UEFA Cup Groups 03 Euro 2008 SA National Coaches in Berlin Venues

No 55 – November 2006 Including finals club competition Venues for in Berlin National coaches Euro 2008SA UEFA Cupgroups finals club competition Venues for in Berlin National coaches Euro 2008SA UEFA Cupgroups 11 . 0 6 10 06 03 12 12 10 06 03 COVER IN THIS ISSUE National coaches in Berlin 10 Italy (Alberto Aquilani on the UEFA Cup groups 03 European Women’s Championship revamped 11 cover), who have already won the European Under-21 Championship EURO 2008 mascots 06 Executive Committee meets in Ljubljana 12 on several occasions, are through Independent European Sport Review 14 to next year’s Under-21 final round The therapeutic benefits in the Netherlands. of football 08 News from member associations 16 PHOTO: SABATTINI

CrucialEditorial times

Football’s governing bodies – both at national and international level – were created to govern and run the game at a time when football was primarily a recreational pursuit. Despite moving with the times, they are, however, no longer in the best position to sort out for themselves the many problems that confront them. Corruption, money laundering, match-fixing, misplaced government interven- tion, legal disputes of various sorts, and so on, can, indeed, only be dealt with effectively if authority is clearly defined and if the status and independence of football’s governing bodies is recognised by law and they are provided with the necessary means. The Independent European Sport Review initiated by the sports ministers of the EU’s five key member states in cooperation with UEFA and FIFA is an important step in this direction. Its concludes in favour of sport being accorded a special, independent status and supports the European sport model. It also recommends harmonious cooperation between sports authorities and governments, as well as the modernisation of sports authority structures, whereby appro- priate consultation with all stakeholders should be built into the decision-making process. Even though some aspects of the review still lend themselves to discussion, it is essential that it move ahead without delay and, in this respect, the next few weeks will be decisive in terms of the principles of the review becoming a reality in the near future and of sport no longer living under the permanent threat of civil lawsuits. The review has met with a largely positive welcome in sporting circles in general. It is now up to all of us – at European and national level – to do our utmost to convince the politicians of the relevance of its recom- mendations and ensure that they form the basis of the white paper on sport being drawn up by the European Commission. The national associations have an important role to play here, by talking to their sports ministers, governments and EU representatives. It is high time that a legal framework existed which allowed sport to operate according to its own values and to fully assume its social role. The chance to create such a framework has now been presented, and it is an opportunity not to be missed. Lars-Christer Olsson Chief Executive

Football should be played in the stadiums, not played out

EMPICS in the courts. we care about football

02 uefadirect 11.06 UEFA Cup: aiming for the last 32 An open-looking contest

Livorno make their UEFA debut: Lithuanian striker Tomas Danilevicius takes on the Pasching defence in the first round of the UEFA Cup. PINTO/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

NONE OF THE 40 TEAMS PARTICIPATING IN THE GROUP PHASE tizan Belgrade, a team currently living OF THE UEFA CUP WOULD BE BOLD ENOUGH TO CLAIM THAT THEIR in the shadow of their traditional rivals from the Serbian capital, Red Star. QUALIFICATION FOR THE LAST 32 IS A MERE FORMALITY. ONCE Livorno, currently in mid-table in the AGAIN, THERE ARE NO EASY GROUPS AND THE FAVOURITES WILL Italian Serie A, will also be in with a BE EXPECTING A ROUGH RIDE. shout. Meanwhile, Maccabi Tel Aviv will certainly be keen to erase their terrible The 40 participating teams Group A: Le Guen faces start to the Israeli league season. will be aiming to finish in the top three his compatriots of their group in order to be guaran- Paul Le Guen’s Rangers, who Group B: a very solid group teed of a place in the round of 32, are having to play second fiddle to Celtic While there are no easy which will also include the eight teams in the Scottish championship, will be groups, there are some which everyone finishing third in the UEFA Champions hoping to qualify from their group. How- would have been glad to avoid. One League groups. The UEFA Cup group ever, they will have to face an AJ Auxerre example is Group B, where Tottenham phase promises some exciting encoun- side who are in a respectable position Hotspur and Bayer Leverkusen will be ters between ambitious clubs who in the French league but do not seem as the favourites. However, there is not will be secretly dreaming of reaching ambitious as they were under the leg- much to smile about at White Hart Lane the final at Hampden Park, Glasgow, endary Guy Roux. The two Group A at present, while Bayer have improved on 16 May. favourites will need to watch out for Par- after an unconvincing start. The repre-

03 Robbie Keane Aruna Dindane scores for of RC Lens Tottenham controls the against Slavia ball despite the Prague. attentions of Goran Grkinic of Ethnikos Achnas. EMPICS FLASH PRESS

sentatives of these two great nations ware of the Portuguese team SC Braga, will have their work cut out against who are holding their own with the the Belgians of Club Bruges who, de- leading lights of their national cham- spite not leading the title race in their pionship. Neither should he discount country, remain solid performers. Slovan Liberec, who are dominating Besiktas, who are again at the top the Czech title race, nor AZ Alkmaar, end of the Turkish league table, will whom the ambitious Louis van Gaal also provide stern opposition. They will be hoping to take a long way in are joined by Dinamo Bucharest, who the competition. Finally, Grasshopper are dominating the Romanian cham- Zurich, after several years in the dol- pionship this season. Rarely has a drums, are now coached by former group been so open. Stuttgart player Krassimir Balakov and have regained a certain credibility are not currently in the upper echelons Group C: Sevilla FC the hot which will ensure they are taken very of the Dutch league, rather like Black- favourites seriously by their opponents. burn Rovers in England, although the Current holders of the UEFA latter proved their worth by eliminating Cup and UEFA Super Cup, Sevilla FC Group D: Parma hope to the ambitious Austrians of Salzburg in have begun the season well in Spain shine again the previous round. Similarly, Swiss side and are expected to carry their excel- Two-times UEFA Cup Basel are not reaching the high stan- lent form into the UEFA Cup. How- winners, Parma FC, who are dards that took them into the Champi- ever, coach Juan de la Cruz Ramos struggling at the wrong end of ons League in the 2002/03 season. The knows that he will have to be- the Italian championship, will most in-form team is definitely AS Nancy- certainly be hoping to Lorraine, who achieved the outstanding shine again in Europe. feat of eliminating Schalke 04 in the first Despite their problems, round. Meanwhile, the Poles of Wisla

Sevilla’s Jesus Navas the Italians are much Krakow, coached by Dan Petrescu, will fends off Amadou fancied to qualify, be hoping to upset a few applecarts and Sanokho of Atromitos in the first round. although RC Lens, appear to have the players to do so. who are currently one of the best teams in Group F: Ajax and the rest France, appear equally strong. With numerous past successes The Spaniards of Osasuna are under their belts, Ajax Amsterdam, who certainly also ambitious and are also dominating the Dutch cham- visitors to Pamplona will not pionship, ought to qualify from this have an easy ride. Meanwhile, group. The main challenge for the team Dutch team Heerenveen coached by Henk ten Cate is likely to will be trying to cause an come from Espanyol Barcelona, although upset, as will Odense of the Catalans are not faring too well in Denmark, who should not their national championship. Sparta be written off too early. Prague are also a quality team, although they are also struggling in their domes- Group E: AS Nancy- tic league. Even though they are finding Lorraine have the wind life tough in their national champion- in their sails ship, Austria Vienna will not be an easy This may not be opponent, and neither will the Belgians the strongest group, but it of Zulte Waregem, who are also facing is certainly a fascinating a few problems at domestic level. one. The battle will be GOULIAMAKI/AFP/GETTY IMAGES very open between teams Group G: Mlada Boleslav that are not necessarily the revelation? setting the world on fire It is very difficult to predict in their respective who will qualify from this group, although champi- Paris St-Germain should expect to go onships. through. However, the Parisians’ prob- Feyenoord lems in the French championship are

04 uefadirect 11.06 Miroslav Matusovic Eintracht Frankfurt of Sparta Prague (Ioannis Amanatidis, scores the winning in the foreground) goal against Hearts knocked out Brondby in the first round. of Denmark in the first round. HEIMANN/BONGARTS/GETTY IMAGES HEIMANN/BONGARTS/GETTY

Group A Group H: all strong nations AJ Auxerre Along with Groups A and B, Rangers FC this group appears to be one of the FK Partizan toughest. Newcastle United are not AS Livorno Calcio Maccabi Haifa FC guaranteed a top-three finish (indeed, who is?) because their opponents seem Group B more than capable of thwarting their Bayer 04 Leverkusen ambitions. The other four teams, all rep- Tottenham Hotspur FC resenting nations that have enjoyed fre- FC Dinamo 1948 Bucuresti quent successes in the European com- Besiktas JK petitions, have good reason to aspire to Club Brugge KV GETTY IMAGES a place in the next round. Having made well documented. In such circum- an amazing start to their league season, Group C stances, the outstanding Czech team of Italian side Palermo are very ambitious. Sevilla FC Mlada Boleslav, who are contesting top Fenerbahce are also playing well, as SC Braga spot at home with Slovan Liberec and their results in Turkey show. As for Ein- Grasshopper-Club AZ Alkmaar knocked Olympique Marseille out of the tracht Frankfurt and Celta Vigo, even FC Slovan Liberec UEFA Cup, are favourites in this group. though they are not knocking down It is a group in which Rapid Bucharest, trees in their domestic leagues, only a Group D despite being adrift in their domestic fool would fail to take them seriously, Parma FC league, will be hoping to put a spanner bearing in mind the strength of German SC Heerenveen in the works, as will the Greeks of and Spanish football. Good luck to the RC Lens Panathinaikos and Israeli team Hapoel tipsters! CA Osasuna Tel Aviv. André Winckler Odense BK

Group E Feyenoord Blackburn Rovers FC AS Nancy-Lorraine Wisla Kraków FC Basel 1893

Group F RCD Espanyol SV Zulte Waregem AFC Ajax FK Austria Wien AC Sparta Prague

Group G Paris Saint-Germain FC Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC FK Mlada Boleslav Panathinaikos FC AFC Rapid Bucuresti

