting that the document was the result of input by various stakeholders, “by peo- ple like you”, thanking UEFA for its valuable contribution during the consultation process. She specifi ed that EU action in the fi eld of sport was not about legislating or telling sport organisations how to go about things, but rather about adding value and sharing good practice Androulla Vassiliou with the UEFA president between countries.

UEFADirect105•EN.indd 10 16.02.11 14:40 11 Photos: UEFA

In discussion with the members of the Executive Committee

Social intergration issue for the European Commission, and this was refl ected Michael van Praag raised the issue of football as in its communication. “Solidarity is the keyword,” she a means of social integration, something in which the said, and went on to spell out: “Collective selling of TV European Commission also believes strongly. He stressed rights – we support it.” the importance of addressing the scourges of racism and violence, which have unfortunately made a nasty Transfers of minors resurgence in European football stadiums of late. Joseph Allan Hansen and Geoffrey Thompson both raised Mifsud also raised the issue of violence, asking the com- the issue of the transfer of under-18s, hoping that this missioner to take the matter up with the Swedish mem- could be restricted in Europe as it is in other parts of the ber of the European Commission responsible for home world. affairs. Mr Van Praag in turn urged the commissioner Ms Vassiliou told the Executive Committee that she to promote the creation and reinforcement of networks and her staff were already studying data submitted between different countries, linking their different public by UEFA on the transfer of minors. This work was be- authorities and police forces. These networks facilitate ing done together with her colleague László Andor, the exchange of information, which is vital to efforts to European Commissioner responsible for employment prevent violence in football. policy, as well as with the European Commission’s Ms Vassiliou told the Executive Committee that ad- legal services. dressing the problem of violence in football was close to her heart and that she fully agreed with the zero Long road travelled tolerance approach established by the UEFA president, Grigoriy Surkis, coming from Ukraine, a non-EU Michel Platini. She also promised to discuss the issue member state, took the fl oor to highlight the importance with her colleague Cecilia Malmström. of dialogue between the football family and the EU institutions. He noted that by talking to representatives Centralised sale of media rights supports grassroots of football associations, politicians reached an important Mircea Sandu wanted to draw attention to betting as part of the world of sport. an important source of income for sport, especially at the Ms Vassiliou replied: “We consider the sports move- grassroots. It was however important, he said, that bet- ment, with football at the top, as our partners. There are ting activities be governed by rules which acknowledge many things we can’t do alone, and you need us too, so the intellectual property rights of the competition organ- it is a win-win situation.” isers. Theo Zwanziger added that the centralised sale of The UEFA president summed up the meeting: “Rela- TV rights was a way to redirect money from top-level foot- tions between UEFA and the EU institutions have come ball to the grassroots. “It’s all about solidarity,” he said, a long way since the Bosman ruling. Commissioner Vas- and he hoped the EU institutions would remember that. siliou has an open invitation to UEFA. She is always Ms Vassiliou noted that fi nancial solidarity between welcome to visit us here in Nyon, and we know that we the professional and grassroots levels was an important are also welcome in Brussels.” ●

UEFA •direct | 01- 02.11

UEFADirect105•EN.indd 11 16.02.11 14:40 EDITORIAL I MEETINGS I COURSES I COMPETITIONS I NEWS I ASSOCIATIONS I NOTICES 12 Financial fair play Securing a long-term balance UEFA has launched its fi nancial fair play concept, a move which is aimed at ensuring European club football’s future well-being and curbing some of the fi nancial excesses which have arisen in the European club game. The European body therefore devoted the day of 11 January to explaining the concept, as well as presenting its third club licensing benchmarking report examining club football fi nances.

EFA emphasises that the fi nancial fair play concept payments to employees, as well as updated forecasts, Uis vital, as it is designed to help clubs break free will come into force next summer for clubs entering UEFA of the vicious cycle of escalating costs that has led to a competitions. The centrepiece of the regulations, how- number of clubs almost falling into the fi nancial abyss. ever, is the break-even requirement, under which clubs The measures are designed to protect European foot- may not spend more than the income they generate. The ball’s long-term health and viability, safeguard the integ- break-even requirement will come into force for fi nancial rity and smooth running of the competitions and stimulate statements in the reporting period ending in 2012, to be long-term investment, for example, in youth development assessed during the 2013/14 UEFA club competition and sports installations. The UEFA Club Licensing and season. Initial disciplinary measures against clubs who Financial Fair Play Regulations, issued last year, stipulate do not meet this break-even requirement will be possi- the requirements and criteria involved in the fi nancial fair ble in the 2013/14 season while the ultimate penalty play measures, which supplement the existing licensing – exclusion from competitions – could be imposed for system under which clubs are assessed by the national the 2014/15 season. Clubs will be assessed on a risk licensing bodies. basis by the Club Financial Control Panel, an independent group of experts who will communicate with the clubs Break-even requirement via the national licensing bodies. The measures will be phased in over a period of three Addressing journalists, the UEFA president, Michel years. Tougher rules on overdue transfer payments and Platini, was unequivocal: “It is a complex project, but UEFA

UEFADirect105•EN.indd 12 16.02.11 14:40 13

one which I consider vital for football’s future… Financial fair play is not aimed at putting clubs in diffi culty. On A panorama of European football the contrary, it aims to help them exit an infernal spiral which prevents certain of them from having a viable medium-term or long-term model. Supporters and lovers of football have no interest in seeing clubs that are part of European football’s heritage disappear as a result of hazardous management. It was necessary for an author- ity to intervene, and this is what we are doing.” Disciplinary measures are envisaged for clubs who do not comply with the requirements laid down in the regu- lations and the president underlined that UEFA would not hesitate to take such measures: “If clubs do not respect the will of European football, they will have to face the consequences. There is no going back.” The fi nancial fair play measures have been put in place with the cooperation and support of major European Published in English, French, German and Rus- football stakeholders – including the clubs themselves. sian, the club licensing benchmarking report on “From the fi rst moment onwards, I supported this idea, the 2009 fi nancial year can be downloaded in full because it was already clear at that time that European from UEFA.com. club football was going in the wrong direction from a fi nancial point of view,” said the chairman of the Euro- pean Club Association (ECA), Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. tainty over whether the club could continue as a going “We have reached a good moment to take our foot off concern, refl ecting these losses as well as many cases the pedal and put on the brakes, to get more ration- of club reliance on individual owners and/or precarious ality in club football.” Mr Rummenigge expressed the balance sheets. fi rm conviction that clubs would do everything to comply Players’ wages represent the most signifi cant costs with the rules, rather than miss out on a UEFA Champions sustained by football clubs. The percentage of income League place for fi nancial, rather than sporting, reasons. paid to employees increased from 61% to 64% over the period. Transfer activity also slowed down owing to a Benchmarking report lack of liquidity, and the consequence was increased The gathering also proved an appropriate moment fi nancial diffi culties for clubs which relied to a major to present UEFA’s third club licensing benchmarking extent on transfer revenue. The report says that an esti- report on European club football. The report, published mated €800m worth of transfer fees are not due to be in English, French, German and Russian, covers fi nan- paid for more than 12 months. With respect to youth cial results from 664 top-division clubs from all of UEFA’s football investments, top-league clubs generally gave 53 member associations. priority to fi elding experienced players with resultant The report is comprehensive. Its content includes higher salaries, or recruiting players trained at other recent club licensing results and the evolution of licens- clubs. ing, information on the size and structure of domestic Average match attendance either remained stable or championships, average attendances and attendance decreased in the majority of domestic championships, trends, stadium structures and occupancy rates, the link refl ecting the tough economic times and a lack of new between fi nancial resources and on-pitch success, and investment. The report states that just 19% of clubs own the differences between countries in the timing of their their own stadium, which means that most clubs cannot transfer windows. exploit their venue apart from on matchdays. Club fi nances across Europe are examined in detail. Top-division clubs across Europe face the same fi nan- The report states that football revenue continued to rise cial challenges, and the situation is even more challeng- despite the economic recession – in 2009, total rev- ing for clubs in lower divisions, where insolvency and enues for top division clubs reached a record €11.7bn bankruptcy are a real threat for many. (+4.8%). However, this increase in revenue was also UEFA’s fi nancial fair play measures may be earmarked accompanied by a larger increase of 9.3% in costs, for the European competitions, but the report stresses that which has had a severe effect on club profitability introducing similar measures at domestic level would and contributed to record aggregate net losses of also be benefi cial in the long run. The objective of the €1,179,000,000, almost double that of 2008. measures is to encourage clubs to manage their fi nances More than half of European top clubs reported in a more responsible manner, creating a balance be- losses, with 28% reporting signifi cant losses equivalent tween revenue, expenditure and investment. Clubs are to spending €12 for every €10 of income. In addition, being urged to get their fi nances in order now, so that more than one in eight club auditors expressed uncer- they are in fi nancially better shape for tomorrow… ●

UEFA •direct | 01- 02.11

UEFADirect105•EN.indd 13 16.02.11 14:40 EDITORIAL I MEETINGS I COURSES I COMPETITIONS I NEWS I ASSOCIATIONS I NOTICES 14 Referee courses in Cyprus A more professional approach Each January UEFA brings Europe’s top referees, as well as newcomers to the FIFA international list, to sunny climes to prepare for the second half of the season. Cyprus was the destination this year for the latest UEFA referee courses, from 30 January to 4 February.

a detailed visual test was introduced for all of the referees. “We have to look at referees’ fi elds of vi- sion,” said Hugh Dallas, a member of the UEFA Ref- erees Committee, “as well as their ability to ‘fi x a vi- sion’ – to take an instant photograph of an incident – their ability to focus on close or moving objects, and their ability to react to movements around them.” Vision, focus and concentration are key parts of a top referee’s armoury nowadays. UEFA’s new referees were instructed by UEFA Referees Committee members – themselves former top-level refe- rees – on issues such as decision-making and positioning using footage from UEFA matches.

