UEFAdirect-69-Janvier•E:Anglais 17.12.200712:28Page1 No 5869 – FévrierJanuary 2007 2008 Including qualifying groups 2010 World Cup competitions Changes totheUEFA club European futsaltitle Spain retain their in Lucerne EURO 2008finaldraw qualifying groups 2010 World Cup competitions Changes totheUEFA club European futsaltitle Spain retain their in Lucerne EURO 2008finaldraw 1.0 8 15 11 06 03 15 11 06 03 UEFAdirect-69-Janvier•E:Anglais 17.12.2007 12:11 Page 2

Message Photos: UEFA-pjwoods.ch of the president Keep dreaming The year is drawing to a close, the nights are getting longer and the festive season gives them that magical feel which is so conducive to dreams. This time last year, I had a dream. I dreamt about becoming UEFA President and, in January, the delegates of the national associations made my dream come true by electing me at the Congress in Düsseldorf. I still have dreams, lots of dreams, and they can also come true if we all join forces and make a determined effort. I dream that will continue to fill everyday life with passion and emotion; that we will learn to consider it again as a game first and foremost and not as a source of profit; that the politicians will do everything in their power to allow the game to regulate itself, democratically and with appropriate legislation; that, out of the stadiums, a formidable surge of solidarity will emerge and that a wave of sportsmanship will sweep away racism and all forms of discrimination; that respect for others will prevail at all times; and, above all, that football will continue to make children’s eyes sparkle with wonder – something it does so well. IN THIS ISSUE I also have more clear-cut dreams, of course, and these focus to a great EURO 2008 match schedule 05 extent on the fast-approaching EURO 2008. Football draws its extraordinary magnetism from major international competitions, and I am positive that this European Spain reign as European champions 06 Championship final round in and Switzerland will add itself to the long list of The Fiorentina renaissance 08 great football festivals that, for a whole month, put our in the public spotlight and unite supporters of all nationalities and ages with one and the same passion. Elite club youth coaches in Cannes 10 One might say that the job of a president is not to dream, but to lead, to plan, to present visions. That is certainly true, but what is the point if he is not The new-look UEFA club competitions 11 inspired by an ideal? And my ideal is that football incites dreams, that it brightens Anti-violence conference everybody’s everyday lives, and that it makes young eyes sparkle with infectious in Brussels 13 enthusiasm. The 2010 World Cup I wish all of you a very happy new year. qualifying groups 15 News from member associations 16 COVER UEFA President At the December draw in Lucerne, we discovered the EURO 2008 group configurations and the official com - petition ball, the EUROPASS, is now ready to soar towards goals in the stadiums of Austria and Switzerland. Photomontage UEFA-pjwoods.ch

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FinalEUROEURO draw 20082008 in takestakes Lucerne shapeshape Keystone

IN JANUARY 2006, A DRAW IN MONTREUX SPLIT THE TEAMS OF 50 NATIONAL teams – where possible, the captains – were given the task of drawing the ASSOCIATIONS INTO SEVEN QUALIFYING GROUPS FOR EURO 2008. balls that would determine the EURO 2008 match schedule. Twenty-two months What is more, 12 of the 16 The criteria used to rank the later, at the end of No- EURO 2008 teams also appeared in participants for the draw – with the vember, the top two Portugal four years ago, which clearly exception of Switzerland and Austria in each qualifying group suggests a certain amount of stability who were automatically placed top were decided: among in the European football hierarchy. of Groups A and B – were the same as them were the four semi- those used in previous European finalists from the 2006 World Cup Classical music and gravitas Championships, i.e. the results secured (Italy, France, Germany and Portugal), On 2 December, delegations in the qualifying competitions for the six other European representatives from the 16 jubilant nations gathered last World Cup and the current Euro- from the global competition (Spain, in Lucerne to witness the draw that pean Championship. “With the 16 the Netherlands, , the Czech would determine who will play who. teams here, it would be impossible Republic, Poland and Croatia – plus At the Culture and Congress Centre, to get an easy group,” said Croatian Switzerland) and the European classical music and football alternated coach Slaven Bilic before the cere - Championship titleholders, . throughout the solemn ceremony, mony, putting the influence of the draw The remaining finalists are Romania, which provided an opportunity to relive into perspective. In the same vain, Russia, Turkey, and co-hosts Austria moments from previous European UEFA President Michel Platini pointed who – like Poland – will compete championships, from the Nations’ Cup out that any team that aspired to be in their first ever European Champ- in 1960 to EURO 2004 in Portugal. champion should be able to beat all ionship final round. In addition, players from the winning the others in any case.

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Everyone can therefore make their own predictions, discuss The official what the chances were that teams such as France and Italy would be ball – drawn together again, and start spec- ulating on how the final round will EUROPASS pan out. The one sure thing is that, During the ceremony, which from 7 to 29 June next year, we can was followed by some 1,500 peo- expect emotions, not just in the stadi- ple (a good half of whom were ums of Basel, Berne, Geneva, Zurich, media representatives) and was , , Salzburg and broadcast by almost 40 TV chan- Vienna, but throughout Europe. nels, the captains of the two host teams – Austria’s Andreas Ivan- schitz and Switzerland’s – brought onto the Culture and Congress Centre stage the ball Bigger bonuses designed by adidas specially for Numerous meetings, workshops and press conferences surrounding the EURO 2008 final draw completed the weekend agenda in Lucerne, bringing together delegation members, team coaches, sponsors and media repre- sentatives, not to mention the UEFA Executive Committee, which convened on 30 November and 1 December (see pages 11-13). UEFA also announced the level of bonuses the EURO 2008 participants will receive, which has increased from EUR 129 million for EURO 2004 to EUR 184 million in 2008. UEFA envisages a participation bonus of EUR 7.5 million for each team, plus EUR 1 million for each win and EUR 500,000 for each draw during the group stage. EUR 2 million will be awarded to each quarter-finalist, with an additional EUR 3 million going to the semi-finalists. The winners of the tournament will see a final bonus of EUR 7.5 million, while their opponents – as runners-up – will receive 4.5 million. Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images Baron/Bongarts/Getty Alexander Frei (left) and Andreas Ivanschitz with the EUROPASS ball designed especially for EURO 2008.

EURO 2008. Using elements from the competition logo and incorpo- rating the host nations’ flags, this ball features state-of-the-art tech- nology and a texture that is de- signed to ensure good control whatever the weather conditions. Who will be next? The representatives of the winning teams from 1960 to 2004 passed the trophy down the line be in for the next, as-yet-undecided, titleholders. 04 uefadirect 1.08 UEFAdirect-69-Janvier•E:Anglais 17.12.2007 12:11 Page 5

From outside An impressive The presidents the Culture and line-up of of the two host Congress Centre European associations to the front row champions seem to want of guests. ready to to fight for perform the trophy… the draw. UEFA-pjwoods.ch UEFA-pjwoods.ch

FINAL ROUND MATCH SCHEDULE

DATE TIME VENUE MATCH

G ROUP A 7 June 18.00 Basel Switzerland – Czech Republic 7 June 20.45 Geneva Portugal – Turkey 11 June 18.00 Geneva Czech Republic – Portugal 11 June 20.45 Basel Switzerland – Turkey 15 June 20.45 Basel Switzerland – Portugal 15 June 20.45 Geneva Turkey – Czech Republic

G ROUP B F. Bozzani The coaches of the 16 finalists, 8 June 18.00 Vienna Austria – Croatia from Group A (front row) to Group D. 8 June 20.45 Klagenfurt Germany – Poland 12 June 18.00 Klagenfurt Croatia – Germany 12 June 20.45 Vienna Austria – Poland 16 June 20.45 Klagenfurt Poland – Croatia 16 June 20.45 Vienna Austria – Germany

G ROUP C 9 June 18.00 Zurich Romania – France 9 June 20.45 Berne Netherlands – Italy 13 June 18.00 Zurich Italy – Romania 13 June 20.45 Berne Netherlands – France 17 June 20.45 Berne Netherlands – Romania 17 June 20.45 Zurich France – Italy

G ROUP D 10 June 18.00 Innsbruck Spain – Russia 10 June 20.45 Salzburg Greece – Sweden 14 June 18.00 Innsbruck Sweden – Spain 14 June 20.45 Salzburg Greece – Russia 18 June 20.45 Salzburg Greece – Spain 18 June 20.45 Innsbruck Russia – Sweden

Q UARTER- FINALS 19 June 20.45 Basel 1: Winner Group A – Runner-up Group B 20 June 20.45 Vienna 2: Winner Group B – Runner-up Group A 21 June 20.45 Basel 3: Winner Group C – Runner-up Group D 22 June 20.45 Vienna 4: Winner Group D – Runner-up Group C

S EMI- FINALS 25 June 20.45 Basel Winner Quarter-final 1 – Winner Quarter-final 2 26 June 20.45 Vienna Winner Quarter-final 3 – Winner Quarter-final 4 F INAL

F.Bozzani 29 June 20.45 Vienna ne before entrusting it to a young player standing

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Ukraine – Romania – A new Spain. Italy. futsal title for Spain.

European Futsal Championship in Portugal Spain cement their supremacy

WITH A CONVINCING 3-1 WIN OVER ITALY, SPAIN BECAME THE FIRST TEAM EVER TO SUCCESSFULLY

DEFEND THEIR EUROPEAN FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE. THE FINAL ROUND IN PORTO WAS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS

THAT FEATURED MANY A SPECTACULAR MATCH.

