No. 156

APRIL 2016 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE UNION OF EUROPEAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATIONS NO TO RACISM

GAME CHANGER How football is giving amputees in Kabul a new lease of life No.156 2016 • April YOUTH THE EXECUTIVE LEAGUE TECHNICIAN COMMITTEE The finals return A revolution in sports Theodore Theodoridis to science at Leicester FC handed the reins BIRTHDAYS, NOTICES, FORTHCOMING EVENTS

BIRTHDAYS Charles Schaack (Luxembourg, 17 April) Philippe Verbiest (Belgium, 25 April) Frances Smith (Republic of Ireland, 17 April) Dany Ryser (Switzerland, 25 April) Oguz Sarvan (Turkey, 18 April) Domenti Sichinava (Georgia, 25 April) 50th Carlo De Gaudio (Italy, 1 April) Alexandre Remin (Belarus, 18 April) Salustia Chato Cipres (Andorra, 25 April) Jan Peeters (Belgium, 2 April) Norman Darmanin Demajo (Malta, 19 April) Valentin Velikov (Bulgaria, 25 April) Elisabeth Derks (Netherlands, 2 April) Virgar Hvidbro (Faroe Islands, 19 April) Yariv Teper (Israel, 26 April) Michael Sjöö (Sweden, 2 April) Elena Charina (Russia, 19 April) Jan Pauly (Czech Republic, 26 April) Márton Dinnyés (Hungary, 2 April) Jean-Luc Veuthey (Switzerland, 20 April) Marina Sbardella (Italy, 27 April) Kaj Østergaard (Denmark, 3 April) Michael Argyrou (Cyprus, 20 April) Jan Carlsen (Denmark, 27 April) Martin Sturkenboom (Netherlands, 3 April) İlhan Helvacı (Turkey, 20 April) Edgar Steinborn (Germany, 27 April) Dennis Cruise (Republic of Ireland, 3 April) Nenad Santrač (Serbia, 20 April) Frank Fontvielle (France, 27 April) Yoav Strauss (Israel, 3 April) Marc Lesenfants (Belgium, 21 April) George Frank (Israel, 29 April) Emil Ubias (Czech Republic, 3 April) Vitor Pereira (Portugal, 21 April) Gudmunder Ingi Jónsson (Iceland, 29 April) Christian Kofoed (Denmark, 4 April) Martinus van den Bekerom (Netherlands, Eamon Naughton (Republic of Ireland, 21 April) 4 April) Alexandru Burlac (Moldova, 21 April) NOTICES Alex Miescher (Switzerland, 4 April) Tomislav Vlahović (, 21 April) Marco Casagrande (Finland, 4 April) Jan Damgaard (Denmark, 22 April) • On 28 February, Terje Svendsen was Jan Ekstrand (Sweden, 5 April) Morgan Norman (Sweden, 22 April) elected president of the Football Momir Djurdjevac (Montenegro, 5 April) Rod Petrie (Scotland, 22 April) 60th Association of Norway, replacing Alexey Sorokin (Russia, 5 April) Volodymyr Petrov (Ukraine, 22 April) Yngve Hallen at the helm. Aleksandra Pejkovska (FYR Macedonia, Claudine Brohet (Belgium, 22 April) 5 April) Roland Tis (Belgium, 23 April) • Following the resignations of the Vencel Tóth (Hungary, 6 April) Mehmet Binnet (Turkey, 23 April) president and general secretary of Snježana Fočić (Croatia, 6 April) 50th Prune Rocipon (France, 23 April) the German Football Association, László Szalai (Hungary, 6 April) Nebojša Ivković (Serbia, 24 April) an electoral congress will be held on Pavol Peracek (Slovakia, 7 April) Avraham Luzon (Israel, 24 April) 15 April, with vice-presidents Rainer Jacques Devismes (France, 8 April) 80th Sandor Piller (Hungary, 24 April) Koch and Reinhard Rauball leading Jim Fleeting (Scotland, 8 April) İlker Yücesir (Turkey, 24 April) 50th the association in the interim. Peter Hegyi (Hungary, 8 April) Roy Millar (Northern Ireland, Yevgeniy Stolitenko (Ukraine, 8 April) 40th 25 April) Márton Esterházy (Hungary, 9 April) 60th Ladislav Svoboda (Czech Republic, 9 April) FORTHCOMING EVENTS Zoran Petrović (Serbia, 10 April) Gordon Pate (Scotland, 10 April) Panagiotis Tsarouchas (Greece, 10 April) Meetings Vlastibor Minarovjech Jr (Slovakia, 10 April) 4 April, Nyon 19 April, Nyon 26 April, Nyon Eduard Kindle (Liechtenstein, 10 April) Medical Committee Youth and Amateur Fair Play and Social Umberto Gandini (Italy, 11 April) Football Committee Responsibility Committee Kristiaan Van Der Haegen (Belgium, 11–15 April, Ljubljana 11 April) UEFA Grassroots Workshop 20 April, Nyon 29 April, Nyon Pierre Dumarché (France, 11 April) Finance Committee National Team Rodger Gifford (Wales, 12 April) 15 April, Nyon Competitions Committee Valeriu Ionita (Romania, 12 April) UEFA Champions League 21 April, Nyon François De Keersmaecker (Belgium, and UEFA Europa League: Stadium and Security 12 April) semi-final draws Committee António José F. Cardoso (Portugal, 12 April) Adrian Ixari (Moldova, 12 April) Paolo Piani (Italy, 13 April) Competitions Giovanni Spitaleri (Italy, 13 April) 5/6 and 12/13 April 12 April 23/24 and 30 April–1 May Edvinas Eimontas (Lithuania, 13 April) 40th UEFA Champions League: World Cup: European UEFA Women’s Champions Octavian Goga (Romania, 14 April) quarter-finals play-offs (return legs) League: semi-finals Georgios Bikas (Greece, 15 April) Erol Ersoy (Turkey, 15 April) 5–10 April 15–18 April, Nyon 26/27 April www.uefafoundation.org Antonius van Eekelen (Netherlands, European Women’s Under-19 UEFA Youth League: UEFA Champions League: 15 April) Championship: elite round final four semi-finals (first legs) Dušan Fitzel (Czech Republic, 15 April) Anders Hubinette (Sweden, 15 April) 7 and 14 April 21–24 April, 28 April Manuel Enrique Mejuto González (Spain, UEFA Europa League: Guadalajara (Spain) UEFA Europa League: 16 April) quarter-finals UEFA Futsal Cup: finals semi-finals (first legs)