Experiences at the World Cup The referees on the advanced course discussed a variety of issues with the Referees Committee, producing essential feedback in the constant search for improve- ment. Talks centred on referees’ experiences at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, as well as the ongoing experiment with additional assistant referees in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and EURO 2012 qualifying competition. UEFA The newcomers to the FIFA list were given a full introduction to their assignments at European level. They were tested on their English, this being the common he 19th UEFA Advanced Course for Elite and Premier language of refereeing, and were advised on how TReferees featured 45 UEFA elite and premier referees, they should fulfi l their roles as UEFA referees, from while the 20th UEFA Introductory Course for International administrative tasks to conducting themselves as UEFA Referees involved over 30 new European international representatives when travelling to games abroad. referees. “The course also gives us our fi rst opportunity to The courses gave the referees and members of the look at these new referees, and to look at their fi tness UEFA Referees Committee an opportunity not only to levels – which are improving year after year,” said review the fi rst half of the season and prepare for assign- Dallas. “I think we can put this down to the introduction ments to come, but also to check fi tness levels. Referees of the UEFA Referee Convention, which has also pro- are now considered athletes as much as footballers are, vided funding to the national associations, and which is and medical and weight checks are undertaken to ensure allowing them to invest in their referees. that they are in prime condition to conduct their role “There is now a much more professional approach. at the highest level. UEFA referee fi tness expert Werner We’re now seeing at national level that referees Helsen put the match offi cials through the exacting FIFA are being monitored by fi tness specialists and doc- fi tness test as part of the training element of the courses. tors – they are receiving all sorts of professional sup- port.” Such support by UEFA and the associations will Visual tests doubtless help the referees to further improve their per- Innovation and development are the aims of the formance at the summit of the European and world UEFA referee programme, and at the courses in Cyprus game. ●

UEFADirect105•EN.indd 14 16.02.11 14:40 EDITORIAL I MEETINGS I COURSES I COMPETITIONSTIONONS I NEWSN W I ASSOCIATIONSA S C A O S I NOTICESO C Club World Cup 15 FC Internazionalennaaazziiooonnale Milano on top off thetthhhee worldwwooorrlld

On 15 September 1965, Armando Picchi,chhhii,i, ccacaptainaapptainn of FC Internazionale Milano, lifted the EuEEuropean/Southuurrroopopepeaann//South American Cup at the Avellaneda stadiumumum iinn ththehee BBuenosueeno Aires suburbs after his club had beatenenn AArArgentinianrgrggeeenntiniaan side Independiente over two legs (3-0,0,0, 00-0-0).-0-00))).. TThThehee ItaItaliansalianns had already won the trophy a year eaeearlierararlrrliliieeerr bbyy deddefeatingefeaatingg the same opponents.

little over 45 years later, on 188 December,DDeeceececcemememmbbeer, FCC Inter-Intter nazionale Milano found themselveseemmmsmseseeelvlvlveveveseses onon toptoop off thethe Milito scores A in the semi- world again at Zayed Sports CCiCitCityityittyy inin AbAAbububu DhDDhabi,habbi,, whewwhenen fi nal against their captain, Javier Zanetti, rerecreceivedeceecececceieieeivivivevevvededed tthehe CCluClubub WWorWorldrld Seongnam Cup trophy after a 3-0 victoryryy ovooveovervveerr thtthehehe ConCCongoleseonggololesse teatteamam Mexsport Ilhwa TP Mazembe. Two high points in the historyhishihisthistoisistostossttotoryoryororyy ooff thetthhee LoLomLombardmbabardrd cclubclub, one Stabilisation in black and white, thehee otherootothothethethhehhererer inin colour.ccooloour.ur. BetweenBBetwetwe these Nevertheless, the competition survived and found a two events, the intercontinentalrcococoncontonoontiontinnntinetintittineinnenneneenentantantntaltaalal cclublub comcocompetitionsmpe under- new degree of stability when, in 1980, it was moved went enormous change.hahanhanganaangngnngeggege.e.e CCrCreaCreatedrearereateeaeatedateatedd iinn 191960 at the initia- to a neutral venue, in Tokyo, where its sponsor created tive of the Southh AAmAmeAmericanmemmerieeriericericaricicancacaann ccoconfconfederationononfedfeder (CONMEBOL), a new name and trophy for the match, which became with UEFA’ss sussupsuppsupport,uuppopppppopportpopport,ortorort,rtt,t, ththethehe EuEuropean/South American known as the Toyota Cup. Japan continued to host Cup wass cocconcontcontecontestedoontesntentnntesttetesteesestedstestedteeddda asas aan unoffi cial competition by the the event until 2004, after which it was replaced by the holderserersrss ofo fft tthethhehe EuEEuropEuroEuropeanuroropopepeaean Champion Clubs’ Cup and the Club World Cup, held in the same country. winnewinnersininnennernnnnennersnenernerserersrss ofof itsitss newnennewlyewlwly established South American equiva- Ever since the early 1960s, the competition had attracted lenlelentlent,ent,ennt,nttt,, theththehe CCopCoCopaopapa LLibertadores. Initially played over two the interest of other continents, initially North and Cen- leglellegs,egs,egseggs,s, wwithwitthh a thirdt match if required in the early years tral America, whose confederation (CONCACAF) had (wh(w((whenwhenwhehenenn goggoagoal difference did not count), the competition asked, unsuccessfully, to participate. Its expansion came hadhahad a rather turbulent existence: calendar problems, acts much later, when FIFA, which had refused to authorise of brutality, even on the pitch, and boycotts tarnished its the competition in the 1960s, decided to give it a glo- image, to the point of bringing into question the wisdom bal dimension in order to refl ect the growing popularity of organising it at all. On more than one occasion, the and development of football in the other continents. The European champions refused to participate and had to fi rst global tournament was held in in 2000, but be replaced by the Champion Clubs’ Cup runners-up. it was not really until 2005 that the current Club World In 1975 and 1978, the competition was cancelled Cup took off as the successor to the European/South altogether. America Cup.

A fi rst In December, a new breakthrough was achieved in terms of the competition’s global dimension, when a club from a continent other than South America and Europe reached the fi nal for the fi rst time: TP Mazembe beat the Brazilian side Internacional in the semi-fi nals. Although the trophy was ultimately lifted by a European club for the fourth consecutive year – albeit with seven South Americans in their starting 11 – there is no doubt that a signal has been sent. In the other semi-fi nal, Rafael Benitez’s Inter beat the South Koreans of Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 3-0, thanks to goals from Stankovic, Zanetti and Milito. The three goals in the fi nal were scored by Pandev, Eto’o and Agência Estado Biabiany. ●

UEFA •direct | 01- 02.11

UEFADirect105•EN.indd 15 16.02.11 14:40 EDITORIAL I MEETINGS I COURSES I COMPETITIONS I NEWS I ASSOCIATIONS I NOTICES 16 Women’s football Twenty years of Russian championship Women’s was born on 3 August 1911 when the Pushkin team beat Petrova Pazumovskaya 5-1 in driving rain.

oscow had three women’s teams at the time. in 2008/09, will play in the quarter-fi nals in March. M Matches were still being played between men and They have completed 20 matches at this level, winning women in the village of Nevinomisska in 1923, but the 14, drawing 5 and losing only once, to FCR 2001 revolution and war meant that sport took a back seat. Duisburg in the 2009 fi nal. FC Rossiyanka, winners At that time, women’s football was not established any- of the domestic double last autumn, were knocked out in where in the world. The Central Committee of the USSR this season’s round of 16, but reached the quarter-fi nals declared it non grata, preferring more traditional sports in 2007/08. Of 28 European matches, they have won such as gymnastics, cross-country skiing, and 19, drawn 3 and lost 6. athletics, in which the USSR won countless medals. Size problems First championship The Russian federation has faced problems linked to The fi rst tournament held in the new Russia was organ- the size of its territory: the top division, which contains ised in 1987 by the Sobesednik newspaper. The fi rst the best seven teams in the country, is organised on a Soviet championship took place in 1990, before it was national basis, but in reality these clubs are concentrated renamed the Russian championship two years later, after in western Russia, particularly the Moscow area. Perm, more geopolitical upheavals. on the edge of the western Urals, is the furthest away. Despite the relatively recent introduction of the sport, The seven elite professional clubs play each other four some Russian teams have already distinguished them- times, twice at home and twice away. Division one, the selves in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, includ- second national category, includes 32 clubs, spread all ing Zvezda-2005 and FC Rossiyanka. Zvezda, fi nalists over the country, which would mean teams would have Getty Images

Russia v England in a Women’s EURO 2009 group match

UEFADirect105•EN.indd 16 16.02.11 14:40 17 the Ural, the Volga region and Siberia. Irina Banarova, RFS spokesperson, describes the situation: “Vera Pauw is very dynamic and capable. She coached the Dutch national team for six years, leading them to the semi-fi nals at EURO 2009. She is drawing up a plan, particularly aimed at coaching boys and girls together. We are currently a middle- country, a long way behind countries such as Germany, and a few others, but we want to join the in- Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images ternational elite in the next two years.” Zvezda-2005 (Dariya Apanashchenko, No17) reached The press, which is mainly the 2009 fi nal of the Women’s Champions League interested in the national team, is waiting for suc- cess at global level before to cope with long journeys and time differences of up increasing its coverage of to seven hours if the division were not split into regional women’s football, although sections with varying numbers of teams: west, i.e. the three federal TV channels St Petersburg-Moscow axis, south (Voronezh), central and fi ve or six newspapers