The final in the multi-purpose for the grand finale – they gave a clini- quick to honour his predecessor: Gondomar Coração hall had been cal performance and took home their “I think this is a time to say thank you awaited with great anticipation, with all third European title in five tournaments. to the man who taught me everything, the expert odds on Italy’s Squadra my master Javier Lozano. I worked Azzurra, who had been virtually faultless An opener not to be missed with him for 15 years and every good throughout the competition. However, Ahead of the match between thing I have done at this tournament the Spaniards, whose performance in these two teams, both of whom are tac- I learned from him. He left me with a the previous rounds had been far from tically very strong, it was clear that the class team.” stellar, seemed to have saved their best opener would be important. The fact that the first was then so beauti - In turn, Venancio’s Italian fully executed seemed to give the counterpart, Alessandro Nuccorini, Spaniards an additional boost. proved to be anything but a bad Álvaro pushed forward on the left, loser – he expressed disappoint- threw the entire Italian defence ment, of course, but looked with A brand-new trophy for with a technical jewel and centred confidence to the future: “I con- Spanish captain Javi Rodriguez. from short range on the far post, gratulate Spain. I was a little bit enabling Marcelo to nod the ball disappointed with the way we home. Shortly after half-time, Álvaro – played after playing what many who was to be named man of the described as a perfect match against match – set up a second goal, for Daniel Russia. It was a new experience for my this time, and when captain Javi players to find themselves a goal Rodríguez then made it 3-0, victory behind but we were still in it until the seemed a foregone conclusion. Alexander goal early in the second half. Looking Feller, Italy’s powerful keeper managed to the future I think my team have to pull one back with a spectacular long the talent to win a tournament like shot, but his Spanish counterpart, Luis this; we can only hope that perhaps Amado, thwarted Italy time and again one day Spain won’t be perfect.” with his saves. Even with a fifth man on the field to finish, Italy could do nothing Different paths to the final to alter the scoreline. En route to the final, Italy impressed time and again. In four Successful debut for Javier Lozano’s matches, the runners-up let in only successor one goal – an outstanding result over The Spanish coach, José Venan- 160 futsal minutes. Just like the reign- cio, only took over as successor to the ing football world champions, the highly successful Javier Lozano in Sep- Italian futsal team demonstrated tacti- tember; he could not have wished for a cal maturity, defensive stability and better debut. After the final, Venancio, offensive ruthlessness. The team’s 2-0 who is currently still a club coach and win in the semi-final against Russia will dedicate his full attention to the was a real tour de force, even though national team from this summer, was luck was not on the eastern Euro-

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Czech Russia – Portugal Republic – Serbia. take on Russia Portugal. for bronze.

peans’ side – they twice hit the post. Cirilo und Pelé, who have been playing European Futsal Spain had a tougher time, managing futsal in Moscow for years and were Championship final to scrape only one point from fledg- recently naturalised, the Russians played round, Porto lings Serbia in the group phase and an exceptionally attractive game. Even 16-25 November 2007 almost being knocked out by a very the Portuguese, for whom the brutal strong Portugal in their semi. The hosts semi-final defeat against Spain was a Group A went 2-0 ahead five minutes before particularly bitter disappointment, can Czech Republic – Romania 4-8 the final whistle thanks to a breath - be happy with their performance, this Portugal – Italy 0-0 taking scissors kick by Ricardinho – being their first time in the final four. Portugal – Czech Republic 5-3 without a doubt the goal of the tour- Italy – Romania 7-1 Italy – Czech Republic 4-0 nament. The feverish home crowd Serbia and Romania enrich Romania – Portugal 0-3 was brought back to reality with a the tournament bump, though, as the Spanish keeper The two semi-final ties offered Group B jumped into action and the team little in the way of surprises, but there Serbia – Russia 3-5 equalised within three minutes. In the were a few shocks in the group matches. Spain – Ukraine 6-2 penalty shoot-out that followed, the The two fledglings, Serbia and Romania, Spain – Serbia 1-1 Ukraine – Russia 1-4 dramatic Iberian tie ultimately ended entered the competition like a breath Ukraine – Serbia 2-3 in Spain’s favour. of fresh air and celebrated their first ever Russia – Spain 1-4 In the third-place play-off, victories in a European Championship Semi-finals Russia beat hosts Portugal 3-2, adding final round. The Serbs in particular, another chapter to their European who overcame two-time European Italy – Russia 2-0 Spain – Portugal 2-2, 4-3 after success story. European champions in Champ ionship finalists Ukraine and penalties 1999, Russia have won a medal in wrested a draw from Spain, made a every European Championship final strong impression and with Predrag Third-place play-off round since – with just one exception Rajic presented one of the three top Russia – Portugal 3-2 (2003). With their two “Brazilians”, scorers – Rajic and Daniel for Spain, Final and Cirilo from Russia Italy – Spain 1-3 each racked up five goals. The tourna- ment was rather more per game. The spectator figures were disappointing for equally impressive and the atmosphere Ukraine, who are in was excellent in the multi-purpose the process of rejuve- Gondomar Coração hall and in the nating their side, Santo Tirso municipal pavilion and for the Czech that hosted part of the two final Republic, the hosts group matchdays. Of course, even and semi-finalists those who were not there in person Italy’s Adriano in 2005 – both could follow the tournament closely: Foglia (10) vies with Spain’s Eseverri. nations finished this many of the matches were broadcast tournament on by Eurosport and web users could zero points. watch live streaming on .com. All things considered, the 2007 Next challenge European Futsal For the European futsal Championship final teams, next spring sees the start of round was a thorough the qualifying competition for the success. In spite of 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup, with the a goalless draw in final tournament in Brazil in October. the opening game Newly crowned European champions between Portugal and Spain will be trying to defend their Italy, 83 goals were world titles of 2000 and 2004 and, ultimately scored who knows, we could even see a across the 16 matches, repeat of the last World Cup final in which represents an Chinese Taipei, in which Spain also

Photos: Sportsfile average of 5.2 goals got the better of Italy.

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UEFA Cup ties (against Elfsborg) for Anthony Vanden Borre (right) and his team-mates after having returned to Italy’s Serie A (Adrian Mutu against Naples).

ACFAn Italian Fiorentina renaissance

IN JUST A FEW SEASONS, ITALIAN CLUB FIORENTINA HAS GONE FROM DISILLUSIONS TO DREAMS THANKS TO METICULOUS PROGRAMMING, QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND SYNERGIES BETWEEN OWNER, Club President Andrea Della Valle sets an example: MANAGERS AND TECHNICIANS. he wants families back at the stadium.

Summer 2002: Fiorentina, by Diego Della Valle on his first official ourselves and for others. Up to now, a 76-year-old club steeped in tradi- outing to Florence as owner of the we have risen fully to the challenge, tion, holders of two domestic champ- club. This verbal pledge, which won and we’re proud of that, but we’re ionship titles, six domestic cups and over the city and the tifosi (fans) in- still at the start of a very long path. one Italian Super Cup, one European stantly, has been honoured – and We’re aware of our strength but also Cup Winners’ Cup and various other ahead of schedule too. “I knew we of our limits.” European trophies, is crippled by debt would succeed,” said Andrea Della Another cornerstone of the and forced to start from scratch down Valle, who has since been named club project was to establish an economic in Serie C2, the lowest professional president, “because we make up a equilibrium and put a ceiling on league in Italy. It was a catastrophic strong, tight group that is fully com- salaries. “The biggest mistake,“ the debacle from which there was no mitted to achieving a common goal: president continues, “would have obvious escape because nobody that of getting Florence back into been to fill people’s heads with seemed to be interested in taking from football’s top flight and creating a promises we couldn’t have kept. film producer and previous owner model club in terms of We chose to put the emphasis Vittorio Cecchi a club in need of a style and behaviour, for on youngsters; we want our complete overhaul. The miracle occurred when Diego Della Valle and his brother Andrea entered the scene. World- renowned entrepreneurs in the luxury accessories sector, these brothers were to become the main forces behind Fiorentina’s renaissance. In no time at all, the club had regained a stable footing in Italy’s top flight at the head of Serie A and was back in Europe via the UEFA Cup. It was a re- turn to grand style, and a pretty quick one at that. Few had believed it possible but, in retrospect, none should be overly surprised. After all, these are the fruits of a project grounded in clear ideas and solid facts.

Rising to challenges “We want a winning team in a solid club, managed by a healthy Fiorentina are smiling again after all administration, with no distortion of its disappointments. the balance sheets. We also want a club that is the supporters’ heritage.” This was the programme announced