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 55 EDITORIAL

‘THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME’

had the privilege of growing up in the hard work exhibited by all those who have world of football and I fell in love with it come before me. As you know, my immediate I an early age. It has truly been a privilege predecessor, Gianni Infantino, has moved working for this game and those who know to Zurich and it is my view that his election me are aware of how proud I am of everything as FIFA President presents us all with the we do together to promote, protect and opportunity of a lifetime: the opportunity develop it in Europe. to progress further and strengthen the It was therefore a tremendous honour when relationship between UEFA and the rest the UEFA Executive Committee appointed me of the world. General Secretary ad interim on 4 March. We must take this opportunity and show What can you expect from me? Quite true solidarity that brings us closer to the simply, the same kind of dedication and other confederations and to FIFA itself. Let us all unite around football and our collective desire to improve this game we love, from the boardroom to the dressing room. This improvement should be achieved in a spirit of inclusion, and I was therefore delighted when the UEFA Congress decided to elect a woman to the Executive Committee for the first time. This female member’s new status will give her more credibility in all the decisions taken at the highest level. I sincerely hope that this is just one of many steps we succeed in taking to increase the number of women in senior positions. Increased female participation in football management can only make us stronger.

Theodore Theodoridis UEFA General Secretary ad interim

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 03 CONTENTS

12 Getty Images Olivier Moeckli

30 IN THIS ISSUE 6 UEFA news 30 Special feature Football is much more than a game in Afghanistan, where it is helping rebuild the 10 KISS programme Official publication of A workshop in Istanbul highlights the role lives of landmine victims. the Union of European of marketing in football development. Football Associations 36 Women’s football Chief editor: 12 UEFA Youth League The city of Reggio Emilia in Italy is gearing Emmanuel Deconche From 15 to 18 April, the Youth League up to host the UEFA Women’s Champions Deputy chief editor: semi-finals and final will take place League final. Dominique Maurer in Nyon. Contributors: 38 For the record Diego Antenozio, Mark Chaplin, Michael Harrold, 16 UEFA Futsal Cup The number of female coaches is on the Martyn Hindley, Élodie This year’s Futsal Cup final four rise … but there is still a long way to go. Masson, Paul Murphy, Terji tournament will take place in Guadalajara Nielsen, Emma Sykes, Nuno Tavares, Graham Turner, Paul in Spain from 22 to 24 April. 40 Faroe Islands Zaharia and UEFA Language How the renovation of a stadium Services