Volga (Samara, Kazan, Saratov), central Ural (Perm, already report on the major le

Omsk, Ekaterinburg), Siberia (Krasnoyarsk) and east, events. The Russian women’s Sportsfi which covers part of Siberia (Irkutsk, Vladivostok). Divi- team’s greatest successes to Vera Pauw, sions two and three involve players aged over 14 and date were achieved at the Russia’s new are organised on the same basis. The Russian Football 1993 and 1995 European Championships, when they technical Union (RFS) and the ministry of sport organise the Rus- reached the quarter-fi nals. There are not many more director for sian Cup (open to clubs from all the divisions), regional rungs to climb before reaching the very top. women’s football U19, U17 and U15 championships, a championship ● Pascale Pierard for sports and ‘Olympic reserve’ schools at U13 and U11 levels (the latter being mixed), a university champi- onship and three tournaments designed to make up for the lack of regional competition: the Russian Leather Ball competition for U12s and two international tournaments, The Krasnoarmeysk complex Kuban Spring (U19) and Euroasia (U17). FC Rossiyanka, the main supplier of players Annual calendar for the Russian national team, are coached by Despite these arrangements, women players clearly a former player, Tatiana Egorova, and have a have to deal with the same weather conditions as the superb sports complex, SC Krasnoarmeysk, men and their championships are played from spring situated in the town of the same name, which until late autumn. Zvezda-2005 will therefore be emerg- was founded in 1947 around 40km north-east ing from a long winter break when they play their Cham- of Moscow. This sports complex, one of the best pions League quarter-fi nal. in Europe, is the training base for the club and Although competition from traditional sports remains the national team and illustrates Russia’s desire fi erce, the authorities promote the identifi cation and train- to develop women’s football. Designed to be a ing of young players by forcing the elite women’s clubs to training centre and venue for large-scale events, run a football academy or to train at least two groups of the complex includes a sports centre with seating youngsters in the 10–12 and 13–15 age groups. Infra- for 900 spectators, a grass pitch with a stand for structure also has to meet stringent criteria. The country’s 5,000, a heated artifi cial pitch with 450 seats, instability caused its population to shrink between 1988 a football stadium and a sports hall, as well as and 1992, which has had an impact on the number of extensive parking areas for coaches and cars, sportswomen in this age bracket, but there is no short- a hotel and bar, a banqueting hall, conference age of younger players. The RFS has appointed Dutch- rooms, massage and relaxation facilities, an woman Vera Pauw as technical director for women’s aerobics, wrestling and boxing hall, a swimming football. Part of her remit is to develop the sport through- pool, a gym and saunas. out the country, since girls are currently only taking up P.P. football in a few regions, mainly Moscow, Krasnodar,

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UEFADirect105•EN.indd 17 16.02.11 14:40 EDITORIAL I MEETINGS I COURSES I COMPETITIONS I NEWS I ASSOCIATIONS I NOTICES 18 UEFA President’s Award

researcher at Loughborough University’s institute of youth sport, this makes it a particularly dangerous phenomenon. The fi rst step therefore has to be to draw attention to honoured institutional discrimination, in an attempt to overcome the ignorance it can stem from. On its own, however, this is not enough. It is also vital to clearly identify the contexts and specifi c situations in which people fi nd themselves subjected to such discrimination as a result of their eth- nic or cultural origins, gender or religion. Among other things, the seminar participants considered female rep- resentation and the level of training offered to women in the fi elds of both coaching and administration. In this area, ’s quota system is one possible solution. The participants also noted that, while great diversity is evident in the highest echelons of European profes- sional football, the same can in no way be said of club management structures. Even in the management boards of national and regional associations, there are very few representatives of minority groups. Improvements in this area could be brought about with better guidance and Nascimbeni/AFP education for young footballers in preparation for their post-football careers. After Alfredo Di Stéfano, Sir and This fi rst seminar at least gave the participants a fresh Eusebio, former French international Raymond Kopa perspective on the situation and, in doing so, laid the is the latest in a distinguished line of ex-players chosen foundations for change. ● by Michel Platini to receive the UEFA President’s Award, a tribute to great footballers who have shaped the history of European football and are exemplary in both their sporting achievements and personal qualities. News from The ceremony was held in Reims, ahead of the Stade de Reims v Le Havre match on 5 February. Now aged the UEFA 79, Kopa was one of the leading lights of the nascent European Champion Clubs’ Cup, taking Stade de Reims administration to the 1956 fi nal and winning the next three with Real Madrid CF. In December, Stéphane He also took bronze with France at the 1958 World Igolen was offi cially ap- Cup in Sweden and was awarded the Ballon d’or in the pointed services director, same year. ● having performed the role ad interim since July. The team of directors, who all report directly to the Institutional general secretary, Gianni Infantino, is now made up discrimination of Theodore Theodoridis (deputy general secretary UEFA seminar and director of the nation- al associations division), The football associations of England and the Alasdair Bell (legal affairs), Alexandre Fourtoy (communi- , the FARE network and UEFA joined cations), Stéphane Igolen (services), Josef Koller (fi nance) forces to organise a seminar on institutional and Giorgio Marchetti (competitions). discrimination in Amsterdam on 19 January. As services director, Stéphane Igolen’s responsibilities include supervising the construction of UEFA’s third offi ce It was a fi rst, vital step in the fi ght against a form building, which will provide some 190 additional work- of discrimination that, although not as prominent as rac- stations for UEFA staff by the end of the year, and the ism, represents a collective failure by an organisation renovation of the Villa La Falaise next door to UEFA HQ, which can be both involuntary and unconscious. As which is being converted into a place for receiving foot- explained by one of the speakers, Steven Bradbury, a ball leaders and other special guests. ●

UEFADirect105•EN.indd 18 16.02.11 14:40 EDITORIAL I MEETINGS I COURSES I COMPETITIONS I NEWS I ASSOCIATIONS I NOTICES Albania 19 www.fshf.org

New regional crease the popularity of football on a massive structures to support scale, as well as to improve standards within the game. Regarding youth football, the as- football development sociation’s objective is to double the current number of teams and players by 2014. Alba- The Albanian Football Association (FShF) nia’s signing of the UEFA Grassroots Char-

has implemented a new organisational struc- ter and the construction of several artifi cial FSHF ture for 2011, restructuring and strengthen- pitches through UEFA’s HatTrick programme The number of youth teams is set to double ing its technical, competitions and refereeing have helped the association to gain momen- between now and 2014 sectors and creating new departments such tum and given it a good chance of success. as marketing, legal affairs and licensing, Furthermore, the FShF is preparing to tiative to develop football on a large scale is and human resources. The most signifi cant launch an intensive, long-term programme in this year’s launch of the country’s fi rst local change is the establishment of six regional collaboration with primary and secondary tournaments for over-35-year-olds. offi ces that will operate in Albania’s main schools all over the country. Negotiations Achieving these objectives, at the same regions: Tirana, Durres, Shkoder, Elbasan, with the government to include football in the time as organising other regular activities, Korce and Fier. primary school curriculum have progressed requires additional, qualifi ed staff and a The main reason for the executive commit- and if successful will be a massive step for- constant presence in the regions. The crea- tee’s decision is its desire to help the general ward for Albanian football. As a fi rst, im- tion of regional offi ces will bring the asso- secretariat to cope with an increased volume mediate measure, several local and regional ciation closer to clubs, youth teams, schools of work and activities and to meet the ambi- football tournaments for secondary school and all others involved in football activities tious objectives set for 2014. The aim is to in- teams are starting up this year. Another ini- in Albania. ● Press offi ce

Armenia www.ffa.am

National championship The creative team behind the Extra Time awards ceremony programme won an award for coverage of Armenian football, and various compa- The awards ceremony of the 19th Armenian nies and media presented their own prizes. championship took place on 23 December The Armenian Development Bank’s best at the Aram Khachatryan concert hall. young player award went to FC Banants mid- Member associations To start, gold medals and the champions’ fi elder Valter Poghosyan, who also received cup were awarded to Kakhsi, winners of the a prize from the Armenian weekly Football+ 2009/10 futsal championship. One of the in the discovery of the year category. team’s players, Armen Gyulambaryan, was The information agency Panarmenian. also voted futsal forward and player of the Hakber/FFA net awarded a prize to Vardan Minasyan year. FC Pyunik Ararat lift the championship trophy for his contribution to the successful per- The players and coaches of FC Pyunik formances of the national team, and the were then invited on stage to receive their was named Armenian player of the year; magazine Totalfootball presented an award champions’ cup and gold the award for best striker was shared by for the player most often represented in the medals from the president of the Football and Marcos Pizzelli, championship ‘team of the day’ to FC Pyunik Federation of (FFA), Ruben Hayra- both of whom play for FC Pyunik and captain . petyan. Silver medals went to FC Banants scored 16 goals each in 2010; and the Finally, members of the Football Federa- and bronze to Ulysses FC. head coach of FC Pyunik and the Armenian tion of Armenia fan club awarded a prize Other awards were presented in various national team, Vardan Minasyan, was voted to Yura Movsisyan. categories. (FC Pyunik) coach of year. ● Tigran Israelyan