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Giampaolo Ambitious Pantaleo Pazzini, goals Corvino, one of the for Cesare sports Fiorentina Prandelli. director and strikers. head of the technical department. D. Meyer/AFP/Getty Images

club to stand out in the European and head of the technical department. but remains as serene as possible football landscape as an example to “Goal number one is to establish the too. Within the group, each assumes others. Lots of young people who ideal conditions in which the boys’ his role: our added value rests in came to us as mere prospects have potential can evolve into quality. This correctness, the way we behave on already become realities and taken is achieved with the technicians on and off the pitch, and our way of places in the national teams. But to the pitch and a tutor that assists the squaring up to but also managing give them time to become the best players on a daily basis off the pitch, difficulties. they could be, without the pressure of in all areas. We are giving out a strong “Florence is a splendid city urgency, it was necessary to surround signal, as confirmed by the ever with extraordinary supporters who the players with great experience. increasing number of youngsters who remain very important to us and who It’s precisely this mix of youth and are drawn to Fiorentina by its image deserve beautiful rewards. We want experience that has made it possible and the prospects that it offers.” to achieve great results but there is to take giant leaps forward and rise The facts speak for them- only one path to greatness: remaining to challenges that required real selves: the club is currently achieving humble and working day in day out courage, for example in the case of good results in all youth champion- as we have been doing up to now, Christian Vieri, a player with a glistening ships and fields a first team whose with dedication, patience and a sense past who seemed to be in the twilight average age is one of the lowest in of fair play.” of his career but who, at Florence, the whole of Serie A. “In two and Franco Morabito is living a second youth.” a half years, we didn’t think we would manage so much,” No place for violence admits Corvino, “but we are Marketing and the elimination not interested in highlighting of violence are also high on the pro- figures for figures’ sake; they gramme’s priority list. “Having reor- merely help us to see that ganised the club,” adds Andrea Della we are on the right track, Valle, “we are now concentrating on even with established champ- marketing, a sector in which we are in ions, some of whom found the process of devising key strategies the stimulus here to perform that will guarantee us a lasting place at the highest-possible level at the top, in Italy and abroad. This again.” aspect is linked to our commitment to get families, women and children Humility and hard work into stadiums, by recreating a festival Cesare Prandelli is atmosphere in a sports and entertain- the other vital piece of the ment context. We must do everything jigsaw. A high-class player in our power to reshape football in turned coach, skilled at group a modern fashion, eliminating violence management and nurturing once and for all. Florence has under- budding talents, including – stood this need, shares our ideas when he coached Parma FC – entirely and supports us emphatically the Brazilian Adriano and the in our quest.” Romanian Adrian Mutu, who Naturally, a project of this currently dons a purple shirt genre had to consider the results on for Fiorentina. Two years ago, the pitch too. Hence Diego and when Prandelli had to choose Andrea Della Valle have put their faith between various offers, he in two well-proven individuals: Pantaleo didn’t hesitate: “I agreed to Corvino and Cesare Prandelli, who come to Florence because I arrived from France together in June realised instantly that behind 2005 to further bolster results that the offer were clear ideas and were already gaining ground. a project that centred on the Corvino – endowed with team’s evolution in all areas, experience, intuition and good judge- including ethics and style. ment that has been honed with exten- We have been quick in com- Photos: SABE sive work with youngsters – assumed ing together to do some big Cesare Prandelli and the striker, Christian Vieri, the dual function of sports director things; the atmosphere is ambitious, who has taken off again at Florence.

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Numerous discussions on various subjects.

be presented to the Spanish association’s chairman, Angel María Villar, and his 9th UEFA Elite youth coaching trident, Iñaki Sáez, Ginés Meléndez and Juan Santisteban. It was the seventh time that Spain had been the best performers over a two-year span Youth Football in UEFA’s youth competitions – a remark- able record. The Spanish coaches were joined on stage by the other semi-finalists Conference of the 2007 youth competitions to pin- Elite youth football point problem areas in development pro- grammes and to reflect on the future. – what’s next? As coach of the Under-19 and Under-20 sides, Frank Engel offered a German RAINDROPS KEEP FALLING ON MY HEAD WAS NOT THE UEFA STAFF’S FAVOURITE perspective on youth development and SONG WHEN THEY ARRIVED IN MANDELIEU ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF CANNES TO PREPARE this was followed up on the final after- noon when a national team coach (Fin- THE 9TH UEFA ELITE YOUTH FOOTBALL CONFERENCE. THEY WERE SAFELY land’s Jarmo Matikainen), a club coach TUCKED UP IN BED WHEN A PIPE BURST ON THE FIFTH FLOOR OF THE HOTEL AND SENT (FC Bayern München’s Werner Kern) and WATER CASCADING THROUGH CEILINGS. BUT EVEN THE LAST-MINUTE LOSS an administrator (long-time chairman of UEFA’s Youth and Amateur Football OF 25 FLOODED ROOMS DIDN’T ALLOW THE ROOF TO FALL IN ON AN EVENT SUPERBLY Committee, Jim Boyce) collectively eyed HOSTED BY THE FRENCH FOOTBALL FEDERATION. the crystal ball. All this was backed up by dis - The conference naturally had a research studies at UEFA’s youth compe- cussion sessions where the questions strong French accent. The president of titions. posed to the groups were simple and the the French Football Federation (FFF), Jean- However, Spanish voices could answers diverse enough to reflect the Pierre Escalettes, joined UEFA Executive also clearly be heard at a gathering of all widely varying parameters affecting Committee member Viacheslav Koloskov 53 UEFA associations which effectively UEFA’s member associations. There was in opening the event. Gérard Houllier brought together the whole family for support for the current format of UEFA’s stepped on stage to discuss the develop- an interchange of views on youth devel- youth competitions but the importance of ment programme he is currently putting opment. The Under-17 and Under-19 good communication between club and in place on his return to the FFF as finals played in Belgium and Austria in national team coaches was underlined. Technical Director. Dominique Bijotat 2007 were used as launching pads for Concern was expressed about the way offered a club perspective as AS discussion and, of course, Spain had sub-teenage players (and/or their parents) FC’s Academy Director. And Dr Jacques emerged victorious at both final tourna- are being ‘recruited’ by agents. There are Liénard reviewed the work being done ments – which meant that the confer- worries in some countries about routes by UEFA’s Medical Committee in terms of ence featured a memorable moment to the first team being blocked by imports. doping control education and injury when the Maurice Burlaz trophy could And, above all, there is an enthusiastic welcome for UEFA’s plan to introduce an ‘A Youth’ diploma, based on widespread conviction that the emphasis on technical development is now shifting towards the 12-15 age bracket and that spe- cialised coaches – with the right qualities for youth coaching – have become a prime requirement in development pro- grammes. As UEFA’s Technical Director, Andy Roxburgh, commented: “the basic question facing us now is how we can best develop top-level youth coaches and ensure that they are given the status and

Photos: Sportsfile importance they deserve.”

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The Executive Celtic – Spartak Moscow, Committee in this season’s third at its meeting qualifying round for the in Lucerne. Champions League. This stage of the compe - .ch tition will be marketed centrally as of 2009. UEFA-pjwoods ??????????????? Images Korotayev/AFP/Getty

across four weeks instead of two to enable better TV coverage; Meetings and ■ The third qualifying round will be marketed centrally, with the profits redistributed first and foremost other activities between the 20 participating clubs. UEFA Cup groups of four Champions League In the UEFA Cup, the changes concern the competition opens its doors wider format: in future there will be twelve IN LUCERNE, ON THE TWO DAYS LEADING UP TO THE EURO 2008 groups of four teams instead of eight groups of five. Only the titleholders FINAL DRAW, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HELD ITS LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR, will have direct access, assuming they LED BY UEFA PRESIDENT MICHEL PLATINI. do not qualify for the Champions League. The other clubs will have to The most eagerly anticipated five spots in the group stage. The Cham- contest up to four qualifying rounds, item on the agenda was the decision pions League group matches will there- since the UEFA Intertoto on the club competitions’ format fore feature at least 17 domestic champi- Cup will have been for 2009-12. “In its current form, with ons, or 18 if the titleholders also happen removed from the groups matches followed by direct to be champions of their country. European competi- knockout games, the UEFA Champions ■ The runners-up from associa- tion list and incor- League is an excellent competition and tions 7 to 15 and the third-placed teams porated into the UEFA a great success,“ said Michel Platini. from the association ranked sixth will Cup system. There was therefore no question of contest a separate qualifying round. giving UEFA’s flagship club competition The five winners will meet teams a makeover, but rather of modifying three or four from associations one the access list to make it more open, to five to determine the final five as recommended by the UEFA presi- teams to enter the group stage. dent with a view to enabling more The difference between national champions to enter the this and the project presented Champ ions League and thus extend by Michel Platini previously is the list of nations that reap the bene- the lack of Champions League fits of the competition. The Executive qualifying matches for the Committee voted unanimously to winners of domestic cup com- follow this path, thereby bringing to petitions. “It was doubtless a close a long period of consultation jumping the gun, but reasserting with all the different stakeholders. the value of national cups is an idea As of 2009, the new Champ- that has not been abandoned. ions League will reserve three places A working group will look into it,” in the group stage for each national said the president. association in places one to three of UEFA’s annual rankings. The champi- Saturday-night finals FC Barcelona, with Bojan Krkic, ons and runners-up from associations Other changes have once again four to six will also qualify for the affecting the Champions secured a place in the first knockout group stage, as will the champions from League are as follows: round of the UEFA associations seven to twelve. Together ■ As of 2010, Champions League. with the titleholders, this will mean the final will no longer be 22 automatic group-stage qualifiers. played on a Wednesday, as has To fill the ten remaining places, there been the case since its inception, but on will be two access paths: a Saturday night with the kick-off fixed

■ The domestic champions at 20.45 (CET); Getty Images from associations 13 and below will ■ The first contest, over three qualifying rounds knockout round and one preliminary round, a total of will be spread

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After Portugal, Zagreb will Hungary will be the welcome next nation to the XXXII host the European Ordinary Futsal Championship UEFA final round. Congress in January. Sportsfile Keystone/S. Grandadam

The final-round format will remain as it Matches will, in principle, con- Cup but from a commercial perspec- is now, with knockout matches leading tinue to be played on Thursdays, with tive it will be attached to the Champ - up to the final. two possible kick-off times (19.05 and ions League instead of the UEFA Cup. The possibility for clubs to 21.05). The final will continue to be cross over from the Champions League held on a Wednesday night. Series of decisions into the UEFA Cup will be maintained At commercial level, the sale of The Executive Committee also and indeed enhanced: the third-placed media rights will be centralised for the heard reports from the chairmen of teams in the group stage and those group matches and everything that fol- the committees that met in Nyon at the knocked out in the third qualifying lows: commercialisation of the final- beginning of November and was called round – as is the case at present – plus stage knockout matches will be entirely upon to make numerous decisions on the clubs knocked out in the second centralised. the committees’ proposals. The Execu- Champions League qualifying round will The UEFA Super Cup will con- tive Committee thus: all feed into the fourth qualifying round tinue to be contested by the winners of ■ Named the Hungarian Foot- of the UEFA Cup. the Champions League and the UEFA ball Federation as the hosts of the 2009 European Futsal Championship final round; ■ Named the Football Union of Russia as the final-round hosts of the first-ever European Under-21 Futsal Championship, which will take place in St Petersburg in 2008; ■ Appointed FC Dinamo The UEFA Cup groups Moscow as hosts of the final round of (Nuremberg – Everton from this season’s the 2008 Futsal Cup; tournament) will each ■ Modified the Futsal World comprise four clubs when the new format Cup qualifying regulations after FIFA comes into effect. increased the number of final-round participants from 16 to 20 and allocated an extra place to Europe – the top two second-placed teams in the mini-tour- naments for the first qualifying round will also participate in the play-offs to determine the six European final-round teams; ■ Adopted the new Anti- Doping Regulations; ■ Modified the 2006-08 Regu- lations of the European Football Cham- pionship, to make it compulsory that one of the six team officials authorised to sit on the substitutes’ bench during matches is a team doctor; ■ Decided to support financially a study into a new anti-doping control method that uses hormone profiles; ■ Approved mandatory cardio- logical screening for all players who are to take part in EURO 2008; and ■ Approved the creation of a bureau for the HatTrick Committee.