18 Ricardinho has benefited football throughout the Production: The futsal magician talks to UEFA Direct. Faroe Islands. Touchline

Printing: 20 The Technician 42 Romania Artgraphic Cavin The Technician goes behind the scenes Inspired by UEFA’s CORE programme, CH-1422 Grandson with Paul Balsom, a sports scientist and the Romanian Football Federation has Editorial deadline: performance analyst who works with launched its own training scheme for 15 March 2016 the Swedish national team and Leicester up-and-coming referees. Cover photo: City, the surprise package in this season’s Eight-year-old Habibullah is English . 44 News from one of the many amputees in Kabul whose lives the ICRC, member associations with the support of UEFA, is 26 Paul Pogba helping to rebuild through The Juventus midfielder shares his football. Olivier Moeckli love of football with landmine victims in Afghanistan in his role as an ambassador for UEFA’s partnership with the ICRC.

04 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 CONTENTS LaPresse/Daniele Badolato

26 Sportsfile Twelfthman/Shutterstock

18 20

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 05 EXTRAORDINARY UEFA CONGRESS

UEFA CONGRESS TO ELECT FEMALE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER

UEFA held its 11th Extraordinary Congress in Zurich on 25 February.

he main items on the agenda were is the current female member of the Executive amendments to the UEFA Statutes to Committee. The associations also approved Tprovide for the election by UEFA Congress UEFA's consolidated statement of accounts and of the UEFA Executive Committee’s female association accounts for 2014/15, as well as the member; the approval of UEFA’s 2014/15 European governing body's budget for 2016/17. accounts and 2016/17 budget, and the following In addition, they accepted the 2014/15 report day’s FIFA presidential election. of the UEFA President and Executive Committee, UEFA’s 54 member associations decided that as well as the UEFA administration report for the female member of the Executive Committee the same period. would be elected for a four-year term by the Discussions then turned to the next day’s UEFA Congress, and would no longer be Extraordinary FIFA Congress in Zurich, when a appointed by the UEFA Executive Committee new FIFA President was due to be elected. The itself. It will be possible for this female member five candidates – HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein to come from a country already represented (Jordan), Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa on the Executive Committee. (Bahrain), Jérôme Champagne (France), Gianni These amendments to the UEFA Statutes Infantino (Switzerland) and Tokyo Sexwale came into force on 1 March, and the first such (South Africa) – were all given the opportunity The associations election will take place at the 40th Ordinary to address the UEFA delegates on the eve of also approved UEFA Congress in Budapest on 3 May. As this the election. UEFA's consolidated election is outside the usual electoral cycle, Finally, the UEFA Congress was briefed the initial term of office will last until the next about the programme of FIFA reforms that statement of accounts electoral UEFA Congress in 2019. Karen Espelund were proposed to and then adopted by the and association of Norway, who was appointed in 2012, Extraordinary FIFA Congress the following day. accounts for 2014/15.

Gianni Infantino was elected as FIFA President at the world football governing body’s Extraordinary Congress in Zurich on 26 February. The 45-year-old lawyer and UEFA General Secretary became the ninth FIFA President. "We will restore the image and respect of FIFA throughout the world,” he said in an emotional acceptance speech. The UEFA Executive Committee said after the election that it was very much looking forward to working closely with Gianni Infantino to promote, protect and develop football around the world. UEFA

06 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 UEFA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Theodore Theodoridis (left) and Angel María Villar Llona,

UEFA first vice-president. UEFA THEODORE THEODORIDIS APPOINTED GENERAL SECRETARY AD INTERIM

UEFA's Executive Committee held a meeting at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon on 4 March.

