UEFA"Direct #153 (01.11.2015)
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WE CARE ABOUT FOOTBALL No. 153 | November 2015 IN THIS ISSUE Official publication of the EURO 2016: RENDEZ-VOUS Union of European Football Associations IN PARIS ON 12 DeceMBER 4 With just four final tournament places left to fill and the final Getty Images draw fast approaching, the teams in the starting blocks for / Chief editor: EURO 2016 are eager to know who they will be up against first Emmanuel Deconche when the ball starts rolling on 10 June. AFP Produced by: GraphicTouch CH-1110 Morges Printing: Artgraphic Cavin SA SOLIDARITY paYMENTS for clubS 6 CH-1422 Grandson A portion of the revenue from the UEFA Champions League Editorial deadline: is earmarked for the clubs – all 183 of them this season – that 4 November 2015 competed in qualifying for either of UEFA’s two flagship club competitions. Getty Images The views expressed in signed articles are not necessarily the official views of UEFA. The reproduction of articles published in UEFA·direct is authorised, provided the UNpreceDENTED ANTI-DOPING source is indicated. proGRAMME for EURO 2016 9 The UEFA Anti-Doping Panel met at UEFA headquarters in September to give the green light to UEFA’s most comprehensive anti-doping programme yet. UEFA EuropeaN football UNITED AGAINST raciSM 10 The FARE network’s annual action weeks in October prompted a new wave of No to Racism activities and events all over Europe, with UEFA matches played during that period giving ever greater Cover: prominence to the campaign. via Getty Images UEFA On matchday 3, Bayer 04 Leverkusen (Kevin Kampl in red and black) and AS Roma (Lucas Digne) equalled the highest scoring draw in UEFA Champions League history NEWS froM MEMBER ASSociatioNS with a 4-4 finish at BayArena 15 Photo: Getty Images 2 | UEFA •direct | 11.15 Editorial UEFA COMMUNicatioN AND cooperatioN KEY to ANTI-DOPING FIGHT The 2014/15 season featured not only the This proactive approach not only justifies UEFA’s most extensive anti-doping testing ever conducted wish to remain hands-on with teams, clubs and across UEFA competitions, but the most com- players through both testing and education; it prehensive campaign to date. In terms of also allows UEFA to act as a crucial facilitator for numbers, 2,388 tests were conducted across all its member associations to themselves engage competitions, a significant commitment when with their respective national anti-doping organi- compared with the 692 tests recorded a decade sations. The ambitious objective to sign cooperation ago. However, the emphasis is on quality as agreements with all national anti-doping organi- much as quantity, thanks to the implementation sations of all 24 teams competing in UEFA EURO of a new intelligence-based testing programme. 2016 remains as much a priority for this season as conducting the most comprehensive pre- With the 2015/16 season bringing the intro- tournament programme ever. duction of the steroidal module of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) athlete biological The UEFA EURO 2016 anti-doping programme passport, testing to identify potential steroid ensures that all players with the potential to be use is now being tracked across more European selected for the 24 participating teams will be competitions in a coordinated manner. Additionally, subjected to testing from 1 January 2016, while this season will see UEFA’s anti-doping pro- the tournament itself will see advanced analytical gramme reinforced with the strengthening of testing implemented at each of the 51 matches. rules related to team and player whereabouts, the introduction of long-term sample storage to Across its competitions, UEFA is not only being permit the retrospective identification of prohi- pro-active in the practical implementation of the bited substances, and the stepping up of in- and WADA athlete biological passport in a collaborative out-of-competition testing, especially in relation and effective manner, but is also acting as an to UEFA EURO 2016. important catalyst for a pan-European approach, to help protect football from the doping threat By implementing a more intelligence-based at all levels for future generations. testing programme, UEFA is increasing the deterrent to players, teams and clubs. Equally, UEFA recognises the need for better commu- nication and cooperation with all stakeholders in the anti-doping process. It is with this intention that UEFA has established a formal working relationship with national anti-doping organisa- tions to tackle doping from all angles. To date, Gianni Infantino UEFA has signed 11 such cooperation agreements UEFA General Secretary with individual national anti-doping organisations. This will allow for more harmonised test planning, reduce unnecessary duplication of testing and facilitate the sharing of information relating to