2009 Congress in The Executive Committee finalised the agenda for the next Ordi-

Langer/Bongarts/Getty Images nary UEFA Congress, which is being

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The head of the national associations of the Republic of Ireland (David Blood, left), Austria (Gerhard Kapl) and Denmark (Allan Hansen) with UEFA President Michel Platini and the chairman of the Referees Committee, Angel María Villar Llona. UEFA-pjwoods.ch

held on 31 January in Zagreb. In this which found that they all met the News from context, it approved the 2006/07 UEFA convention’s objectives. accounts, the 2008/09 budget and National associations that Brussels the 2008-13 financial outlook. sign the convention are eligible for On 28 and 29 November, in On the matter of congresses, CHF 200,000 from UEFA right away association with UEFA, the Euro- the Executive Committee also ap- pean Union held a conference pointed the Danish Football Associa- under the banner ‘Towards a Euro- tion as the hosts of the 2009 Con- pean Union Strategy against Vio- gress and decided to push back this lence in Sport’, with a view to annual event to March. The 2009 mobilising, assembling and inten- Congress will therefore take place on sifying the efforts of all stake- 25 and 26 March 2009. In 2010, holders in the battle against vio- the 25 March has been earmarked as lence and hooliganism. UEFA the date but the host country has President Michel Platini wound yet to be chosen. up the discussions at a joint press Having discussed relations conference with European Com- with the clubs, the Executive Commit- mission Vice-President Franco tee also considered links with coaches Frattini and Portuguese Minister and approved a draft Memorandum of Internal Administration Rui of Understanding with the Alliance of Perreira. On this occasion, the EU European Football Coaches’ Associa- announced that it will help to tions (AEFCA), which has taken the finance a special training pro- place of the Union of European Foot- gramme for operational police ball Trainers (UEFT). officers to ensure security at Finally, the Executive Com- large sports events in Europe. mittee agreed, in principle, to the The promotion and reinforce- use of giant screens at EURO 2008 ment of dialogue between those matches, so that match scenes can involved in combating violence in be broadcast under conditions that football was the order of the day will be defined at the committee’s at the conference, attended by next meeting, in Zagreb in January. almost 200 high-ranking officials from the political and legal scene – representatives of governments, EU institutions, European football Refereeing associations, national police forces, supporters’ groups, clubs convention – three and magistrates – all experts on new signatories matters of security in stadiums At its meeting in Lucerne, and on the broader phenomenon the Executive Committee gave the of hooliganism. green light to three new national UEFA General Secretary David associations signing up to the UEFA Taylor opened the debate along- Referee Convention on Referee side Ján Figel, member of the Education and Organisation. European Commission responsible

The national football asso - Empics Sport/PA Photos for education, training, culture ciations of Austria, Denmark and the Joining the convention should also enable the and youth. The two men agreed associations to enhance the status of referees. Republic of Ireland join the ten that an effective European part - member associations that signed the and a further CHF 100,000 each year ner ship between governments, convention in June. for the following five years, if UEFA’s police forces and sports bodies The signing ceremony was quality objectives continue to be met. must be created to protect foot- held on 3 December at UEFA head- The aims of the convention are to pro- ball from violence and racism. quarters in Nyon. The three candi- mote refereeing and enhance referee Michel Platini added: “We dates’ applications had been evaluated education and organisation within the need a European mechanism that by the Refereeing Certification Panel, national associations. enables us to centralise informa- ➜

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Meeting in Nyon with supporters’ ➜ tion, take judicial measures across representatives. borders, train specialists and coordi- nate operations and interventions. UEFA already encourages partnerships

between national associations, clubs UEFA-pjwoods.ch and national police, but that is not enough. Sporting organisations, gov- ernments and public forces of law and UEFA invites participants, included club ownership order must also cooperate. We face structures, weekend club competition complex problems to which we must fan representatives matches, safety issues, ticket prices find intelligent solutions. We face to Nyon and quotas, the fan embassies project profound problems to which we must On 4 December, as part for EURO 2008 and racism. find global solutions. We must stop of its drive for closer dialogue enforcing makeshift measures and with football supporters and better taking cosmetic steps that do nothing relations with the various stake- but mask the problems, instead of holders in European football, treating them effectively.” UEFA Women’s Cup – This statement was supported UEFA invited representatives of wholeheartedly by European Commis- various national supporters’ groups New faces sion Vice-President Franco Frattini, to its headquarters. in the semi-finals who also deals with questions of law The UEFA initiative to organ- Two novices – in terms of enforcement and domestic security. ise the first gathering of this kind was progress within the competition – Frattini believes that “on its own, no very popular with the participants. and two old-timers of women’s country can find the best solutions for The aim of the meeting was to estab- club football will meet in the semi- tackling hooliganism and violence in lish dialogue with representatives finals of the UEFA Women’s Cup in sport. The European Commission has a of the fans, who represent one of the the spring. key role to play in that it can facilitate most important elements in football, the active involvement of law enforce- The women of and in so doing to try to find solutions ment services, judicial authorities, Olympique Lyonnais together to such problems as violence sports federations, supporters’ organi- have caused a sur- and hooliganism. sations and other stakeholders.” prise by eliminating On the basis of a recommendation The English Football Sup- titleholders LFC from European experts, Franco Frattini porters’ Federation is holding a Euro- Arsenal in the quarter- suggested that a training programme pean fan congress in London in May, finals. The French qualified with and suitable preparation be organ - with a view to assembling as many a 3-2 win in the return match on ised for police officers and stadium different supporter organisations as Arsenal’s home turf, following a goal- stewards so that they can ensure a possible. It is hoped that the congress less draw in the first leg. In the semis, safe match environment. The new pro- will lay the foundations for cooperation Olympique Lyonnais will face Swe- gramme could start as early as 2008 at European level. UEFA supports the den’s Umeå IK, finalists last year and and will complement UEFA’s existing move, but does not wish to get too two-time winners of the cup, who stadium and security education pro- involved – the supporters’ groups must knocked out Belgium’s FCL Rapide gramme. The latter currently targets organise themselves independently. experts from interior ministries, Wezemaal in the quarter-finals. UEFA President Michel Platini national football information points The other semi-final will attended the meeting and proposed and law enforcement representatives. pit 1. FFC Frankfurt of Germany – Michel Platini congratulated that regular dialogue with the sup- also two-time winners of the competi- Franco Frattini on this grand initiative, porter organisations be sustained. tion, who beat Russia’s Rossiyanka confirming that it represented “a his- Other points on the agenda, in the quarter-finals – against Italian toric moment in European coopera- proposed for the most part by the side ASD CF Bardolino Verona. Bar- tion against violence in sport. The only dolino Verona qualified ahead of Den- route to success is through a partner- mark’s Brøndby IF. The Italians came ship between the EU, its member back from behind – having lost 1-0 states, their police forces and UEFA.” at home – with a 1-0 win on Danish On the back of such success, soil and a penalty shoot-out victory Michel Platini and Franco Frattini that secured them a place in the agreed – as soon as this event was semis. over – to hold a second conference at the end of 2008 to look at criminal The first-leg semi-final phenomena such as money-launder- matches will be played in Lyon and ing, corruption and illegal betting, Frankfurt on 29/30 March, while the UEFA-pjwoods.ch none of which, unfortunately, are un- return matches will be held on 5/6 Supporters’ associations are to meet in London known in the world of football. for a European congress. April in Umeå and Verona.

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The IBSA is Mihai Stoica, general working hard to manager of Unirea Urziceni promote futsal (dark jacket, front row), among blind and presents a cheque for USD partially sighted 12,000 to Special Olympics people. Romania players. IBSA SO Romania

Futsal seminars for blind and partially sighted players The Norwegian and the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) have joined forces to organise futsal development seminars for blind and partially sighted players. Midway through November, 40 or so coaches and referees from Nor- way, Finland, Iceland and the got together for seminars in Oslo, Getty Images as part of an IBSA project to develop futsal in Europe. UEFA has given its financial backing to this project and World Cup preliminary draw presented the federation with a cheque in Durban for a CHF 1 million in 2006. For 16 European national teams the immediate future may well Futsal for the visually handi- be EURO 2008, but all of Europe’s teams and their supporters can also start capped is split into two categories: B1 looking ahead to longer-term adventures. for blind players and B2/B3 for the par- On 25 November in Durban, FIFA hosted the draw for the qualifying tially sighted. A European championship round of the 2010 World Cup, which – for the first time ever – will be contested was played in Ankara in November for in Africa, or South Africa to be more precise. the second category and saw Belarus win All 53 European associations will take part in the qualifiers, the first for ahead of Russia and Spain. of Montenegro.