heodore Theodoridis, who is 50 Sport (CAS) had taken a decision on the appeal and comes from Greece, joined UEFA by the UEFA President, Michel Platini, against Tin January 2008 as director of the his suspension. Goal-line technology – which national associations division, and became the Executive Committee had decided in deputy general secretary in October 2010. January to implement at EURO 2016 in France "I'm proud of working for UEFA,” he said. this summer, as well as from the play-offs in “I'm proud of its past, I'm proud of what next season’s Champions League – will already we've done and I'm proud of what we will be deployed at this season’s UEFA Champions do. For me, it's a big honour.” League and UEFA Europa League finals in Milan The Executive Committee also approved and Basel respectively. The system will operate the agenda for the 40th Ordinary UEFA alongside additional assistant referees, who will Congress in Budapest on 3 May. Key items continue to monitor all activity in and around “I'm proud of on the agenda include the application by the penalty area. working for UEFA. the Football Federation of Kosovo for UEFA Finally, the regulations were approved for I'm proud of its past, membership and the election of a female the 2016/17 Champions League, Women's I'm proud of what member of the UEFA Executive Committee. Champions League, Europa League, Futsal The deadline for candidatures for this position Cup and Youth League, as well as for the we've done and I'm has been set for 19 April. 2016 Super Cup. proud of what we Meanwhile, the Executive Committee The UEFA Executive Committee’s next will do.” reconfirmed the decision taken in January meeting will take place in Budapest on 2 May, Theodore Theodoridis that no UEFA presidential election would be on the eve of the Ordinary UEFA Congress in UEFA General Secretary scheduled until the Court of Arbitration for the Hungarian capital. ad interim

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 07 ANTI-DOPING

CLOSE COOPERATION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DOPING

UEFA is signing cooperation agreements with Europe’s national anti-doping agencies (NADOs) to create an anti-doping coordination network and share essential information across the continent.

y the start of March, UEFA had signed in cooperation with the various NADOs, 21 agreements with key NADOs, including the Agence Française de Lutte Bcovering 23 of its member associations contre le Dopage (AFLD) in France. EURO – those of Austria, Belarus, Belgium (both the 2016 teams will also be tested at squad Flemish and French-speaking communities), meet-ups in advance of the tournament, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, at their training camps or friendly matches, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, and following their arrival in France. Since Italy, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, January, teams participating in EURO Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scotland, 2016 have been required to send team Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Wales. whereabouts details to UEFA, and that Those agreements are designed, among information has been shared with the other things, to strengthen cooperation when NADOs of the countries in question. In 2012, samples were it comes to the coordination of sampling and During the tournament itself, advanced analysed at the Institute the sharing of intelligence and data (including analytical blood and urine testing will be of Sport in Warsaw. With an information on players’ biological passports). carried out at all matches, with the expanded even more comprehensive That cooperation will help to harmonise 24-team format making this the largest testing programme in store at EURO 2016, the accredited the planning of tests and should reduce testing programme ever to be conducted laboratory in Paris will be unnecessary duplication of testing. at a EURO. working round the clock. The 2015/16 season has already seen UEFA further develop its wide-ranging anti-doping programme in several areas. This includes the introduction of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s steroidal biological passport with the aim of improving the detection of steroid use. In addition, UEFA’s comprehensive blood and urine testing programme has continued (both in and out of competition), with long-term storage of samples to allow retrospective identification of prohibited substances. By concluding agreements with NADOs, UEFA can continue to enhance its testing programme and increase the robustness of the biological passport across Europe.

Largest EURO testing programme ever The majority of the agreements signed so far are with NADOs in countries that have qualified for this summer’s EURO 2016, thereby strengthening the coordination of out-of-competition doping tests ahead of the tournament. In advance of EURO 2016, UEFA is conducting the largest pre-tournament testing programme ever implemented. Since the start of the year, all players with the potential to be selected for participating teams have been subjected to testing at their clubs via UEFA’s annual programme, UEFA

08 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 CLUB WORLDEDUCATION CUP

DOCTOR EDUCATION PROGRAMME SPREADS KNOW-HOW

As the medical sector in football continues to grow in importance, UEFA’s Football Doctor Education Programme channels the flow of vital information and expertise throughout the European sports medical community.

opics addressed include injury diagnosis

and treatment, on-field medical RFEF 20 emergencies, the roles and responsibilities club and national T of the football doctor, injury prevention and team doctors rehabilitation, psychology, football nutrition and attended the the campaign against doping. The programme Spanish workshop content is developed by UEFA’s Medical in Committee in conjunction with respected experts in sports medicine. The Football Doctor Education Programme 22 comprises face-to-face workshops, during which doctors attended doctors learn and practise techniques, and an the Austrian e-learning platform to help them to consolidate workshop in Vienna what they have learnt. An online forum also enables course participants to discuss and resolve certain issues between themselves.

Skilled practitioners Participants in the programme take tests at the end of each workshop, to assess what they are sharing their invaluable knowledge and have learnt. Those who are successful are then fresh ideas. Injury diagnosis and treatment were encouraged to ‘cascade’ this know-how locally, the focal points of the workshop hosted by the setting up their own national courses to ensure Royal Spanish Football Federation in Madrid for that the expertise filters down and around the 19 Spanish club and national team doctors, as game. Recent workshops in Spain and Austria well as a medical representative of the Andorran show that the system is working and doctors Football Federation.