Groupe H Fenerbahçe SK US Città di Palermo Jan Kysela’s RC Celta de Vigo Mlada Boleslav Eintracht Frankfurt (in white) created an upset Newcastle United FC by knocking out Franck Ribéry’s ■ Match day 1: 19 October Olympique de ■ Marseille in the Match day 2: 2 November first round. ■ Match day 3: 23 November ■ Match day 4: 29/30 November ■ CIZEK/AFP/GETTY IMAGES Match day 5: 13/14 December

05 The Euro 2008 SA staff is nowhere near complete yet. UEFA-pjwoods.ch UEFA-pjwoods.ch

Looking ahead to EURO 2008, UEFA then decided to take things one stage further by founding Euro 2008 SA its own subsidiary company. The most From local important innovation is the fact that UEFA now sells the TV rights for the organising committee to competition on a market-by-market basis, as it does for the UEFA Champi- subsidiary company ons League. Although this means that considerably more contractual nego- BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE IT HAD GATHERED DURING THE PREPARATION AND tiations are necessary, it also gives UEFA greater control over broadcasts ORGANISATION OF THE PREVIOUS TWO EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS, UEFA DECIDED and a better opportunity to involve its TO CREATE ITS OWN SUBSIDIARY COMPANY FOR EURO 2008 IN AUSTRIA AND partners in marketing activities. SWITZERLAND – EURO 2008 SA. HERE WE BRIEFLY DESCRIBE THE REASONS FOR THIS The Euro 2008 SA structure DECISION AND OUTLINE THE ESSENTIAL TASKS AND STRUCTURES THAT LIE BEHIND A glance at the organisa- THE ORGANISATION OF EUROPE'S LARGEST SPORTS EVENT. tion’s structure shows that the inter- ests of the local organisers were taken After the 2000 finals in Bel- LOC – joint venture – into account when Euro 2008 SA gium and the Netherlands, UEFA had subsidiary company was created, increasing UEFA’s influ- to tackle some fundamental organisa- In the run-up to EURO 2004, ence. The Board of Administration, tional questions. As well as efforts the Portuguese Football Asso- the supreme decision-making body, to gather together all the expertise ciation and UEFA created a joint is chaired in turn by Ralph Zloczower under the UEFA umbrella so that venture (Euro 2004 SA), under and Friedrich Stickler, presidents of it could be re-used for the next which the former dealt primarily the two host associations. The nine- edition, there was a particular with organisational matters and person board also includes the general need for clarification in the area UEFA looked after the sale of secretaries of the two associations, of finance: for each edition, the local marketing and TV rights. At the same as well as UEFA representatives. The organising committee (LOC) lacked time, the Portuguese government operational management of Euro 2008 financial security because it had to was kept constantly informed about SA is entrusted to the Management carry out numerous tasks before the the current state of preparations. UEFA Board, which comprises Chief Oper- finals even began and had to wait appointed Martin Kallen as Chief ating Officer (COO) Martin Kallen until the tournament started before Operating Officer to work alongside and tournament directors Christian harvesting the rewards for its work. the Portuguese tournament organisers, Schmölzer (Austria) and Christian UEFA realised that it had to take more so that UEFA could supplement its Mutschler (Switzerland). The tourna- responsibility, although not only for knowledge by learning from the local ment directors manage the two tour- financial affairs. organisers. nament offices in Vienna and Berne and are responsible for areas such as cooperation with the state authorities (e.g. in security matters), implementa- tion of the stadium agreements and the development of the volunteer COO Martin Kallen programme, which is so important for with tournament directors the organisation of the tournament Christian Schmölzer (left) and Christian Mutschler. (around 2,500 voluntary helpers are needed for the final round).

What exactly does Euro 2008 SA do? A glance at the five divisions that work exclusively for EURO 2008 in addition to the two tournament offices provides a good impression of what the day-to-day activities of Euro 2008 SA involve. The COO Office is

Euro 2008 SA Euro responsible for administrative matters

06 uefadirect 11.06 The reception The Board of area and offices Administration, of Euro 2008 SA. made up of representatives of the two host associations and UEFA. Euro 2008 SA Euro

ditations for the various access areas – The responsibilities of Euro around 30,000 accreditations will be 2008 SA do not include security out- granted in all. It will also play a major side the stadiums, for which the two UEFA-pjwoods.ch role in events such as the final round host countries are responsible, nor such as human resources, finance and draw and the workshop for final round marketing/sponsorship/TV rights and logistics. This division also deals with participants. The Event Management legal matters, which are dealt with by media relations and communication, division will also look after the differ- UEFA itself. as well as ticket sales, which will be ent arrival points, accommodation for launched on euro2008.com in spring partners, media, staff and officials, Headquarters and staff 2007. More than one million tickets and the team delegations themselves. Like the UEFA administra- will be available in total. The TV & Media Operations tion, Euro 2008 SA is based in Nyon The Special Projects division division is responsible for planning in western Switzerland, where it occu- will ensure there is a celebratory and implementing the production of pies six floors of the recently complet- atmosphere during the tournament. the broadcast signal. It will endeavour ed “Le Martinet” building near the Its tasks include the organisation of to provide a first-class technical infra- railway station. The UEFA subsidiary various ceremonies and celebrations, structure in order to create good work- currently employs 56 people (end of as well as looking after VIP guests, ing conditions for the TV broadcasters October), some of whom gained who numbered around 10,000 in Por- and the press. Around 1,200 people valuable experience from the organi- tugal in 2004. The division was also (producers, camera operators, techni- sation of EURO 2004. Around half of heavily involved in the launch of the cians, etc.) will be involved in the them come from the two host nations, EURO 2008 official mascots, who transmission of the 31 matches. while nine staff members work in were named Trix and Flix before the Most of the activities of the the two tournament offices in Berne international match between Austria Operations division will take place in and Vienna. and Switzerland in Innsbruck on 11 and around the host cities and stadi- By summer 2008, Euro 2008 October and will serve as an impor- ums. The division will deal, among SA will have around 300 employees, tant means of communication for the other things, with organisational mat- many of whom will work in the eight tournament. More than 2,000 mer- ters around the stadiums, guest hospi- host cities. A total of between 1,500 chandising products are in the pipeline. tality and signage, for which a com- and 2,000 people will be on duty at The Event Management mon brand design has been created, each final round match. These include division is responsible for a wide range clearly recognisable for match visitors. stewards and security staff, technical of different organisational tasks. For A total of 12,000 signs were used in staff, officials and, of course, the example, it will deal with the accre- Portugal in 2004, for example. numerous volunteers.

Trix (20) and Flix (08) with the Austrian and Swiss national coaches, Josef Hickersberger and Köbi Kuhn. BOZZANI

07 Alfredo Trentalange With with the referee and his Eros Ramazzotti assistants during a during a match referee observation assignment of the Italian singers’ at a tournament in Spain. national team. AT AT

Football can therefore be a therapeu- tic tool. I have also learned that even a My story refereeing error can be positive, since The therapeutic virtues it can provoke people who usually say nothing into talking to me or discus- of football sing a match involving their favourite team. ALFREDO TRENTALANGE RETIRED AFTER TEN YEARS AS AN INTERNATIONAL Three examples FOOTBALL REFEREE IN 2002, BEFORE BECOMING A UEFA REFEREE OBSERVER IN 2004. For example, Marco, who is DURING HIS CAREER, HE GATHERED A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE AND REALISED now a young man, suffered his first psychotic episode five years ago, after THAT FOOTBALL IS MORE THAN JUST A GAME. HERE IS HIS STORY. an apparently normal childhood and adolescence. He was hospitalised for the first time two years I began refereeing in 1973, when I was 16 years old. Pre- later, when his symptoms viously, I had played football with other children for a small team and anxiety could no longer in Grugliasco. After a trial and one match in the youth team of a be controlled in his home professional club, my coach said to me, “Alfredo, I think you should environment. The ambivalent give up playing football. You should be a referee or a journalist.” attitude of his parents, who I remember how disappointed I was at the time. But I decided had perhaps not fully accep- to become a referee because I love playing sport and I enjoy trying ted the illness, may have to uphold the spirit of fair play. been a contributing factor. There are many reasons why a young man might decide After being admitted to to go into refereeing. People often think that referees are frustrated the Villa Cristina hospital, Marco individuals: all through the week, they have to obey their parents, signed up for various courses, their boss, their teacher or even their coach, and then on Sunday but only attended a few they can finally unleash their own authoritarian, dictatorial sessions because his side. This is not true: detailed studies have shown that academic back- people become referees because they are motivated ground, which by a deep need for and sense of justice, which was characte- they can express on the pitch. Referees believe rised by a lack that rules are very important, both in a match and in life itself.

A wonderful sport After ten years’ experience as an international referee, I can honestly say that football is a wonderful sport which has enabled me to travel all over the world and Alfredo Trentalange meet people from a whole range of diffe- loves the rent backgrounds, cultures and lifestyles. world of football. Football has also provided me with many exciting experiences. As a volunteer, I founded an organisation for the mentally disabled. I have met people with serious relational difficulties (psychotics, autistics, depres- sives). Through either playing or talking about football, these people have been able to open channels of commu-

nication that were previously closed. AT

08 uefadirect 11.06 It is important to feel part of a team. UEFA

asked me why, two years earlier, I had which were each composed of four awarded a penalty against his favourite patients and seven members of staff. team and sent off a player. In a very simple test, these referees I could tell numerous other provided many disconcerting and asto- stories. Stories about boys who matu- nishing responses. They found it extre- red as they tried to become accom- mely difficult to distinguish between plished footballers and lads who the patients and the staff members. began to enjoy life for the first time. All too often, when we consider that a patient is incapable of Increased hope playing football, we are mistaken. At the Villa Cristina, with the And it fills us with joy when we are

EMPICS help of volunteers from the AGAPE or- proved wrong. Contrary to the psy- ganisation and our football group, we chiatric models, we have realised that of competitiveness and self-esteem, know how it feels to open up channels young people, like us, were attracted resurfaced. The only activity in which of communication that would other- by the game and enjoyed playing it, this was not the case was the football wise have been blocked or impassable using all their skills and then watching group, where he was able to redisco- because of illness. Football has been themselves in the match video, lining ver his sense of security and his ability the pretext for communication bet- up in the centre circle or answering to participate in a group; he even ween people via the organisation of the referee’s roll call in the changing became a coach in the gym. Marco a team with clearly defined roles, from rooms. The feeling of being part of a set about his task with great professio- equipment officer to president, from team and a useful team member has nalism, learning to teach different coach to captain. Most of us have removed frustrations, confirmed our techniques in an appropriate way and found it to be a source of hope. expectations and strengthened our observing the training sessions of The referees who, as volun- hope in a brighter future, characterised first division teams. teers, officiated matches in a tourna- by solidarity and justice. In the end, As he did so, his ability to ment for the staff and patients of the as footballers, we have all been players grasp reality seemed constantly to im- Piedmont psychiatric department did in a show that is a mirror of life as prove, as did his self-assurance, relatio- not know any of the players or teams, a whole. nal skills and emotional independence. His story certainly provides food for thought. The psychiatrists would say that, for him, sport acts as a transitio- nal zone in which Marco, with the help of positive carers, can develop a more cohesive identity. But I like the idea of a metaphorical sport, where the ball represents health: if played well, it can result in success for the individual and for the team. These days, Marco has a job and is always available to help the members of voluntary organisations. Giovanni, who had serious psychological problems, met me for the first time on a football pitch. When we were introduced to each other, he was told that I was an international referee and he laughed, saying, “Yes, sure, and I’m Napoleon!” Luca, an autistic depressive, normally does not speak to anybody. He recognised me in the changing

rooms and, to the astonishment of his AT psychotherapist, who was also there, The AGAPE football team.