Support to Special E UROPEAN ZONE Olympics Romania Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 The Romanian Football Portugal Greece Czech Republic Federation has partnered with Special Sweden Israel Poland Olympics Romania to promote Denmark Switzerland Northern Ireland football for players with intellectual Hungary Moldova Slovakia disabilities. Albania Latvia Slovenia In November, just before a Malta Luxembourg San Marino EURO 2008 qualifier kick-off, Special Group 4 Group 5 Group 6 Olympics (SO) players joined the profes- sionals on the pitch. That same month, Germany Spain Croatia the Romanian Football Federation and Russia Turkey Special Olympics Romania launched a Finland Belgium Ukraine new project, with the help of the national Wales Bosnia-Herzegovina Belarus agency for sports. Nine professional Azerbaijan Armenia Kazakhstan teams in the national football league Liechtenstein Estonia Andorra adopted Special Olympics teams, giving Group 7 Group 8 Group 9 them a chance to train with professional league coaches. Also, on 3 December, France Italy Netherlands first-division club Unirea Urziceni organ- Romania ised a training and PR event and an- Serbia Republic of Ireland Norway Lithuania Cyprus FYR Macedonia nounced a USD 12,000 donation to Spe- Austria Georgia Iceland cial Olympics Romania. The club general Faroe Islands Montenegro manager, Mihai Stoica, announced that, for each goal scored during its official The European qualifying round will take place from August 2008 to games, Urziceni will also make a EUR 500 October 2009. The nine group winners will qualify for the final round, while the donation to Special Olympics Romania. top eight runners-up will be drawn against each other for play-off matches in November to determine the final four European representatives that go through.

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AZERBAIJAN BULGARIA AFFA

The national team have been helping to National team meet promote football among young people. Bulgarian football says refugee pupils “No to racism” Having signed a joint memorandum, with pupils, who received various addi- In mid-November, the Bulgarian Foot- UNICEF and the Association of Football tional presents from the AFFA. ball Union (BFU) and its president, Borislav Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) are Speaking at the event, the president of Mihaylov, organised a national conference organising a series of events to increase the northern Azerbaijani football federa- about the problems of racism and dis- the profile and popularity of football and tion, Yashar Shamilov, said that meetings crimination in football, led by the vice- to nurture grassroots in particular. of this kind are of great importance to president of the BFU, Stefan Ormandjiev. The AFFA and UNICEF visited, for sport. The head coach of the Azerbaijani At the conference, Bulgaria signed up to example, ‘secondary school number six’ national team, Joko Hadziyevsky, also gave the UEFA president’s European campaign in Sumgayit recently, which caters mainly a speech underlining his support of and declared its support of UEFA’s anti- for children of families that have been dis- such events. The event closed with a racism and anti-discrimination initiative placed from the Jabrail region. Players friendly between the national side and in unequivocal terms. The association from the Azerbaijani national team signed the school team. demonstrated a clear desire to minimise autographs and had their photos taken Firuz Abdullayev and ultimately eliminate any displays of racism and discrimination during football events. The conference, attended by 120 del- egates from all of Bulgaria’s major pro- members before – except Armenia – in fessional football clubs and representa- BOSNIA- competitive and friendly matches. tives of many organisations linked to the HERZEGOVINA Also in November, the national Under- Bulgarian football community, declared in 21 side played two more matches away no uncertain terms: “No to racism and Top teams’ losing streak and took their consecutive losses to four. discrimination!” The latest defeats were against Wales November was not a good month for (4-0) and Malta (2-1). Poor results had football in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The been expected of head coach Nikola national team played its last EURO 2008 Nikic’s line-up, into which he had had to qualifying match and Fuad Muzurovic‘s draft fresh blood since the last qualifying side left the competition having lost five competition – for the Under-21 European games in a row, the last being a 1-0 Championship final round in the Nether- defeat against Turkey in . In the lands – when Bosnia-Herzegovina just lost end, Bosnia-Herzegovina finished fourth out on a place in the final round in a play- in Group C, with 13 points. This fairly poor off against the Czech Republic. BFU result was due, among other things, to The Football Federation of Bosnia- Bulgaria is also saying no to racism four home losses – to Hungary, Greece, Herzegovina organised a mini-tourna- and discrimination. Moldova and Norway. ment at the Grbavica stadium for Young players in the Bosnia-Herze- women’s teams that failed to make it Also at the conference was Kurt govina side did, however, demonstrate past the first qualifying round for the Eu- Wachter, a representative of the Football quality that promises better perform ances ropean Women’s Championship final Against Racism in Europe (FARE) organi- and results in the next qualifying hurdle, round in 2009. The hosts came out on sation. During the proceedings, the par- for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. top with two wins, against Luxembourg ticipants were shown video clips demon- Drawn in Group 5 with Spain, Turkey, Bel- (3-2) and Malta (2-1). Against one strating the most common cases of racism gium, Estonia and Armenia, they will have another, Luxembourg and Malta drew and discrimination in European football to give it all they have got. The Bosnian (1-1). The best goalscorer was Sabina today. Various materials were also pre- team has played all of the other group Pehic, who hit four home. sented, to showcase how different coun- The first part of the Premier League tries and football communities around championship is now over in Bosnia- Europe are currently dealing with the Herzegovina, with FK Modrica Maxima the problems of racism and discrimination in surprise leaders at the midway point. football and in society at large. Rivals Siroki Brijeg and Celik will not let Addressing the problems at hand, there Slavisa Bozicic’s side take the title without were numerous round table discussions, a fight, however, and the top scorer so far, in which some prominent, non-native with 12 goals, is FK Zeljeznicar forward footballers from the Bulgarian champi- Sanel Jahic. onship took part, including Deniran As for the Bosnia-Herzegovina Cup Ortega from Nigeria, currently playing for competition, for the first time in its his- Slavia (Sofia); Massena Mokoe, a Con- tory, the quarter-finals – in March next golese currently with Cherno More (Var- year – are to be contested exclusively na); Charoize Udodji, Nigerian-born and by Premier League clubs: Zeljeznicar, playing for CSKA (Sofia); and Velizar Dim- Sarajevo, Zrinjski, Posusje, Leotar, Siroki itrov, a Bulgarian international, also from Brijeg, Laktasi and Sloboda Tuzla. CSKA (Sofia). The players all had to an- The Bosnia-Herzegovina championship swer various questions about whether F.Krvavac resumes on 1 March. they had experienced racism or discrimi- FK Modrica top the table at the midway point. Fuad Krvavac nation at first hand while playing in

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fromN memberEWS associations

Bulgaria. All three African-born players Griffiths, spent seven days working with the said no, they had not suffered any racism young coaches from all over Iraq to improve or discrimination while playing football their methods, knowledge and ability. in Bulgarian stadiums, but all three added Despite the well-documented problems that racial abuse and discrimination in Iraq, the senior national football team were a common occurrence in their every- are the current Asian champions, follow- day lives. ing their victory over Saudi Arabia in The conference ended with all the pro- July, and enthusiasm for the game fessional clubs accepting a common dec- among the country’s youngsters is at its laration condemning racism and discrim- highest ever. ination in Bulgarian Football. In addition, “It really is a fantastic initiative and fur- a ten-point programme was introduced ther proof of how football can be used as by the Bulgarian Football Union, which is a real method to unite people and rise in line with the corresponding UEFA pro- above whatever social differences there gramme and is aimed at popularising the may be,” said Rutter. UEFA recommendations and the steps “Wherever we go, there is always a ter- taken to fight racism and discrimination rific response because the one thing we on and off the pitch in Bulgaria. have is football. It’s great for them to learn Borislav Konstantinov HNS more about coaching and be able to take Dragan Primorac honours Slaven Bilic. that back to their own communities and put it into practice. “We’ve been teaching them different pating clubs from 12 to 16 and a broad methodology on coaching, how to engage CROATIA discussion on work with young people. more players, how to make the most of In the winter period, we have some their resources and how football can be great indoor football activities lined up, used as a diversion on a day-to-day basis. Satisfied and proud including the national indoor champi- “For youngsters in places like Basra and The end of the EURO 2008 qualifying onship for first-division clubs. Various Baghdad, football can offer something of round was a great time for Croatia. The Croatian cities will host other traditional an escape from the troubles they might national team’s victory over England at the indoor tournaments, the most popular have to deal with and, since Iraq won the magnificent Wembley Stadium was being the 37th edition of a 333-team Asian Cup, there has been a real surge of received with a great sense of satisfaction competition in Zagreb. popularity in the game.” and pride back at home. The Croatian Croatian football successes are being Nicholas Veevers team achieved its highest points score ever acknowledged with special awards. This in the qualifying stage and goes into the year’s winners of the annual Franjo Bucar European Championship final round for a national sports award, the greatest sports third time. The players are being praised award in the Republic of Croatia, are head by the public and plaudits are going out coach Slaven Bilic and football educator in particular to the young head coach, and youth coach Andrija Vekic. Lifetime Slaven Bilic, a famous ex Croatian inter- achievement awards went to Miroslav national who has educated himself to the Blazevic, former head coach and bronze- highest degree in football. Members of medal winner at the 1998 FIFA World Cup his technical staff are also former mem- in France, and Ante Pavlovic, long-stand- bers of the Croatian national team. ing former general secretary of the Croa- The seniors’ success was followed tian Football Federation. by those of the Under-19 and Under-21 Ante Pavlovic national teams in the qualifying competi-