Just what the doctor ordered … “The course was superb. It really helped me broaden my scientific knowledge,” said Spain’s Under-17 team medic, Dr José Antonio Rodas. “I definitely feel better equipped to attend to the needs of a football team during training sessions, trips and matches,” added Dr Lorenzo García Camacho, who looks after Spain’s Under-18 team. The Austrians, meanwhile, opted to focus on emergency care and dealing with on-field emergencies at their national workshop in Vienna, attended by 22 doctors from all over the country. “As a graduate of the UEFA Football Doctor Education Programme,” said course leader and senior national team doctor at the Austrian Football Association, Dr Richard Eggenhofer, “my aim for the Austrian experts was to emphasise the importance of emergency care, and how to deal with an emergency on the pitch in the most effective and fastest way to save the lives ÖFB of players.”

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 09 KISS PROGRAMME

MARKETING SUPPORT REAPS REWARDS The KISS marketing workshop at Turkish Football Federation, held in Istanbul on 14 and 15 January, focuses on UEFA’s vision and leadership in supporting the growth of European football.

he workshop in Istanbul, staged associations put marketing plans in place under the auspices of UEFA’s tried and to support their business objectives. T trusted Knowledge & Information Sharing 46 Scenario (KISS) programme, brought UEFA and Exchanging ideas and expertise national its member associations together to discuss The question of how best to market the game associations have marketing matters across the European football was considered sufficiently important for the participated in the landscape. UEFA took the opportunity to presidents and general secretaries of a large present its long-term strategy, the GROW 2020 number of national associations to travel to European Qualifiers marketing support programme, which underpins Istanbul. UEFA highlighted how, through marketing support UEFA’s commitment to helping all national GROW 2020, it is leading and supporting programme

10 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 KISS PROGRAMME

national associations to optimise the growth of football. The workshop showcased some of the best marketing practices in Europe, featuring THE FOUR countries that were part of the GROW 2020 KEY PILLARS pilot project, and the associations were given the OF GROW 2020 ideal opportunity to exchange expertise through networking opportunities and a series of group 1. Nurturing the image discussions that generated a variety of ideas. of the game GROW 2020 comprises four key pillars: nurturing the image of the game; reinforcing 2. Reinforcing engagement engagement with the football family; increasing with the football family participation and retaining participants at all levels; and increasing the national associations’ 3. Increasing participation commercial revenues. and retaining participants Delegates in Istanbul examined the value of independent marketing research in terms at all levels of gaining insights that will form the basis of future marketing plans, as well as looking 4. Increasing the national at how digital marketing activities can help associations’ commercial revenues engage the entire football community. In addition, they looked at how marketing and technical departments should work together to achieve common objectives in getting clear, tangible results, demonstrating the more people to play football and stay involved benefits of a cooperative approach to growing in the game. Delegates also discussed the the beautiful game. numerous innovative measures that are being deployed across Europe in order to increase European Qualifiers marketing and optimise income. support programme The Istanbul workshop also included an From Portugal to Azerbaijan update on UEFA’s European Qualifiers GROW 2020 is UEFA’s strategy for supporting marketing support programme, the aim of its 54 national associations, through consultation which is to help all national associations to and close cooperation, to increase the love establish digital marketing strategies designed of football across Europe by creating clear to engage each country’s entire football family. TFF marketing growth plans. Once again, it was emphasised that effective Through GROW 2020, the associations will consumer research is crucial in gleaning have access to independent research on the feedback and opinions, to help associations current state of football in their respective take the right decisions and plan successful countries and receive help in drawing up action future marketing strategies. plans aimed at addressing issues identified by Associations also need to focus on bolstering that research. They will also have a growth fan engagement and reinforcing their plan for participation and retention, with relationship with supporters – the lifeblood of clear yearly targets, responsibilities, required the game. Consequently, one of UEFA’s valued programmes and budgets, as well as access partners, adidas, sent representatives to Istanbul to UEFA-appointed experts, with follow-up to present how they cultivate a relationship with support tailored to the associations’ needs fans and keep them entertained using a portfolio and requirements. of activities and campaigns. Several national associations made particularly The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) were important contributions to the debate. the perfect hosts for UEFA and its European Delegates from Romania, Azerbaijan, Portugal marketing community. “I’m a keen believer and Northern Ireland gave presentations on in associations sharing experience and the progress that their associations are making information,” said the TFF’s vice-president, thanks to GROW 2020, and case studies on Servet Yardımcı, who also emphasised the “I’m a keen believer the marketing of football were presented by importance of increasing participation and in associations delegates from Scotland, Norway and Wales. involvement, as well as maximising revenues. How has GROW 2020 been greeted across sharing experience “Obviously, marketing is a key issue in football,” Europe? The national associations have already he added, “and it continues to evolve day by and information.” provided very positive feedback on UEFA’s day. In order to plan ahead and minimise risks, Servet Yardımcı new strategy and those that have already learning from UEFA and other associations is TFF vice-president participated in the programme are seeing a source of great assistance to all.”