09 Jiri Dvorak … followed … and takes by Raymond Roy Hodgson. the floor… Domenech…

sed a degree of malaise about the ‘triple punishment’ (penalty, red card and sub- National sequent suspension) for non-violent pro- fessional fouls in ‘goalscoring opportu- nity’ situations, and were unanimous in condemning abuse of the fair play ges- team coaches ture when players sportingly kick the ball out of play as a mark of concern for a fallen opponent. Suspicions that players sometimes feign injury to break up a go to counter-attack were strengthened when the World Cup report by FIFA’s chief Berlin and beyond medical officer, Professor Jiri Dvorak, included the fact that of the 156 situa- TAKE A STAR-STUDDED CAST OF AROUND 250 NATIONAL TEAM COACHES AND tions where a player asked the referee TECHNICAL DIRECTORS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, TAKE THEM BACK TO BERLIN to summon the doctor, 56% ended with A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER THE FIFA WORLD CUP FINAL WAS PLAYED THERE, no report of any injury. Tactical analysis by UEFA’s techni- POUR THEM INTO THE INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL, AND YOU HAVE THE INGREDIENTS cal director, Andy Roxburgh, and his FIFA FOR A HISTORIC EVENT – THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TO BE JOINTLY STAGED BY counterpart, Holger Osieck, also revealed some interesting parallels between the UEFA AND FIFA UNDER THE TWIN BANNERS OF ‘FIFA INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Champions SYMPOSIUM’ AND ‘UEFA CONFERENCE FOR NATIONAL TEAM COACHES’. League, notably the fall in goal-scoring rates in both competitions, which rein- The all-star team was headed by the future of the game. As Raymond forces the theory that defensive mecha- Marcello Lippi, Raymond Domenech, Luiz Domenech emphasised, it offered an in- nisms have become highly efficient. One Felipe Scolari and Carlos Alberto Parreira – valuable opportunity for national team of the challenges for the future is evi- the coaches who had claimed four of the coaches to make their collective voice dently to find ways of piercing defensive top five places at the FIFA World Cup. The heard loud and clear amid the footballing blocks but, in the broader perspective, fifth, Germany’s Jürgen Klinsmann, was chorus. And their audience included the national team coaches agreed that ‘beamed in’ by satellite from Los Angeles members of, for example, the refereeing the future hinges on player development on the second afternoon of the three-day hierarchy and the International FA Board. projects – which is why the technicians event (from 11 to 13 September). Fine-tuning the Laws of the at the peak of the coaching pyramid cal- They, along with all the other Game was one of the issues that the par- led for greater recognition and enhanced coaches, were more than happy to be ticipants addressed with relish – with a status for youth coaches. greeted by the two presidents, Joseph verbal ‘friendly match’ between current These were just a few of the Blatter and Lennart Johansson, when the Finland coach Roy Hodgson and former abundance among a notepad full of curtain went up – and were equally de- referee Peter Mikkelsen ending in a suggestions that emerged from the look lighted to be able to meet their coaching highly honourable draw. The national at Berlin and beyond – and many of the colleagues in a non-competitive situation team coaches added their voice to national team coaches’ proposals will and to use analysis of the FIFA World Cup concerns about current interpretations now be on the debating tables at both finals as a launching pad for ideas about of the ‘passive offside’ concept, expres- FIFA and UEFA. PHOTOS: UEFA-pjwoods.ch

10 uefadirect 11.06 Draws … and for the the European European Futsal Women’s Champion- Champion- ship. ship… UEFA-pjwoods.ch UEFA-pjwoods.ch

Group B: Latvia, Romania, England, Bulgaria; Group C: Georgia, Cyprus, Competitions Kazakhstan, Malta. Matches will be played between 15 and 21 January 2007 and the three group winners plus the best two runners- and other activities up will join the 23 teams which have Eight qualifiers qualified directly for the qualifying round. Qualifying round for the Netherlands Group 1: Italy, Belarus, France, winner Group A; THE CURRENT EDITION OF THE EUROPEAN UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP WILL BE Group 2: Ukraine, Andorra, Slovakia, COMPLETED IN 2007 AFTER AN EXCEPTIONALLY SHORT QUALIFYING PHASE TO ALLOW Israel; Group 3: Spain, Poland, FYR Macedonia, THE TRANSITION FROM EVEN TO ODD YEARS FOR THE STAGING OF THE FINAL ROUND. second-best preliminary round runner-up; Group 4: Netherlands, Serbia, Azerbaijan, As a result of the play-off matches on 6/7 and 10/11 October, seven best preliminary round runner-up; teams have qualified for next June’s tournament in the Netherlands, Group 5: Czech Republic, Croatia, where the Dutch hosts will be defending the title they won last spring. Bosnia and Herzegovina, winner Group C; The play-offs saw a number of spectacular turnarounds, such as the Group 6: Russia, Hungary, Greece, one achieved by Serbia, who lost 3-0 in the first leg but pulled off a 5-0 Lithuania; victory in the return leg in Sweden or Portugal, who lost 4-1 in Russia but came back Group 7: Slovenia, Belgium, Moldova, with a 3-0 win at home. winner Group B. The final round participants will be England, Italy, Belgium, Israel, the Nether- Tournament hosts in bold. lands, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Serbia. The draw to decide the composition Matches will be played between of the two groups will be held in Arnhem on 24 November. 18 and 25 February 2007. The seven group winners will take part in the final round in Porto from 16 to 25 November New format for the Group 4: Romania, Estonia, 2007. Portugal qualify automatically for Azerbaijan, Bulgaria; the final round. Women’s Championship Group 5: Wales, Kazakhstan, The tenth edition of the Faroe Islands, FYR Macedonia. UEFA competition for senior women’s Tournament hosts in bold. national teams will see a record The five group winners will join number of participants (46). the 25 teams that have qualified directly Launched in 1982 as the for the group stage. Matches will be “European Competition for played between 18 and 23 November. The Representative Women’s group stage draw will be held in Nyon Teams”, the competition on 13 December. was given European cham- pionship status for the 1989-91 edition. Last eight-team final Heavily dominated by Germany, who have won it six times, the coming edition round for futsal of the competition will see a format The European Futsal Cham- change with the expansion of the final pionship has also set a new partici- round – played in 2009 in Finland – from pation record: 36 associations have eight to 12 teams and the abolition of entered for the 2006-07 edition. the two-division qualifying system. This edition will be the A total of 20 teams will play in last to have eight teams the preliminary round. The draw held in in the final round, since Nyon on 9 October divided the teams the number will increase to up as follows: 12 in 2009. A total of 12 Group 1: Croatia, Northern teams are taking part in the preliminary Ireland, Georgia, Turkey; round and the draw held in Nyon on Group 2: Israel, Bosnia and 2 October resulted in the following Herzegovina, Latvia, Armenia; groups: PA/EMPICS England’s Wayne Routledge is quicker than Group 3: Slovakia, Malta, Group A: Finland, Albania, Germany’s Patrick Ochsson and helps see his team Luxembourg, Lithuania; Armenia, Turkey; through to the Under-21 final round.

11 The day before the The Luzhniki in Executive Committee Moscow hosted meeting, the UEFA the 1999 UEFA president and CEO paid a Cup final between visit to the Slovenian FA. Parma and Olympique de Marseille. NZS EMPICS