Austria www.oefb.at

Football boosts Austrian TV in 2010 (the four friendlies and two Euro- between two Austrian clubs and enthralled ratings pean Championship qualifi ers at home, more than half a million TV viewers in May plus one European Championship quali- 2010. Over 21 hours of airtime was de- At the end of January, Alfred Ludwig, fi er away). The peak viewing fi gure for voted to the ÖFB Cup last season, giving CEO of the Austrian Football Association each match averages out at 686,572, the the competition’s sponsor, Stiegl, a total of (ÖFB) and Austrian Football Marketing, third-best fi gure in the past eight years. €2.21 million in advertising value during was able to present some interesting and The second half of the “thriller in Brussels” that period. UEFA very positive facts and fi gures for last year even broke the 1 million barrier, with up ● Peter Klinglmüller to ÖFB sponsors and partners at a sponsors’ to 1,022,000 fans watching the match workshop in Flachau, . of the year on ORF – a remarkable fi gure, The four friendlies and two European considering that Austria has “only” around Football Championship qualifying matches 8 million inhabitants. played at home in 2010 were attended by Last year’s advertising value for ÖFB spon- a total of 116,700 spectators in Klagen- sors was an impressive €39 million from only furt (v and Switzerland), Salzburg seven international matches, a similar fi gure (v Kazakhstan) and (v Denmark, to 2007 (€38.8 million) and 2009 (€40 mil- and Greece). The Austrian na- lion), when the national team played twelve tional team was therefore watched by an and nine matches respectively. average crowd of 19,450. The fi gures for the 2009/10 ÖFB Cup As usual, the national team also attracted are also encouraging. The fi nal between the high TV ratings last year. An average of winners, SK Sturm Graz, and SC Wiener 622,000 viewers watched ORF’s coverage Neustadt, played in a full stadium, attracted Pictures für ÖFB GEPA of the team’s seven international matches the largest ORF audience for any match Impressive audience fi gures for Austrian TV

UEFA •direct | 01- 02.11

UEFADirect105•EN.indd 19 16.02.11 14:40 EDITORIAL I MEETINGS I COURSES I COMPETITIONS I NEWS I ASSOCIATIONS I NOTICES 20 Azerbaijan www.affa.az www.bff.by

Partnership contract BATE players in the spotlight and player of the year 2010 On 17 December, the Football Federation A partnership contract between the Asso- of Belarus (BFF) held its annual end-of-year cer- ciation of Football Federations of Azerbaijan emony after one of the most successful seasons (AFFA) and Pasha Insurance was signed in the in the history of Belarusian football. Rotunda Hall of the Landmark Business Centre on The best players of 2010 received awards 21 December. Elkhan Mammadov, general sec- in various categories. Almost all these awards retary of the AFFA, and Nofal Rzayev, chairman were picked up by the Belarusian champions, of the board of directors of Pasha Insurance, FC BATE Borisov: Sergey Veremko was named put their names to the contract. best of the year, Aleksandr Yurevich Elkhan Mammadov said: “The ranks of the best defender, Renan Bressan best midfi elder AFFA’s partners will be boosted by another and Vitaly Rodionov best forward. Renan infl uential organisation – Pasha Insurance. Bressan took home two more awards, for top We thank Pasha Insurance on behalf of the goalscorer (15 goals) and best player in the Azerbaijan football family for their decision national championship. BATE’s coach, Victor BFF to contribute to the development of football in Goncharenko, was also voted coach of the A hat-trick of awards for BATE’s Renan Bressan Azerbaijan. We believe in this cooperation and year, narrowly beating Georgy Kondratiev, are proud to declare that the AFFA and Pasha who helped Belarus to qualify for the fi nals • player of the year: Vadim Insurance are one team.” of the 2009–11 European Under-21 Champion- Bokach (DUSSH Kirovsk) Nofal Rzayev added: “I hope that the con- ship taking place in Denmark. • Referees of the year: Aleksey Kulbakov, tract will have a positive impact on the develop- The footballer of the year award went to Yuri Dmitry Zhuk, Stanislav Savitsky. ment of Azeri football and that this cooperation Zhevnov, captain of the national A team and goal- Sergey Kornilenko also received a special will be long-term. We have seen the changes keeper at FC Zenit St Petersburg. Zhevnov topped prize for his talent and dedication while playing for the better that have occurred in Azerbaijan the poll organised by the BFF and its offi cial publi- for Belarus. football, so decided that we should provide cation, Vsio o futbole (All about football). Having rounded off 2010, the BFF then fi nancial support to encourage this process.” The following awards were also presented kicked off the new year with the start of the fi rst Another important event which took place at the ceremony: UEFA Pro-licence course in Belarus. As a result, on 21 December was an awards ceremony •Female player of the year: Oksana Shpak 13 Belarusian football specialists will be study- for the best Azerbaijan internationals of 2010. (FC Bobruichanka) ing from January to November, with a visit to In a poll conducted among premier league •Futsal player of the year: Aleksey Popov VfB Stuttgart organised as part of the course. coaches and captains, as well as the Azerbai- (FC Mapid Minsk) ● Yulia Zenkovich jan national team head coach, , the AFFA’s technical director, Bernhard Lippert, and veteran player Alakbar Mammadov, it was decided that the best Azerbaijan football player Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2010 was the national team captain, Rashad www.nfsbih.ba Sadygov (Eskisehirspor, Turkey). The AFFA general secretary presented the player of the Edin Dzeko remains year award to Sadygov, who scored Azerbai- national idol jan’s decisive goal against Turkey (1-0) in their EURO 2012 qualifying round match in . The Bosnia and Herzegovina national team An award was also presented to the most striker Edin Dzeko (24) has been elected ‘na- capped player in 2010, Mahir Shukurov tional idol’ for the second time in a row. Mean- (FC Anzhi Makhachkala, Russia), who notched while, ex-international Muhamed Konjic was up about 810 minutes of match time for the na- given the task of compiling a selection of the tional A team in 2010. country’s best players of 2010. He picked the Getty Images Another important award went to Emin Kurdov following ten: Edin Dzeko (VfL Wolfsburg), Emir Edin Dzeko debuts for Manchester City (Azmetko FC), the best beach soccer player in Spahic (Montpellier Hérault SC), Zvjezdan the Azerbaijan championship. Misimovic (Galatasaray AS), Miralem Pjanic named best player in the Bosnia and Herzegovina The public voted for the best female footballer (Olympique Lyonnais), Ermin Zec (Gençlerbir- premier league and Amar Osim of FK Zeljeznicar of the year, selecting Zhale Mammadova, who ligi SK), Samir Bekric (Incheon United), Senijad was given the title of best premier league coach. plays for the Azerbaijan Women’s U15s. She Ibricic (HNK Hajduk Split), Sasa Papac (Rangers Finally, the football discovery of 2010 was also received a special prize from Mark Here- FC), Asmir Begovic (Stoke City FC) and Sejad the youngest member of the national team, ward, UNICEF representative in Azerbaijan. Salihovic (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim). Muhamed Besic of Hamburger SV. The best futsal player of the year, according Edin Dzeko’s re-election as the country’s A ceremony was also held recently at the to the results of the poll, was Vitali Borisov (Araz national idol was doubtless both infl uenced by his coaches’ training centre in Vogosca, where Naxçivan). being the top scorer in the last sea- diplomas were awarded to coaches who had At the end of the ceremony the audience was son, as well as his good performances for the successfully completed UEFA Pro, A and B courses. shown a video clip prepared by the AFFA on the national team. UEFA Pro diplomas were awarded to Elvedin Azerbaijan national team. ● Ulviyya Najafova “To get this award is a great honour and Beganovic, Anel Karabeg, Alexander Miljen- responsibility, especially as I am now the idol ovic, Milenko Radic, Denis Sadikovic, Sergio of the nation for the second time in a row. The Barbieri, Tomislav Piplica and Azrudin Valentic. competition, as in previous seasons, was very Another 34 coaches received the UEFA A strong and if one of my team-mates on the na- diploma and 32 the UEFA B. tional team were to have won the award instead, And fi nally, the technical department of the it wouldn’t have been undeserved,” he said. Football Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Shortly after receiving his award, Edin Dzeko (NFSBiH) organised in Sarajevo a winter camp transferred from Wolfsburg to Manchester City FC at the start of the year for the most talented girls for a record fee, not only for a player leaving born in 1995, 1996 and 1997. The aim of the the Bundesliga but for any player from the former camp was to gauge the technical, tactical and Yugoslavia. physical abilities of the girls and select players The best coach of 2010 was Vahid Halilhodzic, for the U17 national team, which is compet- head coach of NK Dinamo Zagreb and former ing in European Championship qualifi ers for AFFA coach of the Ivory Coast, who he helped to the fi rst time this autumn (2011/12 European The general secretary, Elkhan Mammadov (left), and Nofal qualify for the World Cup in South Africa. Women’s Under-17 Championship). Rzayev of Pasha Insurance sign the partnership agreement Vule Trivunovic of FK Borac Banja Luka was ● Fuad Krvavac

