4.02 First ition ed Lennart Johansson 04 Fourteen candidates 06 Under-21s 11 Member associations 21 no. 01 – april 2002 COVER PHOTO IN THIS ISSUE Final in Rotterdam 15 Real Madrid CF, who are commemorating Congress in Stockholm 03 Under-17s 16 their centenary this year, were the first Interview 04 Meridian project 18 team to qualify for the quarter-finals Candidates for the Executive 06 UEFA meetings 19 of the UEFA Champions League. Fernando Hierro (left) and Luis Figo celebrate. Final in Glasgow 10 Member associations 21 Photo: Alberto Sabattini Final round in Switzerland 11 Calendar 23 campaignseditorial and projects Two years ago, at the Congress in Luxembourg, the national association delegates approved the changes to the Statutes that paved the way for implementation of the FORCE project. The past two years have therefore been a rather intense period, as UEFA has had to implement the new structures while at the same time addressing current football issues and launching new projects. Both these tasks were far-reaching and voluminous. Among other challenges, UEFA had to help find a solution to the issue of international transfers, cope with the complex demands of organising competitions, define the format for the club competitions and defend the centralised marketing of the rights to the UEFA Champions League. In terms of projects, we launched the club licensing system, created our subsidiary UEFA New Media, set up a new structure for marketing opera- tions and moved forward with our study aimed at allowing the use of artificial-turf surfaces in UEFA competitions. Details of all these processes and projects are to be found The UEFA in my two-yearly report to the Congress. Champions League has entered the Our Congress in Stockholm is an opportunity for a vital appraisal knock-out phase. Panathinaikos of our progress and an open exchange of ideas. The importance (Daniel Saric) have reached of this meeting is highlighted by the Executive Committee’s proposal this stage of the competition to make it an annual event. It is also, traditionally, the occasion for a for the second time since 1995. partial re-election of the Executive Committee, in the interests of stability and an element of continuity amid change. So let us go forward without denying our past. That is the spirit which this new publication – uefadirect – addressed to all members of the European football family, sets out to reflect. Gerhard Aigner Chief Executive EMPICS we care about football 02 uefadirect 4.02 XXVI Congressin Stockholm for the third time The last ordinary Congress was held in Luxembourg. UEFA-SABE FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE 1958 AND 1976, THE DELEGATES OF THE UEFA MEMBER & Herzegovina, UEFA has boasted ASSOCIATIONS ARE HEADING FOR STOCKHOLM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE UEFA 51 member associations. The dele- gates will be voting on the admission CONGRESS. THE XXVI ORDINARY CONGRESS OF THE UNION OF EUROPEAN FOOTBALL of a new association, that of ASSOCIATIONS WILL BE HELD AT THE “INTERNATIONAL FAIRS” IN THE SWEDISH Kazakhstan, as recommended by the CAPITAL ON 25 APRIL. Executive Committee. Kazakhstan footballers used to participate in Like all Ordinary UEFA first years of UEFA’s existence. At European football when their associa- Congresses, this general assembly that time, the purpose of the annual tion was part of the USSR federation. of European football will be meetings was to consolidate the The Kazakhstan association was later marked by elections. These include foundations of the new institution. affiliated to the Asian Football the election for the presidency, for Today, the change of pace is justified Confederation (AFC), which it left which current UEFA President Lennart by the expansion of UEFA’s activities. in July 2001 in order to apply for Johansson, who has been in office Annual accounts and budgets have UEFA membership. since 1990, is the only candidate. become a necessity, especially The other points on the agenda The delegates will also be voting to fill in view of the volume of financial are approval of the accounts and a number of seats on the UEFA and transactions taking place. the budget, appointment of the audit- FIFA Executive Committees. If adopted by the delegates, ing body, approval of the Chief The agenda in Stockholm this change in frequency of the Executive’s report, accompanied by also includes a proposal for a major Congress will not affect the cycle a report from the Executive change in the life of UEFA. At the of elections, which will continue to be Committee, and discussion of the request of the Executive Committee, held every two years (in even-num- agenda for the next FIFA Congress. the Congress is being asked to aban- bered years), according to the same Moreover, UEFA will award don its biennial rhythm in favour of a partial re-election formula. distinctions to a number of prominent brisker pace, with a meeting every Since the Dublin Congress in figures in recognition of their out- year, as was already the case in the 1998 and the admission of Bosnia standing services to European football. Lennarta phase of Joh sta IT DIDN’T GO TO EXTRA TIME AND PENALTIES, BUT LENNART JOHANSSON HAD TO WORK HARD FOR VICTORY WHEN HE WAS FIRST ELECTED PRESIDENT OF UEFA IN 1990. It is a measure of the impact he has made over the last 12 years that he is the sole candidate for re-election in 2002. What’s more, having previously announced his intention to step down, he needed to be persuaded by his own football family to present himself as a candidate for a fourth term of office. Having agreed to stay at the helm, Lennart Johansson has firm ideas about what needs to be done in the next four years and how to go about it. When you think back, there have been so many changes since you took office in 1990... That’s right. There have been so many develop- ments during my mandate – and we’re not just talking about policy changes initiated by me. You could compare the changes in football to the way the world in general has changed over the last 25 or 30 years. That brings us into a situation where the next phase, in my opinion, needs to be one of stabilisation. It must be based on keeping a steady, clear head and moving forward with the programmes that we have already initiated. We must maintain our education projects and do our utmost to keep our competition programme in good finan- cial health, so that we can continue to extend a helping hand to those who really need it. I’m not prepared to make, all of a sudden, new proposals for further develop- ment when the priority is to see to it that what we have already decided to do in the past is, indeed, being done and that our organisation will fulfil the needs of our mem- ber associations. When you think of it, we already have major items on the table like the New Media, a new format for the UEFA Cup, on-going coach education programmes, youth football in schools... we have enough important tasks to keep us busy for the next four years. What I don’t like or want to see is people becoming over-stressed because too much is supposed to happen at the same time. Among the many changes is UEFA’s relationship with the European Union. “I like us to be honest Is that now on a firm footing or is there work with each other” to be done in the next four years? Yes and yes. I am positive. I think the EU now Photos: UEFA-Kjaerbye. UEFA-Amiguet, UEFA-Razlikli, Empics UEFA-Razlikli, UEFA-Amiguet, Photos: UEFA-Kjaerbye. appreciates that we have a very strong ambition to help 04 uefadirect 4.02 tionships in Africa thanks to our Meri- of European teams in the World Cup dian Project and by encouraging and reducing Europe’s presence direct contacts between European and on the Executive Committee? bilisation African national associations. As for I think that he is going too far. ansson CONMEBOL and CONCACAF, if they I leave it to each and every one to make were to tell us what we could do to help their judgement. He has made some those who are in need – which is totally them, we would also take a serious bull-at-the-gate comments – and he has in accordance with the ideals of look at what could be done. But during never withdrawn them, denied them solidarity which the EU brought into the what we might call this ‘first phase’, or changed his mind. That’s what wor- marketplace. Secondly, if our relation- our priority is to fulfil our obligations ries me. I have reasons to believe ship is much better now, it is because to Africa and Asia. he means what he is saying. I am con- we have informed them in a much Your philosophy has, in a cerned about the future of European better way than we did at the beginning, way, been very Nordic in the sense football. But the president doesn’t take when we made the mistake of assuming of being social, and democratic decisions on his own. There are statutes that they knew everything. We have with a view to helping the weaker. to regulate how such changes would learned a lesson and we now have an How does UEFA’s new licensing have to be approved. on-going dialogue with the EU, which is system fit into this? Are you frustrated that something I appreciate.