Other matters dealt with included Finals in Moscow and Manchester the Independent European Sport Review For the first time in its history, the Football Association of Slovenia and a number of European Union-related has played host to the UEFA Executive Committee, which held its fifth ordinary issues, such as the minimum contract con- meeting of the year in Ljubljana on 4 and 5 October. ditions for European professional foot- ballers drawn up under the European social With Lennart Johansson in the bahce) stadium in Istanbul (51,854 seats). dialogue by the Leagues and FIFPro Panel. chair, the Executive Committee took a Also looking at the finals to be held in the The document, approved by the Executive number of important decisions, such as following seasons, the Executive Commit- Committee, will be sent to FIFA. deciding on the host venues for the tee showed keen interest in the bids from European club competition finals in 2008 Wembley in London and the national Regulations on stadiums and security and 2009, following the recommenda- stadium in Bucharest, subject to comple- In addition, the committee tion of the Club Competitions Commit- tion of the construction or renovation approved the new regulations on stadium tee based on detailed analysis by the work concerned. infrastructure and security. The benefit here UEFA administration. The final of the With regard to national-team is that instructions which were previously 2007/08 UEFA Champions League will be competitions, the Executive Committee scattered throughout the regulations of staged at the Luzhniki stadium in decided, in the light of the preparations various competitions are now consolidated Moscow, which has an official capacity under way for EURO 2008, to defer a in two documents. From the 2007/08 of 84,745. The venue for the following decision regarding the hosts for EURO season, these two sets of regulations will season will be the Stadio Olimpico in 2012 from December 2006 to April 2007. apply to all UEFA competitions. Rome (81,093 seats). The three competing bids are from Italy, The Executive Committee also As regards the UEFA Cup, the Poland/Ukraine and Croatia/Hungary, and approved the National Football Body Licens- 2008 final was awarded to the City of the new deadline will allow further infor- ing Standard, version 2.0. The new version Manchester Stadium (48,000 seats) and mation to be gathered. was aligned to the new UEFA Club Licens- the 2008/09 competition will reach its Concerning the European Under- ing Manual, version 2.0. The aim is to climax at the Sükrü Saraçoglu (Fener- 21 Championship, the Swedish Football encourage the use of higher quality criteria Association will be staging the final round by licensing bodies. in 2009. Eight teams will be involved, With a view to making general A new provisional and the stadiums of Malmö, Helsingborg, improvements in European football, the member Gothenburg, Boras and Solna will be committee gave the green light to extend- the venues used. ing the HatTrick programme beyond 2008. Further to the separation of Serbia In addition, the committee The new programme will be presented to and Montenegro and the dissolution approved the regulations for the newest the UEFA Congress in Düsseldorf. A total of the Football Association of Serbia of the UEFA competitions, the European amount of CHF 700 million will be made and Montenegro, the Football Associa- Women’s Under-17 Championship, available under HatTrick to the national tion of Serbia became the official suc- the first edition of which will be played associations for 2008-2012. In addition, cessor of the former association. in 2007/08. for the current period, the Executive Com- The Football Association of Monte- The meeting also covered prepa- mittee approved the payment of a further negro, for its part, has applied to be- rations for the 31st Ordinary UEFA Con- CHF 60 million to the EURO Pool fund, come a member of UEFA, gress, which will take place in Düsseldorf which finances the HatTrick programme. and in Ljubljana the Ex- on 25 and 26 January 2007. The agenda This represents some CHF 600,000 per ecutive Committee and general programme were adopted. association per year for 2006/07. agreed to give it provi- sional membership pend- ing a decision by the next UEFA Congress, which EMPICS has sole authority to take Former AC a decision on full mem- Milan player bership. The UEFA Dejan Savicevic, president of Statutes give provisional the football members the same rights association of Montenegro. and obligations as full members, except the right to vote. Another request for membership is pending: that of the Gibraltar Football Association. So that there is enough time to analyse additional information relating to the case, this application will be considered again at the December meeting of the Executive Committee. NZS

12 uefadirect 11.06 The City of Sport in Manchester the spotlight Stadium. at the Council of Europe. CONSEIL DE L’EUROPE MANCHESTER CITY FC/EMPICS

Executive Committee accepted the Turk- Report from Coaching ish Football Federation’s application to become a member of the UEFA Conven- Brussels convention tion on the Mutual Recognition of All associations have Coaching Qualifications. Five committees of the All UEFA member associations have European Parliament have reached signed up now joined the convention, which aims the decisive stage in their discus- “The circle is complete,” rejoiced UEFA to constantly improve the quality of sions on the future of professional Technical Director Andy Roxburgh after the coach education by promoting the free football. During October, four of movement of workers as required by those committees – Economic Af- fairs, Employment, Internal Market European legislation. and Legal Affairs – completed work In Ljubljana, the Executive Commit- on their own formal opinions on tee accepted Turkey at B level. It also the matter. In December, the lead recognised Greece as a full member (B, committee – Education and Culture A and Pro licences). – will have the final say. Shortly before the opening of the A Flemish Liberal MEP, Executive Committee meeting, repre- Ivo Belet, is coordinating the entire sentatives of the associations of Bosnia process on behalf of the Education & Herzegovina, FYR Macedonia, Russia and Culture Committee, which co- and Serbia ratified the convention vers sports policy. Mr Be- NZS let had the difficult task The new signatories to the coaching convention after being admitted as full members with the UEFA president and CEO. last May. of finding common ground among five com- mittees, each with its own approach to profes- “Play Fair With Sport” – sional football. He crea- ted a working group conference in Strasbourg comprising the five MEPs Ivo Belet responsible for issuing the opinions, The call for political and sporting bodies to work together for the and managed to maintain some de- good of European sport was the message that came out loud and clear from the gree of harmony between their po- ‘Play Fair With Sport’ conference, held in Strasbourg on 29 September in sitions. conjunction with the Council of Europe. Mr Belet’s own committee In addition to the opening and The conference provided a forum will vote in December. It will pro- closing sessions, there were three main for prominent European politicians, repre- duce a final report of no more than areas to the conference: building better sentatives of UEFA and the world football 20 pages, including three or four relations between politics and sport, high- body FIFA, national football associations, pages of recommendations to the lighting examples of best practice and Europe’s professional leagues and clubs, European Commission and UEFA. The report will then go to the Euro- good governance in sport, and recommen- players’ unions and other team sport fede- pean Parliament’s plenary session dations for the future of European coope- rations to discuss and present their views in early 2007, when all 732 MEPs ration in the field of sport. on a variety of issues affecting football. will have the chance to vote on the The conference took place in UEFA CEO Lars-Christer Olsson set final text. Although the report will the context of several initiatives to improve the tone for the discussions when he said, have no legally binding effect, it the framework for sport in Europe. These “We are facing growing challenges – racism, will send a strong political signal to include the recently published Independent illegal betting, doping, corruption, players’ the European Commission and UEFA European Sport Review, proposed changes agents and match-fixing. All are jeopardi- about how it sees the future of the in the Council of Europe, the European sing the well-being of the game. Only by professional game. Commission white paper on sport, and the acting together can we address the root of Jean-Luc Bennahmias, a European Parliament report on professional the problems.” French Green MEP, drafted the opi- football. He continued, “We are trying to nion of the Employment Keynote speakers who addressed build transparency based on democracy, and and Social Affairs Com- the conference included René van der Lin- trying to provide good governance.” In par- mittee. Mr Bennahmias’s main concern was finan- den, president of the Parliamentary Assem- ticular the UEFA CEO was referring to the cial transparency, and he bly of the Council of Europe; Mathieu Spren- need for a secure legal framework with the proposed that an inde- gers and Lars-Christer Olsson, treasurer and European Union as the way forward for pendent European agency CEO of UEFA respectively; Viatcheslav Feti- football. should be set up that sov, chairman of the Federal Sports Agency “We need legal certainty, so that we would monitor financial Jean-Luc Bennahmias of the Russian Federation; Tanja Saarela, know what is going to happen, and we need transactions between professional minister of culture, Finland; and José Luís cooperation. We have become victims of case football clubs. Such an agency Arnaut, chairman of the Independent Euro- law, because we are being challenged more would comprise expert lawyers and pean Sport Review. and more by individuals and clubs.” ➜ accountants, and would have the ➜

13 José Luis Arnaut, ➜ chairman of power to impose sanctions directly the Independent on clubs. Review. Eoin Ryan, from Ireland, drafted the opinion of the Econo- mic Affairs Committee. Mr Ryan concentrated on the question of UEFA broadcasting rights and their impact on professional football. In his final text, Mr Ryan underlined the impor- tance of the central marketing of ➜ UEFA treasurer Mathieu Sprengers ■ to address the numerous problems facing broadcasting rights said: “We at UEFA try to promote a system European sport (racism, illegal betting, as the only way to where everyone in Europe can survive. Our doping, corruption, agents, match-fixing, ensure an equitable competitions bring in money which is spent governance, and so on). redistribution of on youth development and giving our 52 Present at the conference were revenue around the member associations a framework for orga- parliamentarians and officials from the sport. In particular, nising themselves in a proper way – and we Council of Europe, European Union and he argued that cen- will continue to act in this way.” European countries as well as representa- tral marketing was “fundamental to Eoin Ryan A concluding joint statement is- tives from sports bodies including FIFA, protecting the financial solidarity sued at the end of the conference outlined UEFA, European sports federations, EPFL, model of European football,” and the main goals as: FIFPro, individual clubs and supporter welcomed a “public debate on and ■ to introduce legal clarity and stability for representatives. further investigation by the Com- European sport; Together, these bodies are now mission into whether this model ■ to define the specificity of sport; hoping that their conclusions will gain sup- should be adopted across Europe ■ to recognise the autonomy of the sports port at the Council of Europe ministers of for both pan-European and domes- governing bodies; sport meeting in Moscow in October and tic competitions, as suggested by ■ to preserve the European sports model the EU sports ministers meeting in Brussels the Independent European Sport and European values; the following month. Review.” Toine Manders, a Dutch Libe- ral, produced the opinion that was Independent European Sport Review farthest from the approach and spirit Reaction generally favourable of the other four At the “Play Fair With Sport” conference held in Strasbourg on MEPs. Working on 29 September, the vast majority of speakers expressed full support for the behalf of the Inter- Independent European Sport Review. nal Market Commit- tee, Mr Manders Published in May under the ■ issues relating to news access believes that profes- chairmanship of José Luis Arnaut, the ■ the fight against ticket touting sional football Toine Manders review contains a series of recommenda- ■ hooliganism problems and collabora- should be treated like any other tions aimed at either the European tion between police authorities. form of commercial activity, and Union institutions or European football’s The review also recommends should therefore be subject to the governing bodies, or indeed both. that the European football authorities full range of internal market legisla- The review recommends that (UEFA and national associations) should tion. In his opinion, he called on the EU institutions, without delay, constantly re-examine their structures UEFA and FIFA to “scrutinise their give sports governing bodies greater and institutions in order to ensure that rules and regulations carefully to autonomy and legal certainty. Direc- they are sufficiently democratic and rep- determine whether they are trans- parently and democratically agreed tives, exemption regulations and other resentative. UEFA is encouraged to make and truly necessary and proportio- legislative instruments should be used improvements designed to establish per- nate for the achievement of the to provide legal certainty and coverage manent, organised consultation with all legitimate objectives they seek to in relation to matters such as: stakeholders, including supporters. pursue.” ■ the rule obliging clubs to release In addition, the review calls for Maria Berger, an Austrian players for their national teams greater administrative efficiency, so that socialist in the Legal Affairs Commit- ■ the pyramid structure of football and UEFA can assume all its responsibilities. tee, proposed in her recognition of the autonomy of sports UEFA is urged to update the opinion that “Euro- governing bodies financial solidarity system of the UEFA pean football needs ■ club licensing procedures Champions League by allocating a higher a level playing field, ■ central marketing of commercial proportion of revenue to grassroots in both economic rights football. and legal terms, for ■ the transfer system The review also proposes international com- ■ provisions relating to players’ agents measures such as a requirement for all petitions, but this is ■ a system for encouraging the local persons involved in football to show ruled out by the dif- Maria Berger training of players integrity and competence, the introduc- fering arrangements which apply ■ in individual member states, for a system for maintaining competitive tion of minimum standards of good example the rules on the marketing balance through cost control governance for UEFA and the national of television rights.” She therefore ■ protection of intellectual property associations, appropriate disciplinary calls on the European Commission rights for sports and fixture lists measures for combating racism and the to outline a systematic legal frame- ■ corrective mechanisms to secure the creation of anti-fraud bodies. On top work for the sport, thereby making financing of sport of that, UEFA and the national associa- for a greater degree of legal cer- ■ the fight against “ambush tions should offer an alternative to the tainty. marketing” ordinary civil courts by adopting appro-