UEFADirect105•EN.indd 20 16.02.11 14:40 Czech Republic 21 www.fotbal.cz

Youth and amateur football Nikola Danihelková (AC Sparta Praha), awards Dominik Masek (1. FK Príbram) and futsal player Michal Seidler (Jistebník) were voted young tal- The ninth edition of the Czech youth and ents of the year. amateur football awards ceremony was held – Coach of the year awards went to the this time for 2010 – at the historic Zofi n Palace, head coach of the national futsal team, Tomás opposite the national theatre in , which Neumann, for the fourth time in fi ve years and has been staging numerous prestigious events to Vladimír Hruska, head coach of the national for over a century. women’s team. The prize winners in the main categories Other youth coaches on the honours list in- were the same as the previous year. cluded Petr Karoch, Zdenek Kosnovsky and Milos AC Sparta Praha striker Václav Kadlec, for Krucky, who will soon celebrate his 80th birthday example, was chosen as the best young player and used to coach the two former internationals of 2010, the 18-year-old having made his senior and 1996 European Championship runners-up international debut, and even scored, in the Pavel Kuka and at SK Slavia Praha. CMFS EURO 2012 qualifi er against Liechtenstein. The prizes for the best contributions to the The 2010 award winners Lukás Resetár (Era-Pack Chrudim) and Petra 2010 grassroots campaign were awarded to Divisová (SK Slavia Praha) also won player of sports journalist Frantisek Steiner for the book the Second World War, and Czech television the year awards for the second year running, in Fotbal pod žlutou hvezdou (Football under the for the documentary fi lm Zaplatpánbuh za fot- futsal and women’s football respectively. They Yellow Star), which describes the competitions bal (Thank God for Football), which won an are both mainstays of the national teams. organised in the Theresienstadt ghetto during award at a festival in . ● Jaroslav Kolár

England France www.thefa.com www.fff.fr

Advanced coaching Keeping up with the times in the Solomon Islands Always keen to expand its horizons, the The regional coach development manager French Football Federation (FFF) marked the of The Football Association, Geoff Pike, and FA start of the new year by launching an offi cial coach and manager of Middlesex Wanderers Facebook page dedicated to its national team. AFC, Eddie McCluskey, delivered an intensive Created for supporters of Les Bleus, the main eight-day course in the Solomon Islands at the aim of the site is to provide them with a virtual end of last year. meeting place where they can share their pas- Their aim was to further the local coaches’ The FA sion with fellow fans. coaching skills by giving them access to the Geoff Pike with two course participants It adds another string to the e-bow of the FFF, licence level of The FA’s international coaching whose offi cial website, fff.fr, has already se- award. They were accompanied by FA goal- edge at all times, both for theory and practical cured the federation a high profi le on the web. keeping coach Billy Stewart who delivered a work.” Moreover, the launch did not go unnoticed, with goalkeeping coaching course, the fi rst of its Billy was equally impressed. “The goalkeep- 100,000 Facebook users already fans of the kind run by The FA for the Solomon Islands Foot- ing coaches all showed a massive improvement page, which can be found at www.facebook. ball Federation (SIFF). and a desire to keep learning. They will now go com/equipedefrance. For the FFF, the page and Geoff has been instrumental in developing on to work in their coaching environment with its following will help to promote the federa- the international coaching award and was a new understanding and the confi dence to im- tion’s offi cial website and the loyalty scheme it pleased with the outcome of both courses. prove the future of the young goalkeepers of the plans to launch this spring. “The courses went extremely well, with all Solomon Islands,” he said. The idea is to extend the federation’s range the coaches wanting more! They have a thirst The courses were closed by the SIFF presi- of web platforms. Whereas the main purpose of for knowledge and are very studious with their dent, Martin Alufurai, who praised the quality the offi cial website is to inform, providing exclu- work, spending hours in the classroom writing of the training that has been delivered to Solo- sive content (offi cial news, videos, photos, etc.) everything down. It has been a pleasure work- mon Islanders since the courses were fi rst intro- on the country’s ing with them and we leave the Solomon Islands duced in 2007. various national as friends,” he said. “FA coaching courses have contributed greatly teams, the Face- Over 40 participants were trained over both to the development of football in the Solomon book ‘fan page’ courses and Eddie couldn’t have been happier Islands. I am sure that this year’s course will is above all a with their attitude: “A more enthusiastic group help raise the standard of football further in this place for support- you could not wish to meet and they expressed country,” Alufurai said. ers of Les Bleus to a burning desire to acquire more football knowl- ● Maria de León meet and discuss their team. It is a platform for all those who have

an allegiance to FFF www.palloliitto.fi Les Bleus, who The national team’s offi cial have celebrated Facebook page Player development in focus part of the development programme is the crea- their victories and tion of a football training and research centre, suffered their de- The FA of Finland and the Finnish Olympic which opens in February. feats, to share these highs and lows, past and Committee agreed on a development in sport “The foundations have now been laid, and present, with fellow fans. programme in autumn 2009. A large working successfully I think. But the work which follows Aside from discussions and debates among group was founded and, after a year of inten- will determine the level we will ultimately reach. users, the page will regularly include games and sive work, produced its fi nal report in January We are still in the early stages; the results will applications to enliven the virtual community, this year. Based on this report, the practical be seen only after long-term, systematic action,” as well as tickets to the team’s matches up for work can now commence. says Mika Laurikainen, Finland U21 head grabs in competitions run by the FFF. If you want Player development is a fundamental part of coach and one of the leading fi gures in the to be in with a chance, it couldn’t be easier: the FA of Finland’s new strategy, for which the working group. simply go online and join the new Facebook report sets out defi nitions and priorities. One ● Jukka Malm community! ● Matthieu Brelle-Andrade

UEFA•direct | 01- 02.11

UEFADirect105•EN.indd 21 16.02.11 14:40 EDITORIAL I MEETINGS I COURSES I COMPETITIONS I NEWS I ASSOCIATIONS I NOTICES 22 Georgia www.gff.ge

Domenti Sichinava Domenti (Zviad) Sichinava was re-elected re-elected president president of the GFF at the federation’s 19th or- dinary congress, which took place in Tbilisi on Domenti Sichinava has been leading the Geor- 22 January. UEFA Executive Committee mem- gian Football Federation (GFF) since October ber František Laurinec attended the meeting on 2009. In this very short period of time, he has behalf of the European governing body. managed to improve the federation’s fi nancial situ- A total of 30 delegates (from a possible 33) ation, start developing its infrastructure, reconstruct attended the congress and the outright majority its headquarters and technical centre, improve re- voted for Domenti Sichinava, who stood unop- lations with sponsors and the media and resolve posed for re-election. certain refereeing problems. He also appointed The GFF president addressed the executive GFF a talented former national football player, Temur committee, delegates, invited guests and media Domenti Sichinava adresses the GFF congress Ketsbaia, as head coach of the Georgian national representatives before the start of the election. team, which has played eight games under his He presented to his audience the topics championship, enhancing football infrastruc- leadership without losing a single one (a feat only which, in his opinion, are most important to ture, resolving problems in youth football, plans two teams in the world – Georgia and Croatia the development of Georgian football in the for refereeing, future collaboration with spon- – achieved in 2010). As a result, the Georgian 2011–15 term. In his 20-minute speech, he sors and partners, and the continued smooth national team moved up to 72nd place in the FIFA talked about creating optimum conditions for running of programmes with FIFA and UEFA. world (a leap of 53 places!). the national teams, developing the national ● GFF press center

Hungary Italy www.mlsz.hu www.fi gc.it

Great players honoured association to pay tribute to the great players UEFA President attends sports of Hungarian football, past and present. This journalists’ seminar At the end of last year, the Hungarian Foot- time, 150 former and current national team ball Federation (MLSZ) held its traditional inter- players gathered around the MLSZ’s centenary national players’ Christmas meeting as an op- monument at the Ferenc Puskás Stadion to place portunity, before the festivities get going, for the wreaths, sing the national anthem and remem- ber those who have passed away since Hungary played its fi rst friendly back in 1902. Surviving members of the 1950s Magical Magyars, Jeno Buzánszky and Gyula Grosics, represented the golden age of Hungarian foot- ball, while Gábor Király and Vilmos Vanczák placed a wreath on behalf of the current team, who are 42nd in the FIFA world rankings. Finally, Sándor Berzi, MLSZ vice-president, and Sabe Sándor Egervári, head coach, placed an MLSZ Discussing current affairs in European football wreath. Later, the players enjoyed a special lunch, at The UEFA President, Michel Platini, and the which tribute was paid to the doyen of the com- general secretary, Gianni Infantino, attended the pany, László Gyetvai of Ferencvárosi TC. The fourth Italian sports journalists’ union (USSI) semi-

mlsz.hu 92-year-old left winger earned 17 caps for the nar, entitled Football and those who talk about it red-white-greens between 1938 and 1942. and held in Coverciano on 24 and 25 January. László Gyetvai with Sándor Berzi (left) and former The seminar was an opportunity for the jour- Hungary international Imre Garaba ● Martón Dinnyes nalists to fi nd out more about current topics in all areas of football, especially fi nancial fair play. The UEFA President was categorical: the aim was not to punish clubs but to help them to balance their books. With no less ambiguity www.ksi.is he said UEFA would be fi rm with those who did not respect the rules. Looking ahead, the UEFA First futsal win for Iceland President would get to grips with the problems of betting and match-fi xing, an area the presi- In January, Iceland hosted the Group B mini- dent of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), tournament in the preliminary round of the Giancarlo Abete, also considers a priority. European Futsal Championship. The other teams The UEFA President’s contribution to the semi- were Armenia, Greece and Latvia. This was a nar was followed by that of Renzo Ulivieri, presi- historic event, it being the fi rst time that Iceland dent of the Italian football coaches’ association had entered its national team in a futsal tourna- and director of the FIGC’s coaching academy. ment. Their fi rst match was against Latvia and Together with Maurizio Viscidi, assistant to the was a thrilling start to the tournament. The visi- coordinator of the national youth teams, Arrigo tors took the maximum three points with a 5-4 Sacchi, Ulivieri spoke about the categories of win but the Icelandic players’ performance and Italian technicians, many of whom work abroad. drive were encouraging. The hosts went on to The chairman of FC Internazionale, Mas- win their next two games, against Armenia and simo Moratti, the director general of the FIGC,