tions for their respective European cham- The FA pionships. Training young coaches so that they can pass As regards the draw in Durban for the on what they know in Iraq. 2010 FIFA World Cup, we were very ex- ENGLAND cited about it and are glad that we will be able to compete against the national teams of Belarus and Kazakhstan for the FA helps Iraqis focus on the future first time. Two FA coaches travelled to Dubai in GEORGIA We would like to express our gratitude November to train a group of 18 Iraqi to UEFA and to the UEFA Executive Com- coaches as part of an ongoing programme mittee for entrusting us with the XXXII to help rebuild the country’s football New support programme UEFA Ordinary Congress, which is sched- infrastructure. On the initiative of Mikheil Saakashvili, uled to take place in Zagreb for the first The Football United project is run President of Georgia, a government pro- time on 31 January 2008. We hope that jointly by The FA and the Foreign and gramme for supporting football, rugby all the delegates and guests will enjoy their Commonwealth Office, and is now in its and higher education in sport was pre- stay and have a successful congress, third year. sented on 26 October at the Georgian returning home with fond memories of So far, a total of over 50 coaches have Football Federation’s Saguramo technical their visit to Croatia. gained their second-tier qualification centre, which is still under development. We are also preparing for the annual through the scheme and have gone on to The presentation was attended by general meeting of the Croatian Football coach around 2,000 youngsters in Iraq. Giorgi Gabashvili, Minister of Culture, Federation. On the agenda will be a pro- The FA’s coach education manager, Monument Protection and Sport; GFF posal from the association of first-division Steve Rutter, and the association’s President Nodar Akhalkatsi; GFF Vice-Pres- clubs to increase the number of partici- regional coach development manager, John idents Gogi Kavtaradze, Revaz Arveladze, ➜

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Dózsa and Royal Antwerp footballer, who played 92 games for Hungary (the second- HUNGARY most capped Hungarian footballer after

GFF József Bozsik, who received 101). He was A precious programme supporting Tribute to Gera and Fazekas honoured by István Kisteleki, the president Georgian sport. of the Hungarian Football Federation, Two Hungarian football heroes were György Szepesi, the honorary president, ➜ celebrated by the Hungarian Football Fed- and Antal Dunai, an old team-mate who Dimitri Ramishvili and Grigol Tsaava; GFF eration (MLSZ) in November. West General Secretary Ucha Ugulava; Klaus also happens to be vice-president of the Bromwich Albion forward Zoltán Gera, Toppmoller, head coach of Georgia’s federation. national A team, and other sports per- who played his 50th match for the na- Márton Dinnyés sonalities. tional team on 17 November against Mikheil Saakashvili, President of Geor- Moldova, was given a plaque and a hand- gia, said: “After the Georgian A team’s some watch with which to remember the victory over Scotland, I felt as if Georgian great times had at the national team’s football was reborn. I am sure that the training camp in Budapest. “I hope I will project supporting Georgian football, rug- reach 100 [caps] before I am an old man by and higher education in sport will help and have to retire,” the 28-year-old said. football, rugby and other sports in Geor- The football federation also paid trib- gia to prosper. Within the framework of ute to László Fazekas, one of the greatest this programme, stadiums will be con- players of Hungarian football, who cele- structed in seven cities, while in Batumi brated his 60th birthday in October. The and Kutaisi two training centres adhering tribute to the Belgium-based star was held to international standards will be built.” just before Hungary’s European Champi-

Nodar Akhalkatsi, GFF President, onship qualifying match against Greece. Mathias Imre added: “I think it’s wonderful that the gov- In the Ferenc Puskás stadium, 34,000 A tribute was paid to Laszlo Fazekas ernment of Georgia is so interested in the spectators applauded the former Újpesti at the Hungary-Greece game. development of sport in our country. I wish to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude to our president, Mikheil Saakashvili, for his constant sup- port of Georgian football. It’s very impor- 2007 season had been played. As an- tant that the Georgian government is in- nounced previously, the LMT Virsliga is vesting USD 11 million into the develop- LATVIA now a ten-club competition, up from ment of Georgian football. We are happy eight. The draw was performed by LMT’s that, with the aid of this new programme, Opponents drawn president, Juris Binde, and the company’s Georgia will have seven new foot- in 2008 LMT Virsliga vice-president of finance, Alfs Janevics. ball/rugby stadiums and two training cen- The 2008 LMT Virsliga will start with tres that adhere to international standards. Latvijas Mobilais Telefons (LMT), the five matches on 5 April. Media, club rep- Eight state-owned football clubs will also general sponsor of the Latvian Football resentatives, sponsors and partners all be transferred to private investors, which Federation, hosted the draw to establish came to see the draw. One particularly in- will be of great assistance in developing next season’s LMT Virsliga match calendar teresting fixture, scheduled for matchday Georgian club football and the national almost as soon as the final match of the one, is FK Ventspils, the reigning champi- championship. I wish to underline the fact ons for two seasons, at home against 14- that FIFA and UEFA are fully informed time champions Skonto FC. about the project and that the GFF has The 2008 LMT Virsliga has a new com- their full support. petition system. All ten clubs will play each “It is quite symbolic that the presenta- other in the first two rounds. Then, in the tion of this project is taking place in Sagu- second half of the season, the top six ramo, at the GFF’s technical centre. There clubs will compete in a further two has been a large-scale training base here rounds, while the last four contest places for 30 years now. There are two standard seven to ten. The club that finishes bot- football pitches at the Saguramo techni- cal centre; a third with artificial turf and tom of the league will be relegated and two mini-pitches will be finished in the replaced in following season by the win- very near future. The project fits within ner of the first division. The second-to- the framework of the FIFA Goal Pro- bottom club in the LMT Virsliga and the gramme. The GFF plans to construct four second-to-top in the first division will play or five standard pitches in Saguramo. each other twice to determine who will There are excellent training conditions get a place in the next season’s LMT. here.” In other news, the Latvian Football Fed- Financial support of the GFF will last eration has acquired its first four inserts in from 2008 to 2010, while funding will be Latvia’s largest daily newspaper, Diena. given to the national championship bonus The four full-page centre inserts are sold fund from 2008 to 2017. as advertising space for sports federations Furthermore the national championship and the LFF’s press department is filling

bonus fund will increase by 500,000 lari LFF them with news, photos, statistics and each year for the next decade. Juris Binde, LMT’s president, at the draw to comments. GFF Press Centre establish next season’s match calendar. Martins Hartmanis

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EWS from member associationsN

Eugen Negrevoda that secured victory for the eastern team. LIECHTENSTEIN This tournament will become a regu- lar fixture, as it is aimed at discovering new FIFA visit football talent. With financial support from the FMF, it will take its place along- The Liechtenstein Football Association’s side the other national competitions. The executive committee and staff members new tournament attracted great interest took a trip to FIFA in Zurich on 13 from Moldova’s national team coaches as November. well as from members of the FMF’s coach-

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter wel- D. Aquilina ing committee. comed the delegation in person in the en- Victor Daghi trance hall to the magnificent new build- The Ta’ Qali national stadium. ing and, in the presence of FIFA General Secretary Jérôme Valcke, addressed a few under an agreement with the clubs that words to the visitors. The delegation was manage these venues. Logistically, this then given a tour of the entire FIFA prem- ensures a safe environment and smooth ises and an opportunity to inspect its organisation of competitions. sophisticated construction, before gath- However, Maltese clubs have long been ering in a meeting room to watch a film aspiring to have their own playing facili- about the development of FIFA and of ties, which would also make for better football. Finally, drinks were served and streamlining of the annual football calen- Joseph S. Blatter insisted on a brief kick- dar and give the clubs more say in ensur- about with everyone present. ing that the programme of matches is run The idea behind the visit was that of efficiently. Reinhard Walser, president of the Liechten- The Malta FA has long been aware of

stein FA (LFV) who was very excited and the difficulties facing its member clubs in FMF impressed by the amount of time the FIFA their plans to upgrade their facilities. The A scene from the Viitorul tournament. president spent with the Liechtenstein del- clubs need assistance in this respect, even egation. The association’s general secre- though the Malta FA first had to channel tary, Roland Ospelt, was equally pleased, its resources into establishing the cen- pointing out that it is often those closest tralised infrastructure it now has at to home that we know the least about. Ta’ Qali. MONTENEGRO Now, though, the LFV executive commit- Presently, a specific three-year project is in the pipeline, which will enable the as- tee and staff are more familiar with FIFA. Football against racism Judith Frommelt sociation to help clubs improve their facilities. The aim is to enhance their in- The Football Association of Montene- frastructure through artificial pitches, gro (FAM) decided to raise its voice against floodlighting systems and other modern racism again recently. The FAM, in associ- amenities. ation with the non-government organi- This ambitious venture, costing about sation Forum MNE, launched a campaign EUR 2.35 million, should boost the Mal- entitled “Football against racism”. tese clubs’ resources considerably, as well The campaign involved printing 1,500 as helping to enlarge the spectrum of bracelets with the “Football against playing venues on the island. As a result, racism” message and giving them away Maltese football will have a physical set- as gifts with every ticket purchased for the up more in line with that of the bigger Under-21 Montenegro-Republic of Ireland European federations. match. A charity futsal game was also or- Alex Vella ganised, during which the children were