14 uefadirect 11.06 Presentation Anti-racism Kaka’s of the review to the tournament participation media in May. in Serbia. in the SO European Youth Games was much appreciated. GETTY IMAGES FK SMEDEREVO SO ITALY

priate arbitration clauses – a measure Anti-racism tournament seven sports offered during the games that already implemented in 2006. involved athletes with learning disabilities The review also stresses the in the Balkans between the ages of 12 and 21 from 55 need for continuous, structured coop- In association with Serbian countries in Europe and Eurasia. Nine unified eration between the European political first-division club FK Smederevo, FARE teams competed, while representatives from institutions and European football’s Serbia and the Balkan Alpe Adria Project each team participated in a youth forum governing body. It says that there are a (BAAP), the Football Against Racism in that aimed to highlight the role young peo- number of matters that need to be Europe (FARE) network organised an in- ple and sport can play in generating social tackled in a coordinated manner by the ternational football tournament against inclusion. UEFA supported the games relevant authorities. discrimination and nationalism in the through its social responsibility portfolio. The EU institutions are urged Balkans this summer. to grant official recognition to UEFA as Teams from FYR Macedonia, Bosnia Homeless World Cup the governing body for European foot- and Herzegovina, Croatia, Bulgaria and Ser- ball and as the counterpart of the EU bia took part in the under-16 tournament, in Cape Town when dealing with football-related issues which brought together some 160 players The 4th Homeless World Cup in Europe. To this end, the review rec- in all. The event was supported by the King took place in Cape Town from 23 to 30 ommends the conclusion of a formal Baudouin Foundation (KBF) and UEFA. September. agreement between the EU and UEFA, For BAAP spokesman Alexander In the final, Russia beat Kaza- setting out the framework for bilateral Rakowitz, the tournament was a great khstan 1-0 and took over the trophy from relations and agreeing on a model of success and represented an important step last year’s winners, Italy. Some 500 players cooperation to safeguard the interests forward: from 48 countries took part in the tourna- of sport within the context of Commu- “The highlight was the joint party ment, which gives the homeless a tremen- nity law. for the players on Saturday evening, when dous opportunity to turn their lives around. The final version of the review, the youngsters sang and danced together. Financial support from UEFA – in the form taking into account the reactions and To see how the helpers and young people of a CHF 1 million donation made at the comments of the parties involved, is partied together beyond all ethnic and reli- Monaco pre-season events last year – gave about to be published and will be avail- gious differences, building bridges across the event a higher profile and, as a result, able via the uefa.com website or at the divides riven by the civil war, was very the importance of fighting poverty and www.independentsportreview.com moving and encouraging for the future.” football’s social impact to be highlighted Alongside the tournament, the more effectively. Around 250 media repre- first-division clash between FK Smederevo sentatives followed the event, which moves and Mladost Apatin was staged according to Denmark for its 2007 edition. A major step forward to the motto ‘Show Racism the Red Card’. ■ In Slovakia, the Friendship and “For the leagues and clubs, adop- Tolerance Cup was played in Kokava and tion of the recommendations of the In- Rimavicou at the end of September. Organ- dependent European Sport Review ised by FARE partner Ludia proti rasizmu (the would be a major step forward,” said people against racism) with the support of Sir David Richards, chairman of UEFA’s FARE and the Slovak FA, the tournament Professional Football involved six mixed teams of Roma and other Committee, following a players under the anti-racism banner. A work- meeting of the commit- shop for Roma coaches was organised on tee, which comprises the same occasion. league presidents and directors as well as repre- Sir David Special Olympics sentatives of the national Richards, chair- European Youth Games associations and clubs. man of UEFA’s Professional During the Special Olympics ■ Meeting in Brus- Football European Youth Games, held in Rome sels, the European team- Committee and of the from 30 September to 5 October, Kaka, sport federations of bas- Premier League AC Milan player and Brazilian Interna- ketball (FIBA Europe), in England. tional paid a visit to the event. handball (EHF), ice hockey (IIHF), volley- Everybody, from athletes to staff ball (CEV) and football (UEFA) also ex- and volunteers, gave him an exuberant pressed support for the review, stress- welcome. Kaka was generous with his time, ing the social, educational and cultural visiting venues, signing autographs, posing role of sport and the need to preserve for cameras and kicking a football around the European sports model with its with athletes. pyramid structure, as well as the inde-

Special Olympics Unified Football, MARK WESSELS/ICON IMAGES pendence and autonomy of sports au- in which players with and without disabili- Russia’s captain holds aloft the thorities. ties play on a team together, was one of World Homeless Cup.

15 two superb strikes by Faris Haroun. Our Under-21s are thus on the brink of a magnificent achievement, but to qualify they had to overcome Bulgaria News in the two-legged play-off matches in October. from member associations Pierre Cornez

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA ARMENIA Good result for the U17s The Bosnia and Herzegovina New mini-pitches in Stepanavan Under-17 team finished top of Group 1 On 20 September, the Football in the qualifying competition played in Federation of Armenia (FFA) presented the Slovakia for the 2007 European Cham- children of the small provincial town of pionship final round. This is a great Stepanavan with the gift of a mini-pitch, result for the young team of Bosnia constructed as part of the mini-pitch project and Herzegovina. They won two games, within UEFA’s HatTrick scheme. The official one against Wales (2-0) and one against opening ceremony was conducted by FFA PHOTO NEWS Moldova (2-1), and incurred their only president Ruben Hayrapetyan and the The Red Devils celebrate after Daniel Van Buyten’s defeat against Slovakia (2-1). The play- mayor of Stepanavan. The FFA president goal against Armenia. ers of head coach Velimir Stojnic fin- explained that another pitch will be opened ished level on six points with Slovakia in Stepanavan, and expressed the hope that Following a rather disappointing (who ultimately finished in second such projects will help children to leave draw in their first home match with Kazakh- place) and Wales, but clinched the top the streets and form a basis for the develop- stan, the senior national team simply had to berth and a place in the next round ment of future professional footballers. beat the Armenians in Yerevan on 6 August by having scored more goals in the group At the present time, 30 mini-pitches if they wanted to stay in the running to matches. This success shows the Foot- have already been constructed in Yerevan qualify for EURO 2008. Despite the difficult ball Federation of Bosnia and Herze- and the regions. When the programme is conditions, the team showed character and govina (FF BHZ) took the right decision complete, all mini-pitches will be handed over took all three points. The opening minutes when it set up four fully national youth to the care of the local authorities. of the match were not easy for the Belgian leagues. Arayik Manukyan players. However, they quickly raised their game and created several goal-scoring op- portunities. The chances all went begging initially, until in the 40th minute, Daniel Van Buyten found the net with a superb header. There were no further goals, despite a trickier second half for the “Red Devils”. After two matches, Belgium therefore have four points, the same number as Serbia, whom they faced in Belgrade on 7 October. Our Under-21 team is pursu- ing the same objective as the senior team: qualification for the European FFA Championship finals. To achieve A mini-pitch and plenty of balls for the this, they needed to finish on top youngsters of Stepanavan. of Group 4 in order to contest the play-off matches, the winners of The Women’s which go through to the final round. Under-19 Their opponents were Greece and the match between Republic of Ireland. Jean-François de Bosnia & Sart’s players opened their campaign with Herzegovina BELGIUM and the Czech a match in Ireland on 1 September. The task Republic. was far from easy, but our team won 1-0 Excellent results for Belgian thanks to a 58th minute goal by Maarten national teams Martens. The Belgians therefore had their August and September were destiny in their own hands when they very significant months for two of our rep- hosted Greece in Antwerp on 6 September. resentative teams. While the “Red Devils” A draw would have sufficed to guarantee travelled to Armenia for a EURO 2008 quali- them first place, but they managed fier, our Under-21 team contested two to win the game. After falling qualifying matches for the 2007 European behind, they managed to net

Under-21 Championship final round. twice in the second half with F. KRVAVAC

16 uefadirect 11.06 Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has for the second time played host to a qualifying tournament in the European Women’s Under-19 Cham- pionship. The Group 11 matches were played at the Asim Ferhatovic Hase stadi- um and the Zeljeznicar stadium in the Grbavica district of the city. Besides the host nation, the other contenders came from Belarus, the Czech Republic and Finland. After six games in three rounds, Finland finished in first place, ahead of the Czech Republic, Belarus, and Bosnia and Herze- govina. The Under-21 national team achieved a fine result in their qualifying group for next year’s final round in the Netherlands. First, they beat Armenia 3-2 in Zenica in the middle of August, and then at the beginning of the September,