Greece, and ended second in the group, with KSI Antonello Valentini and the president of the USSI, Latvia winning the group and going through the Luigi Ferrajolo, also participated in the seminar. next round. Iceland v Armenia Guests included AC coach Massimiliano Even though their preparations were short, Allegri and Arrigo Sacchi. Finally, representing the coach, Willum Thor Thorsson, and his staff and gave Icelandic sports fans a new sport to the referees, Stefano Braschi, Paolo Tagliavento did wonders with the team. Made up of foot- follow and more matches to look forward to. and Paolo Valeri explained the new rules ap- ballers in the middle of their pre-season training, plied at national and international level. the team enjoyed the occasion tremendously ● Thorvaldur Ingimundarson ● Barbara Moschini

UEFADirect105•EN.indd 22 16.02.11 14:40 Latvia www.lff.lv

New indoor pitch tions. The hall has six dressing rooms, meeting at Skonto hall rooms and a conference hall, which will be used, among others, by the national team when After a few years of downtime, football has they play at home at Skonto stadium. returned to Skonto Hall in Riga, which now has In other news, the Latvian Virsliga has lost the best pitch in the Baltic and one which has its title sponsor, LMT, but will nonetheless start received FIFA’s one and two star quality stamps. in mid-April with nine teams competing in four The Czech fi rm JUTAgrass delivered the 98m x rounds (SK Blazma Rezekne have dropped out LFF 64m pitch, while sand for the base was brought for fi nancial reasons). The Latvian Football Fed- Skonto football hall from . Skonto Hall is Latvia’s second in- eration (LFF) often holds meetings with Virsliga door football facility and one of the most suit- clubs in order to involve them in the organisa- make it as professional as possible. A working able venues for football in these wintery condi- tion and marketing of the league, in an effort to group has also been created to establish the new structure and legal basis of the league. The 2011 season kicks off with Latvian Cup Liechtenstein matches during the fi rst two weekends in April, but for the referees 27 January was already a www.lfv.li big day, as Latvia was approved as a signa- tory to the UEFA Referee Convention. This was 2010 awards ceremony Hugo Quaderer, sports minister, presented the followed by a seminar for all referees from volunteer of the year award. As a special fea- the Baltic States, held in Jelgava, Latvia, and The Liechtenstein Football Association (LFV) ture in the programme, the LFV raffl ed a shirt attended by UEFA Referee Committee member held its 2010 awards ceremony on 10 January signed by the Spanish national team, raising a David Elleray. 2011. The programme included the presenta- total of CHF 10,000 for the injured mountain ● Martins Hartmanis tion of sports awards to the footballer, youth biker Sarah Hundert. footballer and coach of the year, a tribute to ● Anton Banzer the volunteer of the year and fundraising for a young mountain biker who has been paralysed from the waist down since a training accident. www.fmf.md Martin Stocklasa of the Austrian winter cham- pions, SV Ried, and David Hasler of Liechten- KISS workshop in Chisinau stein’s top club, FC Vaduz, successfully defended their titles as player and youth player of the The Football Association of Moldova (FMF) year at the ceremony, each receiving the pres- hosted its fi rst ever UEFA KISS (Knowledge and tigious prize for the second time. Eric Orie, the Information Sharing Scenario) workshop at the Dutch coach of FC Vaduz, was named coach of end of last year, the topic of which was the Hat- the year, while Benno Gerner of USV Eschen- Trick programme. Mauren was presented with the volunteer of the The workshop, which was held on 9 and year award. 10 December in Chisinau, focused on the The prize winners received their awards from implementation of UEFA’s HatTrick programme former professionals Adi Noventa (Grasshopper- in the national associations. As a result, 57 par- Club) and Manfred Moser (FC Zürich), and from LFV ticipants from 38 national football associations , who was Liechtenstein’s fi rst full- The 2010 award winners, from left to right: Benno Gerner, all over Europe met in Chisinau to share their time national coach between 1992 and 1996. Eric Orie, Martin Stocklasa and David Hasler knowledge and ideas with each other. Opening the workshop, the FMF general secretary, Nicolai Cebotari, welcomed the Malta participants and thanked UEFA for giving the association the opportunity to host an event www.mfa.com.mt such as this for the fi rst time. Case studies and group discussions took place and the delegates New technical director The new technical director will have a vast presented to one another their marketing strate- range of responsibilities, from overseeing the gies, the challenges they faced and the lessons The Malta FA (MFA) recently announced the preparation of the various national teams under they had learned. ● Press offi ce appointment of Robert Gatt as the association’s their different head coaches to managing and technical director and head of the monitoring all MFA coaching MFA technical centre. courses, including training and He succeeds Vic Hermans, cur- organising the technical staff rent head coach of the national and head coaches running club futsal team and the man who ‘nurseries’. temporarily replaced Dusan Fitzel All this work will be carried after the latter had stepped down out on the basis of the ‘open for personal reasons. house’ policy advocated by the The MFA president, Norman MFA, which is also seeking the Darmanin Demajo, held a series new technical director’s guid- of meetings with Robert Gatt. They ance on its project to invest in discussed and agreed on values, a sports science centre that will objectives and policies before the develop new techniques and executive committee decided to software programmes aimed at give the job to the technician. refi ning the skills of players and Robert Gatt, an instructor on coaches. D. Aquilina coach education courses organ- Under the supervision of Robert Gatt, the MFA’s new ised by the MFA, is one of the Robert Gatt, regional scouting technical director foremost coaches on the island. and coaching will also be re- His pedigree includes coaching introduced. all the national youth teams up to and including All this will surely be a welcome challenge for the U21s. He has also served as assistant coach the new technical director, whose qualities are for the senior side, as well as having been head of the highest order. FMF coach at two top Maltese clubs. ● Alex Vella The KISS workshop participants

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Dutch football loses two big names

Dutch football lost two of its big names at profi le after his playing days. Coentje (meaning chanted his name and sang club songs. Many the turn of the year: Frans de Munck and Coen little Coen, as he was lovingly known by the big players were also present to pay homage to Moulijn. Frans de Munck, former international fans) died on 4 January, but a phenomenal cel- the best player Feyenoord has ever had. Coen goalkeeper, died shortly before Christmas at the ebration of his life in Rotterdam showed that he played for Feyenoord for 17 years and was in age of 88. He played with DOS Utrecht when will not be forgotten. The manner in which the the team when they became the fi rst Dutch side they won the Dutch championship in 1958 and Feyenoord fans, the city and its inhabitants paid to win a European trophy in 1970. won 31 caps for the na- The national team coach, tional team. Bert van Marwijk, grew up In 1953, he also played when Coen was dominating for an unoffi cial national the premier league as a left team in a match against winger: “I copied his moves. France, which the Dutch He was a great role model. won 2-1. The proceeds of A phenomenon. Much later, the game went to the vic- when I was coaching at Fey- tims of disastrous fl oods enoord, I got to know him that had hit the southern well. He was a wonderful, part of the Netherlands modest and caring human earlier that year and in being. I was asked to hand which more than 1,800 him the fi rst copy of his bio- people had died. At the graphy in 2009 in front of time, football was an ama- his statue at the stadium. ‘A teur game in the Nether- wonderful honour’ he said to lands and the 1953 charity me, and I know he meant it international is still consid- was an honour for him, but ered as having been one I actually felt it was a tre- KNVB of the catalysts for profes- KNVB mendous honour for me to sional Dutch football. Frans Coen Moulijn and Frans de Munck be presenting him with his was nicknamed ‘the black biography.” panther’ because of his Michael van Praag, presi- striking black hair, trademark black shirt and tribute to him was impressive to say the least. dent of the Dutch FA, attended both memorial panther-like refl exes. The funeral procession stopped at the city hall services. “It is very unfortunate to lose two Similarly, Coen Moulijn was considered one – on which large posters of Coentje had been giants of Dutch football in such a short space of the left-footed stars of Dutch football. He was an hung – to give the thousands of fans who had of time,” he said. outstanding player on the pitch, but kept a low turned out time to express their feelings. They ● Rob de Leede