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 11 YOUTH LEAGUE UEFA YOUNG AT HEART The expanded UEFA Youth League has established itself as a key fixture in Europe’s footballing calendar as Nyon gears up for its third final tournament in April.

alk about sudden impact – has been all about since its inception in Manchester United FC striker 2013/14. With the competition now in its Marcus Rashford has redefined third season, Rashford is one of a growing the term. The 18-year-old began list of players who have cut their teeth here the season by scoring twice on before making names for themselves at This Youth League debut in September, then senior level. The Youth League was created in February struck two more on his senior to bridge the gap between youth and bow in the UEFA Europa League against senior football, and a quick scan around FC Midtjylland. Three days after that he Europe’s top clubs shows it is fulfilling hit another double on his first Premier its mission. League start against Arsenal FC. “He’s very In Berlin last May, Kingsley Coman talented, very quick, very strong and he’s became the first Youth League graduate to “The experience still growing,” team-mate Jesse Lindgard take part in a UEFA Champions League final of the Youth League said after their 5-1 win against the Danish when he came on for Juventus, and right- is highly formative. side. “There were loads who came through back Héctor Bellerín is so well established We feel stronger for the youth ranks playing tonight and a few at Arsenal that it seems odd to think, when on the bench as well. It was a massive step watching him against FC Barcelona in the participating in it.” for the United academy.” Champions League, that less than two years Alberto Da Rossi Stepping up is what the Youth League ago he was taking on the Catalan team AS Roma coach

12 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 Getty Images with the Gunners in the Youth League. game itself. Compared with the domestic Lorenzo Callegari (left) As for making a smooth transition to the league it is much more of a challenge and keeps his cool against Roma’s Lorenzo Vasco biggest stage, not much can better Leroy can certainly be likened to what the UEFA as Paris St-Germain Sané’s feat of scoring against Real Madrid CF Champions League is for the first team. It secure their first-ever in a 4-3 win at the Santiago Bernabéu on his is a great satisfaction when one of our lads semi-final slot. Champions League debut just three weeks makes the step to the seniors.” after playing for FC Schalke 04 in the Youth That, of course, is the aim for all youth League. team players. Club Atlético de Madrid forward Roberto Núñez heads the scoring Much more of a challenge chart on nine goals this term and is the It is not only the players making the most competition’s all-time leading marksman of the experience. Match officials, too, are with 15. “It has been a really good getting an important grounding in European experience to travel with the first team and club competition, as are the coaches. Filippo play in and get to know new stadiums all Inzaghi, Patrick Vieira, Santiago Solari over Europe,” he said. “It’s a really nice and Thierry Henry are just some of the competition. I work on scoring goals and I former players who have started coaching always look to the future, so hopefully I can in the Youth League. Nicolas Frutos has score them in the Estadio Vicente Calderón been in charge of Anderlecht’s Under-19s one day.” since January and is already seeing the Fans are also enjoying the opportunity competition’s benefits. “Players have to to see the cream of the crop at their clubs’ realise that anything is possible in football academies test themselves against the if they keep focused on their job,” he best in Europe, with Anderlecht breaking said. “Playing in the UEFA Youth League their own Youth League attendance record is important for their development.” AS with a 13,162 crowd for their quarter-final Roma coach Alberto De Rossi concurs. “The victory over FC Porto last season. No wonder experience of the Youth League is highly the competition continues to grow. After formative,” he said. “We feel stronger for two trial campaigns, the UEFA Executive participating in it. It all starts with the travel, Committee granted it permanent status last the preparation for the game and then the summer and doubled its size from 32 to 64