Ibrahim Zukanovic’s selection drew 1-1 HNS with Norway in Stavanger, leaving them The national side’s new technical team – left to right: Marjan Mrmic, Slaven Bilic, Zorislav Srebric top of the group and in with a chance of (general secretary), Aljosa Asanovic, Nikola Jurcevic and Robert Prosinecki. a place in the final round, provided that they beat the Czech Republic at the be- coaches Aljosa Asanovic, Nikola Jurcevic from Azerbaijan, Greece and Sweden ginning of October. and Marjan Mrmic and staff member joined the home club from 12 to 15 Moving up to senior level and the Robert Prosinecki, who will act as the October. EURO 2008 qualifiers, Bosnia and Herze- official observer. Drazen Ladic has been We are also very satisfied with govina, in Group C, beat Malta 5-2 away, appointed as the new Under-21 coach. everything that has been done in cooper- but lost 3-1 against Hungary in Zenica. The general public accepted this decision ation with the Hungarian Football Fed- It was the national team’s first defeat at with great satisfaction. Players who eration in our bid to host EURO 2012. the Bilino polje stadium in Zenica. Hasan achieved the greatest success in the his- The Croatian people, government and Salihamidzic, the Bayern Munich player, tory of Croatian football to date by win- parliament of the Republic of Croatia, who has played for Bosnia and Herze- ning a bronze medal in the 1998 World the host cities and all the institutions govina for ten years, has announced his Cup in France enjoy a great reputation. involved wholeheartedly welcome this retirement from the national team. He Most of them have since qualified as project. Therefore, it is with great opti- scored the national team’s first-ever goal top-level coaches, which is very impor- mism that we look forward to the final when it was formed. That was against tant for the further development of the UEFA decision. Croatia in a 1998 World Cup qualifying quality of Croatian football. Ante Pavlovic match played in Bologna, Italy, which Bosnia The team got off to a success- and Herzegovina lost 4-1. ful start under its new coaching staff Elvir Bolic (36), who holds the with a draw in Moscow and a win over record for the number of caps and goals Andorra before playing against England in the national team (51/24 respectively), ENGLAND in Croatia. Our match against England has also announced that he is hanging up also reminded us of the first football that his boots. He played his last game for his was brought to Croatia from England in Developing the game country against Hungary, in the same sta- 1880 and that the first Croatian football The Football Association (FA) dium as where he began his playing championship in 1912 was organised in is currently developing a new vision for career with NK Celik, the Bilino polje accordance with the Laws of the Game football, covering every area of the game stadium in Zenica. translated from the English original. beneath the elite Barclays Premiership Fuad Krvavac We expected much more from and Football League from 2007 and our clubs in the UEFA club competition leading up to the 2012 London Olympics. qualifying rounds. Due the constant exo- The vision will cover football develop- dus of players abroad, it is difficult for ment, facilities, child protection, equality, our clubs to sustain their quality. Expert referees, administration, rules, regula- CROATIA bodies in our federation are, however, tions, competitions and volunteers. in the process of seeking a solution that Over the past five years, The FA New head coach will enable our clubs to match the suc- has worked across the country with lead- The executive committee of the cess of our national team. ing organisations to deliver a football Croatian Football Federation took a very We are satisfied with the grass- development strategy, which has achieved important decision by entrusting the roots activities held in the summer within the following success: management of the Croatian national the framework of the Open Fun Foot- ■ £300 million invested in grassroots team in the EURO 2008 qualifying com- ball Schools and Youth Games. The num- facilities petition to former famous Croatian ber of participants is increasing every ■ 13,500 primary schools received free players, headed by the new head year, including for the veterans’ competi- equipment coach, Slaven Bilic. tions. We are also pleased that our futsal ■ 14,000 disabled people now enjoying The new tech- champions, MNK Split, are once again the chance to play structured football nical staff will be com- hosting a main round mini-tournament ■ girls’ football is now the biggest female posed of assistant in the UEFA Futsal Cup, for which clubs sport

17 ■ supported 3,000 clubs and 4,000 titions. The tenth Finnish futsal champi- sport for talented girls and boys. By set- schools to achieve The FA’s kitemark – ons will be crowned on 10 February ting up Elite Football Schools, we have the Charter Standard Award 2007 and the cup winners decided on taken another step towards providing ■ trained over 100,000 Level One 3 March. our most talented youngsters with opti- coaches. Kalle Marttinen mal support,” said Zwanziger, who is The FA was one of the first convinced that, in just a few years, Ger- associations to be awarded the UEFA many will have an extensive network of Charter Mark for its work in developing 35 to 40 Elite Football Schools. grassroots football and is now relishing GERMANY Stephan Brause its role as a mentor to other associations to help them develop their programmes. Increased support for schools In order to keep modernising and youth football and improving the game at all levels, it Football and schools were LATVIA is important for The FA to understand two of the main themes of the first few what is needed to help the core areas of weeks of Theo Zwanziger’s term as presi- player development, providing good ex- dent of the German Football Association Prime minister presents periences for all involved in the game (DFB). Only four days after he was elect- Latvian Cup and improving standards. The FA is there- ed as the DFB’s tenth president by an The Latvian prime minister, fore currently undertaking a mass survey overwhelming majority of delegates at Aigars Kalvitis, presented the Latvian of football to get views from all involved the association’s extraordinary general Cup to the winners of the final on on how to take the game forward. meeting in Frankfurt, Theo Zwanziger, 24 September, FHK Liepajas Metalurgs. “The vision will be the blueprint by which accompanied by German internationals The whole day was a celebration – 100 we hope to encourage all aspects of the years of football in Latvia was celebrated game to transform development over with children’s matches, a celebrity the next six years,” said Sir Trevor Brook- match just before the final, fireworks ing, The FA’s Director of Football Devel- and other entertainment for spectators opment. and football fans. To make the connec- The FA will deliver its new tion between historical football and grassroots strategy in spring 2007. Visit youth football, Latvian football veterans TheFA.com/YourGameYourSay for more presented the trophy to the winners of information. Bev Ward the children’s competition. The celebrity match featured well-known athletes and politicians, as well as media representa- tives, football veterans and Latvian Foot-

DFB ball Federation staff. They were coached DFB president Theo Zwanziger (right) by former Latvian head coach Aleksandrs FINLAND and director of sport Matthias Sammer launch Starkovs and former Daugava club coach the schools football initiative. Janis Skredelis – both of whom have Tenth anniversary of futsal done a lot for the development of 2007 is a big year for Finnish Arne Friedrich and Anja Mittag, launched Latvian football. football. The FA of Finland celebrates its the DFB’s schools football project. Under During “Green Week” in Sep- centenary and it is also the tenth anni- the slogan “Schools and football – a tember, Latvian children from three versary of futsal starting up in Finland. great team”, the DFB will be giving schools prepared and presented “green” In 1997, futsal got off the ground in Fin- timetables and posters to children at all shopping bags to Latvian striker Maris land with 17 teams (men’s and women’s) German primary schools in the next Verpakovskis (Dynamo Kiev). All the taking part in a two-day tournament. few weeks. In addition, DFB sponsor schools involved were invited to make Today, we have over 1,500 teams of all adidas will be donating 340,000 shirts environmentally friendly shopping bags ages. Since 1998, Finland has also been and 85,000 footballs to the project. for famous people in Latvia. Maris prom- part of the international futsal circuit. “This schools football project is a great ised that the bags he received would We have taken part in two World Cham- way of bringing people together and a help him to minimise his plastic bag “col- pionship and four European Champi- fantastic opportunity for the DFB to give lection” at home. onship qualifying competitions, but with- something back to the schoolchildren out great success. Our jubilee year starts who gave our team such great support with a European Championship prelimi- during the World Cup, for example,” nary mini-tournament in Vantaa, where Zwanziger said. Finland play host to Albania, Armenia In mid-September, the DFB and Turkey. The winners of this group will president and the association’s sports travel to Italy for the main round. director, Matthias Sammer, certified the Our domestic futsal season Lausitzer Sportschule Cottbus as Ger- starts in mid-October with the first round many’s first “Elite Football School”. This of the Finnish Futsal Cup. For the com- title is given to well-functioning school- ing season, we have regional leagues academy-association networks which ranging from boys’ and girls’ leagues to guarantee that the best young German women’s and veterans’ leagues, while at footballers receive comprehensive help national level we have a premier league and support with both their sporting

(ten teams), first division (24 teams in and academic careers. “The Elite Foot- LFF three groups), and a veterans’ league in ball Schools will, in the future, be an Prime minister Aigars Kalvitis congratulates three different age groups. There are essential building block in lightening the the president of FHK Liepajas Metalurgs, Sergey separate men’s and women’s cup compe- dual burden of school and top-level Zaharjin.

18 uefadirect 11.06 November brings the football The LFV president, Reinhard season in Latvia to a close. The last match Walser, said that UEFA’s decision to mark in the first division takes place on 5 No- its golden jubilee by giving mini-pitches vember and it is still anyone’s guess as to to all its 52 member associations fol- the finishing order in the top five places, lowed the principle of “Back to the though FK Ventspils have held on to first roots, back to street football”. Football place throughout the season. Finishing in was predestined to be a school of life: the top four secures a club a place in next “Young people learn respect, tolerance, year’s Baltic league, which will bring to- winning and losing. They are the best gether the four strongest clubs from each characteristics of football,” he said. of the Baltic states. Schaan-based Reverend Rainer Martins Hartmanis Bandel pronounced the blessing, read from the letter to the Corinthians and

spoke a word of warning about why a D.AQUILINA blessing made sense.“It is like a skier Group photo at the official opening who needs good equipment. Footballers of the Pembroke mini-pitch. LIECHTENSTEIN need it as well with this mini-pitch. We hope that there will be fewer accidents Third mini-pitch opened and pray that God will protect the users The Malta FA is confident that these facilities will contribute greatly to- The mini-pitch at the Liechten- of this facility,” he said. Judith Frommelt wards fostering a deeper love for the stein sports school in Schaan has been in game among the country’s younger gener- operation since the end of May. On 16 ation. September, it was given an official bless- Alex Vella ing by Reverend Bandel. Guests at the opening ceremony included prominent figures from the worlds of sport, politics MALTA and the Church. Inauguration of mini-pitches MOLDOVA Four mini-pitches were recently inaugurated under the HatTrick scheme, Open Fun Football School part of UEFA’s assistance programmes launched in jubilee year 2004. As one of With the help of UEFA and of UEFA’s 52 member associations and a Norway, Denmark and Switzerland, “Open beneficiary of the programme, the Malta Fun Football Schools” have been launched FA lost no time in implementing this proj- in Moldova. This programme is of tremen- ect for the benefit of youngsters around dous value for 7-12 year-olds. The official the country. opening of the first school of this kind was The latest pitches were opened preceded by a seminar attended by 116 in two localities in Malta and Gozo. The leaders and coaches from Moldova and construction of 35 pitches in the vicinity instructors from Azerbaijan, Armenia, of several towns and villages on the two Georgia, Kazakhstan, FYR Macedonia and islands reflects UEFA’s grassroots philo- Serbia. The ceremony was also attended by the minister of education and youth of LFV sophy of providing the proper infrastruc- Moldova, Victor Tvircun, who said that this Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder (left) and Reinhard ture for youngsters to enjoy football and Walser unveil the UEFA commemorative plaque. practise other sporting disciplines at a kind of project contributed enormously young age. to the education of children in a contem- porary way and that he supported this Host Marius Sialm, who is in Minister of Gozo Giovanna Debono, who inaugurated the mini- project with a great pleasure. charge of the sports school project, is de- In front of the more than 200 lighted at the mini-pitch’s popularity: “It is pitches at Qala and San Lawrenz, had words of praise for the project, under- children and their parents who were at the probably a world record. Although school Buiucani stadium, Anders Levinsen, direc- doesn’t start until 7.45, the pitch is already taken by the clubs of the area with the collaboration of the local councils, assist- tor of the “Open Fun Football Schools” being used at 7.15 every morning,” he programme, expressed thanks for the con- explains. ed by UEFA and the Malta FA. In her address, she emphasised the importance tribution of the Moldovan Football Associ- Deputy prime minister Klaus ation towards the foundation of the first Tschütscher described the mini-pitch as a of youngsters being able to play sport in unique project which had brought UEFA, a safe and healthy environment. the LFV, the national coach, politicians Subsequently, a delegation con- and the Church together and he thanked sisting of UEFA representatives, MFA pre- them for their efforts. At the same time, sident Joseph Mifsud and vice-presidents he hoped that all the other local authori- Carmel Bartolo and Ludovico Micallef, ties would follow suit and put sport on as well as Gozo FA president Joe Cordina, the map. general secretary Elvin Grech and Gozo Patron of the Liechtenstein Foot- youth FA official Felix Apap visited the ball Association and Executive Committee mini-pitches and attended the activities member, Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder, also held at the two localities. The two mini- attended the opening. “We used to have pitches inaugurated in Malta were at Ra- street football; now we are simulating bat and Pembroke, which have extensive that with this ‘learning by doing’ project,” catchment areas in the north and along B.HARCENCO he said. the east coast of the island, respectively. Seminar for coaches and instructors.