Northern Ireland Poland www.irishfa.com www.pzpn.pl

New sponsor for national teams sions and this partnership is a clear and un- A year marked by changes equivocal sign that Vauxhall is not only fi rmly The Irish Football Association (IFA) recently behind a successful senior The changing world presents new challenges unveiled Vauxhall Motors as the new sponsor team but is also committed to supporting grass- to national associations, so the board of the of the Northern Ireland national teams. roots initiatives covering youth and junior foot- Polish Football Association (PZPN) has decided Vauxhall, one of Britain’s leading automotive ball as well as women’s football and disability to create a strategic action plan for the years brands, with a 108-year history of car manu- football.” to come, with the help of the FIFA management facturing in the UK, has signed a programme, which is designed, among other three-and-a-half year agreement things, to help associations to identify and im- with the Irish FA. prove internal processes. As well as changes The sponsorship deal covers in all signifi cant areas (including fi nance, com- all senior international fi xtures, mittees, IT systems, communication and stake- including EURO 2012 and the holder relationship management), the PZPN is 2014 World Cup in Brazil. As implementing a new corporate identity. It will well as the senior men’s team, the be applied to all PZPN activities, especially partnership includes the women’s those that have the greatest impact on the national team and all national image of the association. A brand-new logo youth teams. is therefore being prepared for the fl agship Announcing the partnership at national team, the domestic cup and league, Windsor Park, the IFA chief execu- and the youth, futsal, beach soccer and tive, Patrick Nelson, said: “This is women’s national teams. The PZPN’s new truly fantastic news for Northern corporate identity will be unveiled shortly and Ireland football. Attracting a spon- IFA the whole action plan is due to be implemented sor of the calibre and prestige Duncan Aldred (left) and IFA president Jim Shaw shake hands to seal in 2011/12. of Vauxhall is great testimony to the deal under the watchful eye of the national team head coach, This year also started with a nice surprise the progress we are making here. Nigel Worthington. for all of us. Polish sports journalists publically The support of Vauxhall will be in- recognised many years of hard work in the pro- valuable in helping us deliver further footballing Nigel Worthington, Northern Ireland manager, motion and development of amateur football progress at a senior and junior level.” said: “I’m delighted that Vauxhall are putting by voting Tomasz Zabielski, coordinator of the Vauxhall’s managing director, Duncan Aldred, their faith in Northern Ireland football. We are UEFA grassroots programme in Poland, best added: “We are making a big commitment to all really pleased to have them on board and amateur sports coordinator of 2010. football and Northern Ireland is an extremely are sure this is going to prove a very fruitful and important piece of this commitment. Football successful partnership.” ● Agnieszka Olejkowska, and cars are two of our nation’s biggest pas- ● Sueann Harrison Elzbieta Klimaszewska

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John Giles launches Walk Manchester United FC and Leeds United AFC, of Dreams campaign wishes to harness the great energy of the Irish football family and bring everyone together on Former Republic of Ireland captain and man- 27 March to demonstrate that football clubs form ager John Giles, who in 2004 was voted the a large and very important part of Irish commu- greatest Republic of Ireland player of the last nity life, offering many thousands of people an 50 years at the UEFA Golden Jubilee Awards, outlet to enjoy themselves and make friends. has launched a major fundraising initiative in The John Giles Foundation was established Ireland to support local community programmes to use football as a vehicle for social change, to and raise funds to improve football clubs build community cohesion, increase participation throughout the country. in the game and improve health and education. The John Giles Foundation’s Walk of Dreams Half of the funds raised by the Walk of Dreams will take place on Sunday 27 March in various will be retained by the football clubs themselves, locations throughout Ireland. It will bring together while the other half will go to the John Giles all the football clubs in Ireland to walk in solidar- Foundation for community football projects. ity, as a family, while raising funds both for their Clubs, schools and community groups can all

respective clubs and for the John Giles Founda- apply to the foundation for funding to implement FAI tion, to continue the growth of football. John Giles, or improve football-based community projects. John Giles, at the service of the community, who became a big name following spells with ● Fran Whearty and young people especially

San Marino www.fsgc.sm

National training centre sessions are led by coaches Claudio Bartoletti technical staff, who have put an emphasis this enters second season and Firmino Pederiva (responsible for technical season on the different phases of the game and and tactical aspects), Davide Gasperini (expert team formations on the basis of studies and the A training session held on 7 September kick- in skills and coordination training methodol- methodology applied by the technicians, Emilio started the second season of ’s na- ogy), Carlo Casadei (responsible for coaching Cecchini and Enrico Battisti. After the winter tional training centre project organised for the the young goalkeepers) and Professor Emilio break, training resumes in February, with ses- best two youth players from each of the coun- Cecchini (responsible for the overall coordina- sions twice a week until June. The main purpose try’s clubs. For the 2010/11 intake, this means tion of the four-part project). of the project is to develop future San Marino players born in 1998 and 1999. All their train- The young players are split into small groups internationals and ensure they achieve the high- ing sessions are being held at the Faetano for a form of circuit training in which they prac- est standards possible. sports centre, complete with artifi cial pitch. The tise all the different exercises prepared by the ● Emilio Cecchini

Slovakia www.futbalsfz.sk www.nzs.si Slovenia welcomes Dany International football Ryser’s ideas on coach medicine congress education After 20 years of annual meetings for doc- tors, masseurs and physiotherapists working The FA of Slovenia (NZS) recently had the with all the different national teams and the honour of welcoming one of UEFA’s Jira Panel clubs in the fi rst and second divisions, for fi ve members to its headquarters in Ljubljana. In mid- years we have also benefi tted from a football January, the Swiss coach of the year and winner medicine congress, which brings together inter- of the FIFA U17 World Cup in , Dany national delegates and guest speakers. The last Ryser, came to Slovenia to inspect the coach edu- such meeting was held in Senec, , in SFZ cation programmes the association has in place. December. The two main topics were how to Pavel Malovic, chairman of the SFZ medical committee Ryser sat down to discuss the programmes protect against sudden cardiac death (primary with Aleš Zavrl, general secretary of the NZS, and secondary prevention) and muscle injury specifi c tests on at-risk players (known family Branko Elsner, head of coach education, Mat- (prevention, diagnosis and recovery). history) as a means of prevention. Professor jaz Jakopic, head of the technical department, New methods are especially being sought Slysko, also of Slovakia, presented this topic. and Miloš Rus, member of the technical depart- in the primary and secondary prevention The fi nal risk factor discussed at the congress ment. Ryser had a lot of positive things to say of sudden cardiac death. One such method was was energy drinks containing caffeine and tau- about the current programmes, but also shared presented to the congress by Professor Oravec, rine, which young players drink like they are some comments and ideas which will be incor- a Slovakian with extensive international expe- water or some other harmless, refreshing fl uid. porated into the association’s UEFA Pro-licence rience. He explained that a new form of lipo- The risk of the sudden death was demonstrated programme. ● Matjaz Krajnik protein analysis, specifi cally aimed at detecting in a few cases by Dr Pavel Malovic, UEFA dop- the possibility of atherogenic destruction, could ing control offi cer. be very effective, especially among youth Turning to the second topic on the agenda, players in the 12 to 18 age bracket, who could Professor de la Tualaye, a famous French nutri- have normal lipoprotein levels but a high risk tionist, gave a presentation on muscle injuries, of blood-vessel destruction and sudden cardiac which are a problem not only in terms of preven- death. The relatively new approach presented tion and healing. Perhaps the biggest diffi culty is by Professor Oravec is known as the Lipoprint recovery, according to Professor de la Tualaye, method. who explained the principle of glucose protein Thromboembolic disease is also a major risk regeneration in muscle overuse and injury. The

factor in sudden cardiac deaths. We need to congress was then successfully rounded off with NZS know everything about the roots of this dan- a presentation on electrotherapy for muscle inju- gerous disease because it is often seen in very ries by Andrea Bolchi of Italy. Alex Zavrl (centre) and Dany Ryser discuss Slovenia’s young players. It is also important to carry out ● Juraj Curny coaching programmes

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Exercises to prevent injuries physiotherapists, parents and players in how to prevent injuries among female players from the A simple exercise programme greatly reduces age of 12 upwards. the risk of serious knee injuries among young The exercises are designed specifi cally for female footballers. A unique scientifi c study (by footballers, to improve their strength, landing Markus Waldén and Martin Hägglund from the technique, balance and coordination.

University of Linköping) followed more than 4,500 SvFF “We recommend teams to perform these ex- young players at 341 women’s teams for a full Markus Waldén and Martin Hägglund ercises in their regular training sessions, during year and found that the group who performed the present the results of their research warm-up. They take 10 to 15 minutes and, if exercise programme every week had fewer than correctly performed, teach the girls a pattern half as many knee injuries as the control group. female player is more than three times likelier of movement that is now proven to reduce the The Swedish FA and its insurance partner, to suffer a serious knee injury (especially the risk of injury,” says Annica Näsmark, one of the Folksam, initiated the project – dubbed Knäkon- dreaded ACL injury) than a male player of the Swedish FA’s physiotherapists responsible for troll – in 2008. According to research, a young same age. Knäkontroll aims to educate coaches, Knäkontroll. ● Andreas Nilsson