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 13 YOUTH LEAGUE

teams to include Europe’s top-ranked and football clubs in the Nyon region to domestic champions at U19 level as well as adopt a team for the finals, preparing the youth sides of the 32 clubs involved in activities and implementing them at Colovray. the Champions League. The competition’s In addition, Lausanne students have won format was amended to accommodate the this season’s University Challenge and will expansion, with the domestic champions manage the Youth Plaza outside the stadium following one path to the round of 16 and – a hub of activity and entertainment – while the Champions League clubs following students from the Glion Institute of Higher another before joining up in the knockout Education will provide on-site VIP catering phase to vie for a place in the fourteam final and hospitality tournament in Nyon. Education is a cornerstone of the Youth League. Travelling with first-team players to Sell-out crowds Champions League games gives a real insight The finals at the on into the world of elite football and offers the UEFA campus on the shores of Lake a chance to mix with the seniors and learn Geneva have become an important feature from them. The players also participate in of the local sporting scene. With the Youth sessions on match-fixing prevention and anti- League flags draped along the Route de doping. Furthermore, a ‘third period’ after Genève in the runup to the event heightening each match allows the teams, referees and the anticipation, the huge crowds highlight officials to get together over a drink or meal, how the competition has been taken to promoting respect between the players and heart. In all, 10,835 fans – including a sell-out injecting some fun into the process. Certainly 4,044 for the final – witnessed the action fun is the goal. A friendly skills challenge last year when Chelsea FC lifted the trophy has pitted the squads against one another after beating Roma and then FC Shakhtar online and brought the Youth League to a Donetsk. Sell-out crowds also watched vast audience, thanks in part to Henry, who Barcelona lift the trophy in 2014. introduced his squad’s keepyuppy challenge The young faces in the crowd are as vital on UEFA.com in a video that has received an ingredient as those on the pitch, meaning over 4.4m views on Facebook. With the Jorn Vancamp (No19) the matches are played out in a carnival stage set for Nyon in April, all eyes will be on controls the ball with atmosphere. As part of the accompanying the Youth League again as the competition his chest to open the scoring for Anderlecht educational platform, the UEFA Youth continues to make a lasting impression across in their quarter-final League schools project encourages schools the continent. against Barcelona. Getty Images

14 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 YOUTH LEAGUE

The Youth League has been a gateway to the Champions League for many players already, including Leroy Sané (left) with Schalke and

Getty Images Juventus’s Kingsley Coman (right), the first Youth League graduate to have been fielded in a Champions League final. Getty Images

EYES ON THE PRIZE

The ultimate goal for any Youth League player is to make the grade to the senior side, but for Anderlecht, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Chelsea the immediate focus is on claiming the trophy. From an original field of 64 these four teams will contest the semi-finals on 15 April, with the final three days later at the Colovray sports centre opposite UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Anderlecht Paris Saint-Germain Anderlecht are in the semi-finals for a Paris finished above Madrid in the group second straight year and it is a sign of stage and saw off two of last year’s the success of their Neerpede academy semifinalists, Shakhtar and Roma, along that they have beaten Barcelona both the way to becoming the first French club times en route to Nyon. Jorn Vancamp to reach the final four. Christopher Nkunku has scored six goals in six games so far has impressed in midfield and, days after and is one of a number of players who making his Ligue 1 debut, scored with a will have gained from last season’s final brilliant free-kick against Roma to confirm tournament experience. his side’s presence in Nyon.

Real Madrid Chelsea Madrid reached the semi-finals in the The champions are back to defend their competition’s inaugural season and trophy after overcoming Ajax in the are back with a team bursting with quarter-finals. Seven-goal leading scorer talent. Goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son Tammy Abraham, midfielder Charlie UEFA YOUTH of senior head coach Zinédine, is the Colkett and defender Jake Clarke-Salter LEAGUE name on everyone’s lips and forward are among a nucleus of players who Borja Mayoral, too, is making waves. captured the crown last season and will 15 April – Semi-finals Champions League winner Santiago expect to do so again. Chelsea have made Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain Solari has thrived in his first coaching the quarter-finals at least in each of the Chelsea v Anderlecht campaign at the Bernabéu. competition’s three editions to date. 18 April – Final

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 15 UEFA FUTSAL CUP

FUTSAL FEVER Following a spectacular Futsal EURO, the sport is back in the spotlight as the continent’s top four club sides prepare to meet at the UEFA Futsal Cup finals in Spain.

he UEFA Futsal Cup finals kick off none of the previous year’s semi-finalists are in Guadalajara, Spain, on 22 April with back to contest the trophy. Italian champions the small-sided game riding the crest of Pescara have broken new ground in their T Sportsfile a wave. Record crowds, incredible goals and debut campaign, as the first club to reach the high drama at Futsal EURO 2016 showcased semi-finals from the preliminary round, and the sport at its thrilling best. Two months on are joined in Guadalajara by fellow debutants and it is the turn of Europe’s top club sides Ugra Yugorsk from Russia, who knocked out to make their mark. holders Kairat Almaty to qualify. The line-up Already, this season has provided its share of is completed by two of the competition’s surprises. For the first time since the four-team powerhouses, SL Benfica and hosts Inter FS, final tournament was introduced in 2006/07, who met in the 2010 final in Lisbon, where

Cardinal helps Inter FS to an 8-0 win against Slovenian club KMN Dobovec in the

Inter FS elite round.