19 eight schools of this kind in Moldova and number of times that each player had pos- tive learning experience. If a child’s first also thanked the instructors for their ef- session of the ball, the number of passes experience is positive, he or she will forts. “Everything that has happened dur- received and given, and the shots at goal, hopefully continue to be involved in ing this five days in Chisinau is more than the onlookers had a perfect idea of what football long into the future as a player, I’d expected,” he said. “The standard of it is to change from playing 7 versus 7 on coach referee or administrator.” organisation was high, which is why we a small pitch to playing 11 versus 11 on a Further information on the CIS completed our purpose with success.” full-sized pitch. Mini-Soccer Centres will be posted This event coincided with World Rob de Leede regularly on the grassroots pages of the Heart Day, and Eleonora Vataman, chief Irish FA’s official website: www.irishfa.com. cardiologist of the ministry of health, ■ A year has passed since the wished everyone good health. IFA Junior Supporters’ Scheme began Vasile Vatamanu NORTHERN and the anniversary has been marked by IRELAND the launch of two brand-new member- ship packs plus additional exciting bene- Co-operative Insurance boosts fits, and the introduction of new team NETHERLANDS grassroots sport mascot ‘Footie’. Co-operative Insurance (CIS), Designed by five-year-old which recently extended its sponsorship of Calum Donnell, an avid national-team Grassroots below sea level the CIS Insurance Cup until 2008, provid- fan and a current Junior Supporter, Eight European football asso- ed a major boost to grassroots football in Footie was unveiled at the Northern Ire- ciations (representing Andorra, Belgium, Northern Ireland by announcing that it is land v Iceland match to rapturous ap- France, Italy, Portugal, Romania, San to sponsor the Irish Football Association’s plause as the teams warmed up before Marino and Spain) spent four useful and Mini-Soccer Centres. the match. Since then, he has been busy enjoyable days at the heart of the Dutch making his debut TV appearance and ac- football association in Zeist attending the companying Junior Supporters to his fifth UEFA regional grassroots workshop in first-ever NI open training session, where early October. The event got off to a flying he met Lawrie Sanchez and the team. start with speeches from FIFA Executive Footie was also one of the loudest fans Committee member Michel D’Hooghe and cheering on David Healy when he scored UEFA treasurer Mathieu Sprengers, who a fantastic hat-trick against Spain on 6 acted as hosts on the opening night. September at Windsor Park, resulting in The idea was to offer best prac- a spectacular 3-2 victory! tices from grassroots football and present There are now two different Ju- them to associations which have less expe- nior Supporter membership packs on of- rience of grassroots football. Former Dutch fer (0-8 and 9-15 years), which include women’s international Vera Pauw, who IFA lots of exciting new items. In addition, used to coach Scotland’s women’s team “Footie” the mascot. each Junior Supporter also receives a and now coaches the Dutch women’s 10% discount off IFA branded goods at the IFA shop (20 Windsor Avenue, Belfast) team, was one of the speakers giving ex- The mini-soccer centres will pro- and online (www.irishfa.com). They also amples of girls’ and women’s football. vide fun and informal football coaching get the chance to be match mascot at Incidentally, on the eve of the based around small-sided games for boys international games, have access to workshop, some 5,000 coaches and team and girls aged between 6 and 12. The Irish exclusive members-only web pages and leaders of under-11 club teams attended FA will be licensing a minimum of 40 such competitions, and have the chance to kick-off meetings for club coaches and team centres throughout Northern Ireland dur- attend a national team training session. leaders. These meetings have become a ing 2006/07. The CIS Mini-Soccer Centres Further details can be found on tradition at the beginning of each season will be run at local sports centres by quali- www.irishfa.com and invite newcomers to the job to have a fied coordinators who must hold a mini- At international matches, the look at the training and coaching of youth mum Level 3 coaching award. team line-up has recently been doubled players at grassroots level. This year, the Aileen Walters, sponsorship man- to now include 22 mascots accompany- idea was to study under-11 players at ager for Co-operative Insurance (CIS), said: ing the players onto the pitch. All the work in training. By merely counting the “CIS has a strong tradition of supporting lucky mascots have their photographs football at grassroots level throughout the taken with “Footie”, receive an exclusive UK through our “Kits for Kids” and coach- ‘Junior Supporter Match Mascot’ T-shirt, ing initiatives. The CIS Mini-Soccer Centres have their details published in the match will provide an ideal platform for extend- programme and get their pictures dis- ing this support throughout Northern played on the big screen at matches. Ireland with activities which link to our Caroline Menary sponsorship of the CIS Insurance Cup. This is a very exciting sponsorship for us and underlines our commitment to the game at all levels in Northern Ireland.” Ian Stewart, grassroots develop- SERBIA ment manager for the Irish FA, said: “We are delighted that CIS has agreed to spon- sor the mini-soccer centres. Breakfast with the president “CIS Mini-Soccer centres will often UEFA president Lennart

KNVB be children’s first serious introduction to Johansson welcomed Serbian FA presi- Presentation by UEFA technical director Andy football and we believe they will provide a dent Zvezdan Terzic and general secre- Roxburgh at the grassroots football seminar. fun, enjoyable, safe, rewarding and posi- tary Miroljub Rajic to a working breakfast

20 uefadirect 11.06 At the end of the meeting, the Serbian officials presented the UEFA SWEDEN president with a new red Serbian na- tional team shirt displaying No.10 and his surname, a monograph entitled Stadium modernisation plans “110 years of football in Serbia” and a Borås Arena, home to top club Serbian FA medallion. IF Elfsborg since 2005, was the first mod- Aleksandar Boskovic ern football venue of greater capacity to be built in Sweden since 1958. After years of neglect, venue development is now speeding up in Sweden. The new national stadium will be ready in 2011 and through- SLOVAKIA out the country several top division clubs are looking forward to new stadiums or Reminiscence after 30 years thorough renovations of their existing are- The Slovakia v Czech Republic nas within a few years. This trend also em- European Championship qualifying braces top women’s football, where clubs match which took place in Bratislava like Jitex, Linköping and Kopparbergs/Göte- on 6 September had something extra borg will be able to move their game to special to it: it was a match between new grounds in the near future.

FA OF SERBIA FA two countries sharing not only the same Based on their shared values, border but also the same history. By the football movement and the Church of Zvezdan Terzic (left) and Miroljub Rajic Sweden have initiated cooperation. Among present UEFA president Lennart Johansson coincidence, it was the former Czecho- with “110 years of football in Serbia”. slovakia that won the European title obvious things like fundraising for Church in Belgrade 30 years ago, beating the of Sweden Aid (Lutherhjälpen) at football matches, the cooperation will also be about in Geneva as a mark of respect for the FR of Germany 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in normal time. the FA’s football school for youngsters. leaders of the new national association. Topics like ethics and justice will be woven Following the referendum in which The qualifying match in Bratislava thus provided a unique oppor- into the footballing education and Church Montenegro voted for independence, of Sweden Aid will also promote their Serbia is now a separate member of tunity to recall this famous event. As a result of collaboration between the Slo- global work with football as a tool for UEFA. helping streetchildren. The aim is to recruit The Serbian FA leaders in- vak and Czech FAs, a wonderful memo- rial event was organised for the key some 65,000 boys and girls and some formed the UEFA president about new 7,500 leaders for the football schools held footballing structures, plans and ideas in participants in this European Champi- onship. in 675 clubs in summer 2007. Serbia, whose FA is the officially recog- Thomas Saleteg nised successor to the association of the The night before the qualifier, former Serbia-Montenegro and previ- most of the original players from the ously of the former Yugoslavia. Serbia is Belgrade game in 1976 gathered at the now determined to be a stronger part- SAS Radisson Carlton hotel in Bratislava ner in modern football. It is a priority for to reminisce about the greatest success SWITZERLAND the FA to develop contacts and relation- in the common history of Czecho- ships with European organisations and slovakian football. Led by 1976 assis- everybody in Belgrade wishes to cooper- tant coach Jozef Venglos, everyone More respect on our ate with and contribute to the work of remembered the victorious chip shot by football pitches UEFA. Antonín Panenka from the penalty spot Against the background of the Lennart Johansson in turn and recalled legendary head coach recent drop in standards of respect to- welcomed the Serbian initiative and Václav Jezek, who passed away some wards opponents and referees in grass- the shared outlook on the way ahead in years ago. The congenial atmosphere roots football in Switzerland, with a corre- football development. He agreed that the night before the match proved once sponding increase in the number of sanc- there was scope for greater Serbian in- again that even now, 13 years after the tions and suspensions, the 13 regional volvement in the work of the UEFA bod- division of Czechoslovakia, Slovakia associations of the Swiss FA (SFV) are con- ies. Finally, the UEFA president added and the Czech Republic are still partners sidering measures designed to stop this that he was very happy because both in the fraternity of football. negative trend. Serbia and Montenegro had displayed Klaudo Slanco The SFV board has decided to honourable and sporting attitudes as support the regions in their efforts. A well as great respect in the wake of the working group headed by technical direc- political decision. tor Hansruedi Hasler has been making an After a productive dialogue, initial review of the situation. The subject Zvezdan Terzic said: “We want to play a is to be discussed at the amateur league major role in the European football fam- presidents’ conference on 11 November. ily and we will build a solid basis for do- The aim is to draw up and propose meas- ing so. The cooperation between UEFA ures for grassroots football throughout and the Serbian FA will continue and Switzerland with an eye to the 2007/08 will have only positive results. Today we season. looked at a wide range of issues and The further development of found some good solutions. We are grassroots football in Switzerland will de- definitely on the same side in football. SFZ pend very much on whether greater respect We are focusing on the future and so Remembering the 1976 European on football pitches can be achieved. the future will be better for all of us.” Championship final. Pierre Benoit