player biological profiles and intelligence data to identify potential doping. UEFA •direct | 11.15 | 3 UEFA EURO 2016 TOURNAMENT BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE AS THE DRAW APPROACHES Less than seven months before the start of UEFA EURO 2016, which will take place in France from 10 June to 10 July 2016, the organisation of the tournament is now in full swing. When the final draw is made in Paris on 12 December, the final stage of preparations will begin in earnest. The draw, for which accreditations have been finals taking place on 6 and 7 July. The tournament issued to more than 700 journalists and around will reach its climax on 10 July, when the final is 100 photographers, will take place at 18.00 on contested at the Stade de France in front of 80,000 Saturday 12 December at the Palais des Congrès. spectators. For the first time ever, the tournament will be While the draw on 12 De cember will mark the contested by 24 teams, 19 of which have already start of the final preparations for EURO 2016, qualified, alongside hosts France. The remaining the organisation of the tournament began way four teams will be decided in the play-offs, which back in January 2011, when EURO 2016 SAS was are being played between 12 and 17 No vember. established. The final draw will be conducted by four ‘ambas sadors’, all of whom Stadiums have previously won the tournament: In mid-October, the people of Oliver Bierhoff, who scored the Saint-Étienne had the opportunity golden goal that gave Germany to enjoy an open day at the their third title in 1996; David city’s renowned Stade Geoffroy Tre zeguet, whose stunning golden Gui chard, other wise known as goal in 2000 handed a second title to ‘the Cauldron’. That stadium will France; and Angelos Charisteas, whose be one of ten venues hosting head er won the tournament for matches at EURO 2016 and has Greece in 2004. The fourth ambas- recently undergone considerable sador will be confirmed shortly. renovations and modernisation. They will divide With its 2,600m2 of solar panels the 24 teams into and its heat pumps for the heating six groups of four. and air-conditioning of lounges, France, as hosts, not to mention the recovery of will automatically food waste for composting be in position 1 in and the production of bio- Group A. diesel from used cooking oil, The group matches Stade Geoffroy Guichard is will be played between 10 and now a point of reference 22 June. The top two teams in each when it comes to environ- group and the four best third-place mentally friendly stadiums. teams will qualify for the round of “Greener than green” – a 16, which will take place bet- neat play on words – is ween 25 and 27 June. This will how it was described by a be the first time that this beaming Ségolène Royal, round – a result of the shift minister for the envi ron- to a 24-team tournament – ment, sustainable develop - has featured at a EURO. ment and energy, who The quarter-finals will be was among the visitors. played between 30 June Yet more evidence that and 3 July, with the semi- this tournament, the first to feature 24 teams, is breaking new ground in all respects and promises to live long in the memory. Of the nine other stadiums that will host matches, only the Stade de Lyon is still under going construction work, with the stadium due to be handed over in January. The tournament will boast Super Victor, the official mascot UEFA for EURO 2016 4 | UEFA •direct | 11.15 four brand-new stadiums – in Bordeaux, Lille and Nice (all of which have already been completed) and Lyon – while the stadiums in Lens, Marseille, Paris and Toulouse have been renovated. Hospitality More than 1,200 firms from 60 different countries used hospitality services at UEFA EURO 2012. The hospitality packages for EURO 2016, which have been on sale since June 2014, will hopefully be just as successful. Customers can purchase different types of pass, allowing them to tailor their packages to their individual needs. The tournament organisers have teamed up with three prestige partners to create the largest hospitality UEFA programme ever seen in France: Joël Robuchon, The future Stade the chef with the most Michelin stars in the world, Jacques Lambert. Once the draw has been made de Lyon who will be the tournament’s culinary director; on 12 December, a second round of ticket sales will Hédiard, the official caterer for the tournament, take place on the official EURO2016 website, which is a byword for French gourmet cuisine; and aimed at supporters of the participating teams. DO&CO, an internationally renowned high-end That sales phase will run until 29 January at the event management firm, which will be in charge latest and will involve tickets for individual matches of operations. The hospitality programme at EURO and, if the associations so desire, tickets allowing 2016 will offer a world-class service.