LFV told about racial and social discrimination, and ways to fight it. The futsal game Hosts and visitors pose with the World Cup. included children from all parts of Mon- MOLDOVA tenegro and three Brazilian players from top Montenegrin club FK Zeta. Montenegro was considered a poten- MALTA Thinking about the future tial problem area when UEFA fined The Football Association of Moldova FK Rudar and FK Zeta for inappropriate chants during UEFA Cup and Champions (FMF) recently organised a new tourna- League matches in the Montenegrin cap- Improving club facilities ment entitled Viitorul (“The future”), Football clubs in Malta have limited ital of Podgorica. The Football Association which featured the most gifted young of Montenegro has been educating its playing facilities. They do not own any football players born in 1993/94, selected national teams and club supporters on the football grounds and normally avail them- from right across Moldova. issue of racism ever since. selves of training areas which are used on The semi-finals saw the eastern team Its action has been very well received, a lease basis. beat the northern team 4-1, and the team not only by the fans, but also by England As a consequence, many league from the west win 4-0 against those from and Portugal’s national Under-21 teams, matches are played at the Ta’ Qali com- the south. In the third-place play-off, the who came to Podgorica with strong preju- plex which is run by the Malta FA. To com- northerners imposed their supremacy dices on the matter and went home pleas- plement its programme of matches, the upon the southerners to win 4-0, while antly surprised by how well they were association also assumes temporary the east-west final proved to be very close received by the crowds. responsibility of two football grounds and tense. It was a single goal scored by Ivan Radovic

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made it through to the elite round, as however, he dramatically stepped down have the women’s Under-19 and Under- as manager after accepting an offer from NETHERLANDS 17 teams. Fulham FC. On top of all that, two orange teams The Irish FA was then faced with the will be represented at Olympic level in difficult task of finding a new manager at A good year Beijing next year. As European champi- a vital midway point in the campaign. In Having qualified for EURO 2008 and ons, the Under-21 team has qualified for June 2007, the IFA announced Nigel Wor- with a second consecutive European the Olympic football tournament for the thington as the new international man- Under-21 title under its belt, the Royal first time in more than 50 years – an un- ager. Nigel, a coach full of dedication and Netherlands Foot- usual feat which prompted the likes of professionalism having been an interna- ball Association , Clarence Seedorf tional captain and the holder of 66 inter- (KNVB) has more and Roy Makaay to express their willing- national caps, is a former manager of Nor- than one reason ness to appear at the Olympics too. Also, wich City FC. to look back upon the Dutch CP team, fielding players with No doubt the highlight of the Euro- 2007 in good spir- cerebral palsy and similar impairments, pean campaign for many supporters came its. Even head has managed to qualify for the Para- during the Northern Ireland-Denmark coach Marco van lympics in Beijing. Fifth place in the game, when Northern Ireland hero David Basten’s announce- CPISRA Football World Championships Healy secured his 13th goal of the tour- ment that he will in Brazil in November secured them a slot nament, making him the highest-ever quit the national next autumn. goalscorer in a European championship team after EURO Images Coffrini/AFP/Getty It will be a hard to emulate these per- qualifying campaign. The previous record 2008, having been . formances next year but with ever- of 12 goals in 10 games had been held by in the job for four years, could not detract increasing membership and the still- Davor Suker of Croatia since 1996. In Sep- from the fact that the KNVB still have all growing popularity of football among tember 2006, during the match against their national youth teams in the qualify- young children and women, the odds look Spain, David Healy became the first North- ing race for their respective final rounds. good for the Royal Netherlands FA. ern Ireland player to score a hat-trick in The Under-19 and Under-17 sides have Rob de Leede Belfast since the legendary George Best. Another hat-trick, against Liechtenstein in March 2007, made him the first player ever to score two hat-tricks for Northern Ireland were proud to hold 32nd place – Ireland. undoubtedly a record achievement, hav- NORTHERN Although qualification was not meant ing climbed 40 places within 15 months. to be for any of the home nations in this IRELAND Lawrie Sanchez, who made a remark- European Championship, the passion and able difference to the fate and creditabil- sense of community spirit within North- Record-breaking rollercoaster ride ity of the Northern Ireland squad, was ern Ireland was overwhelming and in- The EURO 2008 qualifying campaign hailed as one of Northern Ireland’s finest comparable. Northern Ireland’s EURO was certainly full of excitement, tension, managers. Lawrie soon ended the 1,298- 2008 campaign was indeed a roller coaster thrills and passion for a wee country like minute goal drought and secured a first ride of emotions. Northern Ireland. Written off by some win for the side in almost three years. He Caroline Menary after their hugely disappointing start (los- came on board as manager when the ing 3-0 at home to Iceland), Northern Ire- team were hovering aimlessly at 124th in land – true to form – bounced back dra- the FIFA world rankings and eventually matically and made the doubters eat their oversaw the team’s rise to the top of words time and again. Group F in March 2007. In May 2007, Indeed, the hope of securing a place in PORTUGAL the finals lasted until the very last mo- ment, when the final whistle blew against Spain. Although the dream of reaching All about futsal the European Championship final round Portugal was the stage for the final was shattered, the boys in green did round of the 5th European Futsal Champ - themselves, their country, and their sup- ionship in November. The tournament was porters extremely proud. an undeniable success and contributed to Along with the excitement of many his- even greater recognition and media cov- toric victories throughout the course of erage of the sport, not only in Portugal, the campaign, the team and the Irish FA but also – to a certain extent – all over Eu- encountered many twists and turns: soar- rope. ing up the FIFA rankings, topping the The TV audience figures for the group mid-campaign, a change in man- European Championship matches have agement and David Healy setting a new beaten all Portuguese futsal records. For goalscoring record. instance, the semi-final between Portugal At the beginning of the campaign, in and Spain was watched by an average of August 2006, Northern Ireland was 72nd over 1,100,000 viewers and attracted a in the FIFA world rankings. Securing his- peak audience of more than 1,500,000 toric and unforgettable victories against (a 40% audience share). Spain, Sweden, and Denmark guaranteed What is more, media coverage of the Northern Ireland’s rise, and in August European Championship largely exceeded

2007, the country found itself at an all- IFA that of previous editions, which proves time high at 27th. Things settled down David Healy, best goalscorer in the EURO 2008 that the tournament has attracted greater and at the end of the campaign Northern qualifying round. interest. In order to follow the matches in

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For Tournament Director Álvaro Albino, the expectations for this European Cham- pionship were exceeded comfortably: “All the work carried out by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) and by UEFA has produced good results. A highly profes- sional competition was staged, the prior- ity for which was to provide the national teams with high-class working conditions,

FPF and it has been proved that futsal is a The European Futsal Championship group quality ‘product’ with enormous growth match between Portugal and Romania. potential. I think we have set a new stan-

dard for futsal, which will be reflected in Swedish FA/Bildbyran future events organised by the FPF and Gondomar and Santo Tirso closely, 189 Players of the year Therese Sjögran media representatives received accredita- UEFA itself. To keep this sport at this qual- and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. tion, as well as 49 representatives of the ity level is a challenge for everyone: clubs, sports channel Eurosport and Portuguese associations and UEFA.” goalscorer in a World Cup final (35 years TV broadcaster SIC. Filipe Félix and 263 days) – a record unlikely to be broken anytime soon. A true ambassador of Swedish football in every way, Liedholm will be missed but won the Cup competition back in 1926, never forgotten. REPUBLIC beating Shamrock Rovers in the final. Andreas Nilsson OF IRELAND In the 2007 final, Cork City defeated cup specialists Longford Town 1-0, despite Cork City win FAI Ford Cup Longford’s hopes of a third Senior Chal- lenge Cup victory in five seasons. The 2007 edition of the FAI Ford Sen- Fran Whearty SWITZERLAND ior Challenge Cup marked the beginning of a new era as the Ford Motor Com pany became the competition sponsor. The FAI Sunniva Flück saluted also unveiled a new FAI Ford Senior Chal- SWEDEN as 20,000th female player lenge Cup trophy. The original trophy has The Swiss Football Association (SFV) now been retired and occupies a special registered 2,400 licensed female players place in the new football museum that Annual football gala in 1987. Ten years later, in 1997, the SFV has been incorporated into the FAI offices The 2007 season in Sweden came to announced an increase of over 100% and at its new headquarters in Abbotstown. an end at the annual football gala, broad- a total of 5,715 women in possession of The relationship between the FAI and casted live on TV4. Zlatan Ibrahimovic a licence. Now, a further ten years on, a Ford is particularly appropriate as Ford- () and Therese Sjögran (LdB FC barrier has been broken that, just a few sons, a former Cork-based team repre- Malmö) were the big winners of the years ago, many experts considered senting the Ford Motor Company, actually evening, as they picked up the Player of unobtainable. The SFV recently announced the Year awards. Domestic champions IFK Göteborg, Swedish Cup winners Kalmar FF and women’s champ ions Umeå IK were also given a well-deserved extra round of celebrations. The gala also featured a special tribute to Nils Liedholm, who passed away in November. Liedholm’s football career last- ed for more than 60 years, and we may never see a resume quite like his again: two-time Swedish champion, Olympic gold medallist in 1948, captain and goal- scorer for Sweden in the 1958 World Cup final, and captain and four-time Italian

champion with AC Milan. Liedholm’s SFV excellent level of fitness enabled him 12 Ralph Zloczower and Martina Moser with seasons as a professional player, before Sunniva Flück, the 20,000th female player to retiring at the age of 40. He then turned get an ASF licence. to coaching and found equal success, leading Verona and Varese into Serie A, that the milestone of 20,000 women had helping AC Milan win its tenth scudetto been past. in 1979, and turning AS Roma into SFV President Ralph Zloczower took the champions in 1983. opportunity to invite the 20,000th player Liedholm reached the European Cup to the Swiss “House of football” in Berne final both as a player (with Milan in 1958) and pay her special tribute. As chance FAI and as a coach (with Roma in 1984). He Cork City captain, Dan Murray and his would have it, Sunniva Flück from Spiez, team-mates celebrate. also holds the record for being the oldest who at just nine years old plays for FC Rot- ➜