Switzerland www.football.ch

Swiss referees in Gran Canaria phere between us. I’m sure that we’ll now enter them fi rst place in the team rankings, ahead the second half of the season with confi dence of the national team and FC Basel and that the referees will perform well.” 1893 (league and cup winners). The participants were visited in Gran Canaria Dany Ryser, the man behind the team’s suc- by the league president, Thomas Grimm, and cess, was also named coach of the year. two club chairmen, Christian Constantin (FC Sion) ● Pierre Benoit and Ancillo Canepa (FC Zürich). Having wit- nessed the referees’ preparations fi rst hand, all three were clearly impressed. Ukraine FIFA instructor Esse Baharmast travelled from the US especially, while the technical director of www.ffu.org.ua the Swiss FA (SFV-ASF), Peter Knäbel, led one of the sessions and showed the referees how SFV/ASF coaches and players used tactics, aerial and Dany Ryser leads a national U17 training session on-the-ground tackles and their arms, explaining what they considered to be a fair challenge and Once again, Super League referees and as- when they thought the referee should intervene. Oleg sistants headed to Gran Canaria recently for Alongside their daily training sessions, the Makarov their traditional week-long training camp in referees also worked on leadership and com- doing what preparation for the second half of the season. munication in what can only be described as a FFU he did best Switzerland’s top referee, , very successful week. was among the participants, and full of praise Previously, in December, an awards cer- FC Putrivka triumph for the course, the importance of which he emony was held to honour the best Swiss ath- at Makarov Memorial thinks cannot be overestimated: “It was a very letes of 2010 and football was, of course, well good week and the best possible physical and represented. The success of the country’s U17s, Every year in January, Ukraine holds a tour- mental preparation for the second half of the who won Switzerland’s fi rst football World Cup nament in memory of the illustrious FC Dynamo season. There was also a very good atmos- in the 115-year history of the SFV-ASF, earned Kyiv goalkeeper Oleg Makarov. The Makarov Memorial is a traditional all- Ukrainian winter tournament in memory of an Turkey illustrious goalkeeper, honoured master of sports and honoured coach of Ukraine who spent his www.tff.org best years at FC Dynamo Kyiv. The aim of the tournament is to give teams of various levels First CORE-inspired course exercises were fi lmed. The referee teams also an opportunity to play during the winter break completed offi ciated at high-level amateur games in Istanbul while they are preparing for the offi cial season. at the weekend. The matches were fi lmed and The fi rst Makarov Memorial matches were The Turkish Football Association (TFF) held the debriefi ngs conducted by Oguz Sarvan per- played 15 years ago, in 1996. Since then, its fi rst referee development camp based on sonally, chairman of Turkish referee committee. FC Dynamo-2 have lifted the competition tro- UEFA’s Centre of Refereeing Excellence (CORE) After the course all the referees, coaches and phy seven times. The tournament, which is tra- programme from 14 to 21 December. referee committee members were very happy ditionally held under the aegis of the Football A total of 8 referees and 16 assistants – all and agreed that it was the best seminar they Federation of Ukraine, is organised by the Kyiv aged under 30 and forming one team from had ever had. The TFF and its referee commit- regional football federation. each region – were accompanied by 4 instruc- tee are planning to hold a Turkish CORE course This year, 18 teams lined up on the starting grid tors from the remaining regions. The programme once a month throughout the season. on 15 January. Approaching the fi nishing line, included athletic tests measuring speed, endur- ● TFF communications offi ce only two teams remained – FC Lviv and FC Putrivka. ance, reaction times and coordination. One of The latter were stronger in the fi nal duel, which the key messages of the camp was the impor- was played on 26 January and ended 2-1. tance of self-assessment, with a sports psycholo- After quite a nervous start for both teams, gist working with the referees to enhance this Putrivka were the fi rst to get their wits about important tool for their development. All the tech- them. Defender Yaroslav Vyshniak was tripped nical presentations were in line with the UEFA by Lviv goalkeeper Anton Sytnykov inside the CORE programme and managed by the Turkish penalty area and Roman Lytovchak opened Football Association’s referee committee. the scoring from the spot. Two minutes after the The on-pitch exercises, on the offside rule for break, Vyshniak doubled Putrivka’s advantage. the assistants and on cooperation for the com- Lviv’s Anton Prykhodko responded with a goal plete referee teams, were a great success, espe- TFF ten minutes before the fi nal whistle, but it was cially as a result of the debriefi ngs, for which the Advanced training for referees not enough to close the gap. ● Dmytro Sobko

UEFADirect105•EN.indd 26 16.02.11 14:40 EDITORIAL I MEETINGS I COURSES I COMPETITIONS I NEWS I ASSOCIATIONS I NOTICES Birthdays, calendar, notices 27

Notices

Birthdays ■ On 27 November, Ruben Hayrapetyan was re-elected president of the Football Fede- José Antonio Casajus ration of Armenia. atch delegate Mateo Beusan (Croatia) (Spain, 27.3) ■ Armen Minasyan (Armenia, 27.3) On 13 December, Michael van Praag was Mturns 60 on 10 March. He is followed re-elected president of the Royal Netherlands on 29 March by Ian Beasley (England), mem- Pavel Cebanu (Moldova, 28.3) Football Association. Edgar Obertüfer (Switzerland, 29.3) ber of the Medical Committee. On 19 March, ■ On 17 December, Vlatko Markovic was Stefan Ormandjiev (Bulgaria, 29.3) re-elected president of the Croatian Football Helmut Spahn (Germany), security offi cer, Alan Snoddy (Northern Ireland, 29.3) Federation. celebrates his 50th, as does Miroslaw Bernadette Constantin (France, 29.3) ■ On 22 January, Domenti Sichinava was Malinowski (Poland), member of the HatTrick Miriam Malone (Republic of Ireland, 29.3) re-elected for a four-year term as president of the Georgian Football Federation. Committee, on 23 March. Sanna Pirhonen (Finland, 29.3) ■ On 25 January, David Bernstein was William Hugh Wilson (Scotland, 30.3) elected chairman of the English Football UEFA also wishes many happy returns to: Association. Benny Jacobsen (Denmark, 1.3) ■ As of 1 May, Steven Martens will be the new general secretary of the Royal Belgian Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain, 1.3) Football Association. Damir Vrbanovic (Croatia, 2.3) Forthcoming ■ On 20 December, Jozef Venglos (Slovakia) Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder (Germany, 3.3) was re-elected president of the Alliance of Carolin Rudolph (Germany, 3.3) European Football Coaches’ Associations Zoran Bahtijarevic (Croatia, 5.3) events (AEFCA). Boris Durlen (Croatia, 6.3) Meetings Match agents Liana Melania Stoicescu (Romania, 6.3) Pedro Maria Aurteneche Vinegra Six match agents have recently been granted (Spain, 7.3) 14.3.2011, Nyon UEFA licences: Dusan Maravic (, 7.3) 2011–13 European Women’s Championship: Richard Trafford (England) Kenneth Scott (Scotland, 7.3) draw for the qualifying round Cassius Management – London +44 7788 538 070 Tomás Gea (Andorra, 7.3) [email protected] Josep Lluis Vilaseca Guasch (Spain, 8.3) 18.3.2011, Nyon UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa Tomáš Klecˇka (Czech Republic) Giorgio Crescentini (San Marino, 8.3) Nehoda Sport a.s. – Prague (Belgium, 9.3) League: draws for the quarter- and semi-fi nals +420 602 311 164 Vladimir Aleshin (Russia, 9.3) [email protected] Henk Kesler (Netherlands, 9.3) 20/21.3.2011, Paris Marcus Häusler (Germany) Executive Committee socca! Sports GmbH – Rosenheim Ruben Hayrapetyan (Armenia, 9.3) +49 179 1067371 Herbert Fandel (Germany, 9.3) [email protected] 22.3.2011, Paris Joseph S. Blatter (Switzerland, 10.3) Sergey Polikarpov (Russia) Lucien Kayser (, 11.3) Ordinary UEFA Congress AMB-TOUR – Moscow Olga Zhukovska (Ukraine, 11.3) +7 985 786 0196 Jean-François Crucke (Belgium, 12.3) 31.3/1.4.2011, Nyon [email protected] Thomas Partl (Austria, 13.3) Doping control offi cers’ seminar Christiane Heitz (France) +33 6 12 28 93 42 Lucia Knappkova (Slovakia, 14.3) [email protected] Ivan Curkovic (Serbia, 15.3) Competitions David Touré (France) (Germany, 15.3) +33 6 99 25 08 11 Cornelius Bakker (Netherlands, 17.3) [email protected] Liutauras Varanavicius (Lithuania, 17.3) 8/9.3.2011 UEFA Champions League: In addition, Mark Gibbon (England) Christakis Skapoullis (Cyprus, 18.3) has had his licence renewed for eight years. Marcello Nicchi (Italy, 18.3) round of 16 (return legs) Andreas Georgiou (Cyprus, 18.3) Obituaries Marina Tashchyan (Armenia, 18.3) 10.3.2011 Hogni i Storustovu (, 19.3) UEFA Europa League: Since the death on 13 September of 66-year- Antal Dunai (Hungary, 21.3) round of 16 (fi rst legs) old Zbigniew Kalinski, former general Jim Boyce (Northern Ireland, 21.3) secretary of the Polish Football Federation and member of the UEFA Club Competitions Ginés Meléndez (Spain, 22.3) 15/16.3.2011 Committee from 1986 to 1990, two other Chris Georghiades (Cyprus, 22.3) UEFA Champions League: national association general secretaries have Michail Kassabov (Bulgaria, 22.3) round of 16 (return legs) passed away: Franz Krösslhuber (Austria, 23.3) ■ On 17 December, Wilfried Gerhardt, Andrea Lastrucci (Italy, 23.3) 16/17.3.2011 general secretary of the German Football Mahmut Özgener UEFA Women’s Champions League: Association from 1984 to 1992, died aged (Turkey, 23.3) 80. At UEFA, he was a member of the Study Outi Saarinen (Finland, 23.3) quarter-fi nals (fi rst legs) Commission for Problems concerning Radio Fernando Ruiz Hierro (Spain, 23.3) and Television from 1976 to 1990, a transfer Daniel Prodan (Romania, 23.3) 17.3.2011 disputes expert from 1984 to 1992, and a Michael Kirchner (Germany, 25.3) UEFA Europa League: member of the Media Committee from 1990 to 1992. Wilfried Straub (Germany, 26.3) round of 16 (return legs) ■ On 5 January, Dario Borgogno, general Kemal Kapulluoglu (Turkey, 26.3) secretary of the Italian Football Federation John McClelland (Scotland, 27.3) 23/24.3.2011 from 1971 to 1986, died aged 87. He was Anton Ondrus (Slovakia, 27.3) UEFA Women’s Champions League: one of UEFA’s experts on transfer disputes Joseph Gauci (Malta, 27.3) quarter-fi nals (return legs) from 1984 to 1986.

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