21 TURKEY

Love of football beyond disabilities The Turkish Football Association (TFA) initiated a new project under the name of “Turkey Plays Football” in April and started to actively support disabled football and serve society through football. The first and major step for the TFA was to create a coordination commit- tee. Once that was done, the TFA started supporting the four federations responsible for disabled sports activities in Turkey. With the motto of “Love of foot- ball beyond disabilities” the committee FFU started to publicise the project. Before Turk- A project for young people. cell super league games, teams of disabled footballers played matches which were The main purpose of these league club. He quickly gained a reputa- broadcast live by the official broadcaster. studies is to boost the physical fitness of tion as a strong tackling left back and as a National coach Fatih Terim kicked off one schoolchildren and improve their health, 22 year-old, he won an amateur cap those matches and the media showed a to get them more involved in physical edu- against England in 1939. great interest in all the activities. cation and sport, to raise the standard of The war interrupted his playing During the same period, national player training, and to teach the basics of career, and in 1946 he joined the pre-emi- championships were staged in every cate- football in the classroom. nent South Wales amateur club, Cardiff gory and around 2,000 disabled players The initiative targets children who Corinthians. After his playing days, he took part. want to combine school work and foot- stayed with the club, first as manager, then The long-term aim of the TFA is ball, from primary school level through to as chairman. In 1960, he was elected to to establish disabled football, by creating the level of the national youth teams. the Welsh Football League Management permanent leagues, among other things, The idea is to ensure continu- Committee, becoming vice-chairman from and to give disabled people the opportunity ous and regular football training for select- 1971 to 1973 and chairman from 1973 to to play football. ed talented children. The football classes 1975. After his term of office, he contin- Omer Gursoy are set to start at the beginning of the ued to sit on the committee, being elected 2006/07 school year. Competitions will be organised from 2007/08 once all the preparations are complete. Ukrainian football as a whole, but especially children’s and youth foot- ball, will benefit from this project, as foot- ball is such an active and popular sport. Valeriy Nykonenko

WALES

Distinction for Thomas R. Forse The Football Association of Wales held a commemorative dinner on 22 September to present Thomas R. Forse FAW

TFF with a gold medal for completing 40 years Thomas Forse with FAW president Peter Rees and FIFA president Joseph S. Blatter. Creating an opportunity for the disabled of service on the council of the FAW. to play football. The FAW was honoured and privileged that the FIFA president, Joseph a life member of the league in 1981 and S. Blatter, was able to attend and make the life vice-president in 1992. In 1999, he the presentation to Tommy. The delightful became president of the league. UKRAINE evening marked a wonderful achievement His contribution to the game in by Tommy and capped many years of South Wales was quickly noted, and in service. February 1966, Tommy was elected to the School football classes Few individuals have contributed council of the Football Association of Wales. The cooperation agreement to Welsh football as both player and He chaired the senior international com- between the Ministry for Education and administrator as Tommy Forse. His playing mittee from 1979 to 1982, and after serv- Science and the Football Federation of career began when he and a group of ing as vice-president, he was elected presi- Ukraine to introduce football practice in friends formed a club to play on the Cardiff dent of the association between 1989 and Ukrainian schools was signed in 2001. parks. His talent was spotted by former 1992. Afterwards, he was elected life vice- In August 2006, the FFU applied to the Cardiff City legend Jimmy Blair and he president of the association. ministry to set up football classes. signed amateur forms for the football David G. Collins

22 uefadirect 11.06 UEFA

Notice

On 8 September, Theo Zwanziger was elected president of the German Foot- Communications ball Association by an extraordinary Birthdays – Calendar general assembly.

Match agents

Two licensed UEFA match agents – Alan Birthdays ● Jan Fasung (Slovakia, 17.11) Goodman and David Watson from England ● Dumitru Mihalache (Romania, 18.11) – have surrendered their licences. FIFA vice-president David H. Will (Scotland) ● Knarik Abelyan (Armenia, 18.11) celebrates his 70th birthday on 20 November. ● Jacques Liénard (France, 19.11) On 28 November, UEFA Executive Committee ● Horst R. Schmidt (Germany, 19.11) New publications ● member Marios N. Lefkaritis (Cyprus) turns Petr Fousek (Czech Republic, 19.11) Tackling racism in club football ● Katrin Riechert (Switzerland, 19.11) 60, a milestone that disciplinary inspector In collaboration with FARE (Football ● Joeke de Jong (Netherlands, 21.11) Gerhard Kapl (Austria) reaches earlier in the Against Racism in Europe), UEFA has ● Jyrki Filppu (Finland, 22.11) month, on 11 November, referee observer produced a guide for ● Jonas Braga (Lithuania, 25.11) Jean Lemmer (Luxembourg) on the 15th, clubs to help them ● Zbigniew Przesmycki (Poland, 26.11) Medical Committee member Paolo Zeppilli combat racism and any ● Styrbjörn Oskarsson (Finland, 26.11) (Italy) on the 19th and match delegate Jean- other form of discri- ● Marcos Del Cuadro (Switzerland, 26.11) Louis Piette (France) on the 20th. Mike Foster mination. The docu- ● Aimé Jacquet (France, 27.11) (England), member of the Leagues and ment defines key prin- ● Ante Vucemilovic-Simunoviv (Croatia, 28.11) FIFPro Panel reaches the half-century mark ciples for action, illus- ● Marko Ilesic (Slovenia, 29.11) on 4 November. trating them with ● Wolfgang Niersbach (Germany, 30.11) UEFA also wishes many happy returns to: specific measures and ● Marc Batta (France, 1.11) approaches already ● Josef Krula (Czech Republic, 1.11) adopted by clubs that are active in the ● György Szilágyi (Hungary, 2.11) Upcoming events fight against racism. ● Francesco Bianchi (Switzerland, 2.11) The guide has been produced in English, ● Gero Bisanz (Germany, 3.11) Meetings French, German, Italian, Russian and ● Micky Zager (Israel, 4.11) Spanish. ● Lennart Johansson (Sweden, 5.11) 9.11.2006, Nyon ● Fernand Meese (Belgium, 5.11) Professional Football Committee The European Book of Football ● Mircea Pascu (Romania, 6.11) 24.11.2006, Arnhem 2006/2007 ● Jean-Claude Jourquin (Belgium, 6.11) Draw for the 2006/07 European Under-21 Edited by Mike Hammond and publi- ● Peter Westenthaler (Austria, 6.11) Championship final round shed by Mpress (Media) Ltd, this is one ● Peter Gardiner (Scotland, 7.11) 28-30.11.2006, Istanbul of the leading annual ● Vladimir Badura (Slovakia, 7.11) UEFA Medical Symposium reference works on ● Sergio Di Cesare (Italy, 8.11) European football. 30.11.2006, Nyon ● Rudolf Zavrl (Slovenia, 9.11) Reviewing the natio- Club Competitions Committee ● Willi Hink (Germany, 9.11) nal team and top- ● Theodore Giannikos (Greece, 9.11) Competitions flight club scene for all ● Sandor Barcs (Hungary, 10.11) 52 UEFA member asso- ● Rolf Hediger (Switzerland, 10.11) 1.11.2006 ciations, the 880-page ● Marc Van Geersom (Belgium, 10.11) UEFA Champions League: group matches volume is packed with ● Frank Paauw (Netherlands, 10.11) (match day 4) league tables, results, ● Emilio Garcia Silvero (Spain, 10.11) 2.11.2006 goalscorers and other statistics, as well ● Uno Tutk (Estonia, 11.11) UEFA Cup: group matches (match day 2) as providing a review of the 2006 World ● Manos Mavrokoukoulakis (Greece, 12.11) 21-22.11.2006 Cup. It can be obtained directly from ● Antonio Silva Pereira (Portugal, 12.11) UEFA Champions League: group matches www.calmproductions.com. ● Howard Wilkinson (England, 13.11) (match day 5) ● Peter Rees (Wales, 15.11) Die Bullen sind los! ● Otto Demuth (Germany, 16.11) 23.11.2006 FC Salzburg’s 2005/06 season, down ● Wolf-Günter Wiesel (Germany, 16.11) UEFA Cup: group matches (match day 3) to the very last detail, photos included. ● Susan Ann Hough (England, 16.11) 29-30.11.2006 By Joachim Glaser, published by Red ● Pablo Porta Bussoms (Spain, 17.11) UEFA Cup: group matches (match day 4) Bulletin (tel. +43-1 90 220-0).

WE CARE ABOUT FOOTBALL Editor André Vieli The views expressed in signed articles are not necessarily the Produced by Atema Communication SA, CH-1196 Gland official views of UEFA. Official publication of the The reproduction of articles Union des associations or extracts of any information européennes de football Printed by Cavin SA, CH-1422 Grandson published in uefadirect is authorised, provided the Communications and Public Affairs Division Editorial deadline: 12 October 2006 source is indicated. UEFA Route de Genève 46 Union des associations CH-1260 Nyon européennes de football Switzerland Phone +41 848 00 27 27 Fax +41 848 01 27 27 uefa.com