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➜ Schwarz Thun, is the holder of the sportsmen, when the national team sen- 20,000th licence. The young footballer, sationally won the second World Deaf Fut- accompanied by her parents and brother, sal Championships, held in the Bulgarian was delighted about the accolade that she capital of Sofia from 8 to 18 November. received from the SFV president and Swiss Under the direction of Oleksandr Kun- women’s international Martina Moser. ytsa and Oleksandr Vereschaka, the yel- FAW The SFV is pleased about the trend not low and blues came out on top from Sunil Patel, head of the Show Racism the Red only in numbers, but also in the women’s among 24 teams, including the European Card project in Wales, and Gareth Bale, Welsh national teams, which have made contin- champions, Russia, and pre-tournament international and Tottenham Hotspur defender. uous progress, thanks in part to the train- favourites Spain, the Netherlands, Italy and ing centre for girls set up in Huttwil in hosts Bulgaria. As it happened, none the 2004. In autumn, the Under-17s and world’s deaf futsal heavyweights reached Under-19s both made it into the second the final, where Ukraine beat Thailand WALES qualifying round of their European 3-2 with goals by Oleksandr Chalenko, women’s championships and the senior Igor Khozyainov and Dmytro Puchkov. women’s A side is currently in second On the other side of the world – in Almost £50,000 in medical place in its group, behind world and Brazil – Ukrainians were having less luck. assistance for players European champions Germany. They were the main favourites in the third In compliance with the sporting crite- Pierre Benoit CPISRA Football World Championships ria in the new UEFA club licensing system, (organised by the Cerebral Palsy Interna- the Football Association of Wales (FAW) tional Sports & Recreation Association), has agreed to subsidise the cost of but the team had to settle for third place. echocardiograms for players in the Princi- This is nonetheless another great achieve- pality Welsh Premier League, and will ment for the world (1998, 2003), Euro- invest a substantial £48,600 into the UKRAINE pean (1999, 2002, 2006), and Paralympic project this year. champions (2004). Under the “A” sporting criteria, sec- These headline-grabbing results by the Pride in disabled footballers tion S.03 concerns players’ medical care. national teams with cerebral palsy and In order to meet this new criterion, clubs Having been named co-hosts of EURO hearing impairments overshadow some- must ensure that all players undergo a 2012, the Football Federation of Ukraine what Ukraine’s seventh position in the one-off echocardiogram, as well as an an- (FFU) is naturally concentrating most of its 2007 World Cup, held nual ECG and general medical. The cost energy on preparing for this milestone in Ankara, Turkey, from 12 to 20 Novem- of the echocardiogram is approximately event. That being said, it could never be ber. The president of Ukraine’s disability £140 per player, which would represent a accused of neglecting its many social pro- football association, Borys Voskresenskiy, major outlay for the 18 clubs in Wales’s grammes, one of the most important is, however, quick to point out that the Premier League. being the development of football for whole country is proud of the perform- The investment from the Football people with disabilities. ances of all Ukraine’s disabled football Association of Wales emphasises its com- Ukrainian disabled footballers receive teams. “We can only be delighted with mitment to the medical care of its elite financial and technical support, plus these great sportsmen and great people! domestic players. Secretary General, David equipment and methodology, from the They show us how to be really strong and Collins adds: FFU via the country’s disability football fight through every hardship, and the FFU, “The Football Association of Wales was association. In turn, these athletes repre- together with the disability football asso- extremely pleased to be able to assist the sent the country at all international com- ciation, will do everything possible to help Welsh Premier League clubs, to enable petitions. Recently, the spotlight was on and support them.” Ukraine and its deaf and hearing-impaired Igor Linnyk their players to undergo echocardiogram examinations. This is vital to the welfare of the individual players and financially as- sists the clubs greatly, who would face ex- tremely high bills were they to undertake these examinations themselves on behalf of all of their players. With the unfortu- nate incidents that have taken place over the past few years, the FAW considered this as a priority for the coming season.” So far, 360 players from all 18 clubs in the Welsh Premier League have had echocardiograms, and there will be even more now that the transfer window has re-opened. The association has also invested £10,000 into Show Racism the Red Card Wales. The charity, which uses footballers as role models to educate children about anti-racism, is in its tenth year of existence, but has had its own campaign worker in Wales for only one season. The FAW’s investment guarantees the employment of Sunil Patel, the SRTRC Wales campaign FFU officer, for at least another year. Ukraine, World Deaf Futsal champions. Andrew Howard

22 uefadirect 1.08 UEFAdirect-69-Janvier•E:Anglais 17.12.2007 12:11 Page 23 UEFA

Match Agents

Seven new UEFA match agent licences have been granted. The new Communications licence holders are: Birthdays – Calendar Eddy KUIJPER KUPA Meilust 19 1567 BK Assendelft Netherlands ● Tel: +31 756 428 663 Birthdays Pedro Galán Nieto (Spain, 20.1) Fax: +31 756 289 607 ● Anders Mattsson (Finland, 21.1) [email protected] Teuvo Holopainen (Finland), member ● Angel María Villar Llona (Spain, 21.1) ● Antonis ANTONIOU of the Stadium and Security Committee, Maria Teresa Andreu Grau (Spain, 21.1) Helios Agentie de Turism Srl celebrates his 60th birthday on 23 January. ● (Germany, 22.1) Haga No. 8 On 10 January, Herbert Hübel (Austria), ● Urs Meier (Switzerland, 22.1) 011777 Bucharest Sector 1 member of the Legal Committee, turns 50. ● Harry M. Been (Netherlands, 23.1) Romania Luis Horta (Portugal), member of the Anti- ● Zsolt Füzesi (Hungary, 23.1) Tel: +40 212 318 649 Doping Panel, follows suit on 14 January, ● Pat Quigley (Republic of Ireland, 24.1) Fax: +40 212 318 651 [email protected] referee observer Gevorg Hovhannisyan ● Leonid Dmitranitsa (Belarus, 25.1) (Armenia) on 25 January and match delegate ● Stig-Ove Sandnes (Norway, 25.1) Jaime COSTA Metin Kazancioglu (Turkey) on 26 January. ● Miroslaw Ryszka (Poland, 26.1) FOOTVISION Rua da Coutada 102 Other leading members of the European ● Krister Malmsten (Sweden, 27.1) ● 3830-134 Ílhavo football family celebrating their birthdays Cosimo Bolognino (Italy, 30.1) Portugal in January are: Tel: +351 961 550 777 Forthcoming events ● Necdet Cobanli (Turkey, 1.1) Fax: +351 234 410 248 [email protected] ● Vlatko Markovic (Croatia, 1.1) Meetings ● Malcolm Moffatt (Northern Ireland, 1.1) Alejandro SANTISTEBAN 29-30.1.2008, Zagreb ● Mustafa Culcu (Turkey, 1.1) WORLDELEVEN España Executive Committee C/ Ramón Gómez de la Serna 22, ● Monica Ortigueira (Switzerland, 2.1) 31.1.2008, Zagreb Office 411 ● Robert Sterckx (Belgium, 3.1) 29600 Marbella (Málaga) ● Gerhard Sager (Sweden, 3.1) Ordinary UEFA Congress Spain ● Alexei Spirin (Russia, 4.1) Tel: +34 606 500 439 ● David George Collins (Wales, 5.1) New publication Fax: +34 952 86 72 94 ● George Sintoris (Greece, 5.1) [email protected] ● Mariano Moreno (Spain, 6.1) Le Guide français et Gerasimos ZAPATINAS ● Walter Clarke (Northern Ireland, 6.1) international du Football 2008 Zapatinas International Management ● Sergei Safaryan (Belarus, 6.1) This 650-page guide 12-14 str., Gramvousis ● Sergiy Lysenchuk (Ukraine, 6.1) by Sophie Guillet 16561 Glyfada, Attiki Greece ● Franco Ferrari (Italy, 9.1) and François Laforge, Tel: +30 210 962 8042 ● Velid Imamovic (Bosnia-Herzegovina, 9.1) published by De Fax: +30 210 962 8052 ● Milos Tomas (Slovakia, 9.1) Vecchi in Paris, gives [email protected] ● Guido Cornella (Switzerland, 10.1) French and interna- Lionel DA SILVA TEIXEIRA ● Michel Dumoulin (Belgium, 11.1) tional football results 45b, rue de Bettembourg ● Wolfgang Holzhäuser (Germany, 13.1) from 1904 to the 5810 Hesperange ● Sofoklis Pilavios (Greece, 13.1) present day as well as Luxembourg ● Iljo Dominkovic (Bosnia-Herzegovina, 14.1) address lists and technical explanations Tel: +352 621 247 478 Fax: +352 26 36 24 40 ● Nodar Akhalkatsi (Georgia, 14.1) (EUR 16 – www.de-vecchi.fr). ● Alessandro Lulli (Italy, 15.1) José Luis GOMES Am-Stadtpfad 9 ● Mitja Lainscak (Slovenia, 15.1) Obituary ● 65760 Eschborn Christophe Perruchoud (Switzerland, 16.1) Germany ● Sune Hellströmer (Sweden, 17.1) Wolfgang Riedel (Germany), former inter- Tel: +49 6196 96 98 245 ● Friedrich Stickler (Austria, 18.1) national referee, UEFA committee member Fax: +49 6196 96 98 215 ● Fabrizio Tonelli (Italy, 18.1) from 1980 to 2000 and latterly a member of [email protected] ● Vera Pauw (Netherlands, 18.1) the circle of former UEFA committee mem- At the same time, the licence of ● Bujar Kasmi (Albania, 19.1) bers and a match delegate, passed away on Dennj Salvatore LUSSU (Switzerland) ● Lars-Åke Lagrell (Sweden, 20.1) 12 November at the age of 78. has been revoked.

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 sour- Communications Division Editorial deadline: 11 December 2007 ce is indicated. UEFAdirect-69-Janvier•E:Anglais 17.12.2007 12:11 Page 24

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