16 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 “This is the biggest the Portuguese side won 3-2. That was club trophy in our Benfica’s sole triumph, while Inter will be sport – winning it chasing a fourth, to date, after taking the THE CONTENDERS title in 2004, 2006 and 2009. means you are the “Playing in front of our fans in a venue we best in Europe.” Two former champions and two know, in our city with everyone behind us, will newcomers are contesting club Carlos Ortiz help but it also means more responsibility,” futsal’s greatest prize. Inter defender Inter defender Carlos Ortiz said. “We’re used to this type of pressure, and playing in front of Benfica big crowds with a lot at stake will be good for Benfica beat Inter to lift the trophy us. This is the biggest club trophy in our sport – winning it means you are the best in Europe. It on home soil in 2010 and have had been a while since we last won the Spanish reached their fourth final tournament. league and qualified for the Futsal Cup, so we’ve Alessandro Patias struck a spectacular been looking forward to this for a long time. goal for Italy at Futsal EURO 2016 and Now as hosts we’ll give everything to win it.” will be one to Ortiz is one of four Spanish internationals in watch in Guadalajara too. Inter’s squad, along with Mario Rivillos, Pola and Jesús Herrero, all fresh from leading Spain Inter to their recent Futsal EURO title. Rivillos was The most successful club in the joint winner of the adidas Golden Shoe with six competition’s history with three titles, ROLL OF HONOUR goals – including two in the final against Russia the Spanish champions are back in – and four assists to finish level with team- 2015 the final tournament for the first time mate Miguelín. Inter’s Portuguese international since 2010, the hosts boasting four of Kairat Almaty (KAZ) Ricardinho arguably shone brighter than anyone, Spain’s Futsal EURO winners and the 2014 though. The former Benfica player enhanced his sensational Ricardinho. stellar reputation by scoring not one but two FC Barcelona (ESP) incredible goals in Belgrade that went viral on Pescara 2013 social media. The Italian champions are the first Kairat Almaty (KAZ) team to have ever got to the final four 2012 EURO players on show “I’m privileged because I see what Ricardinho from the preliminary round. It FC Barcelona (ESP) can do every time he trains or plays,” club-mate is their first time in the competition, 2011 Pola said. “At Inter we are grateful to be able but coach Fulvio Colini and five of his current crop landed the Futsal Cup Città di Montesilvano (ITA) to count on the best player in the world. But I prefer to highlight his personality, his humble with Montesilvano in 2011. 2010 spirit and his work ethic. He is the kind of player SL Benfica (POR) who never settles, who always wants more.” Ugra Yugorsk 2009 In total, 19 players from Benfica, Inter, Pescara Ugra are enjoying unprecedented suc- and Ugra featured in Belgrade in February, of Inter FS (ESP) cess. After claiming their first Russian whom four in particular will be out to make championship last year, they have 2008 amends. Ugra’s Vladislav Shayakhmetov, progressed to the finals in their debut Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg (RUS) Robinho, Daniil Davydov and Eder Lima were Futsal Cup campaign, eliminating title 2007 runners-up with Russia and now have the chance holders Kairat Almaty along the way. for revenge by leaving Spain with the silverware. Dinamo Moskva (RUS) The action will unfold at the 5,200-capacity 2006 Palacio Multiusos de Guadalajara, some 45km Inter FS (ESP) from Madrid, with both semi-finals on 22 April, followed by the final on the 24th. It will be the MATCH SCHEDULE 2005 third four-team tournament held in Spain after Action 21 Charleroi (BEL) 2007, in Murcia, and 2012, when Barcelona 22 April 2004 prevailed as hosts in Lleida. Spanish sides have Ugra Yugorsk - SL Benfica dominated the competition since it began in Inter FS (ESP) ASD Pescara - Inter FS 2001/02, winning seven of the 14 editions. 2003 Whether Inter can add to their record three 24 April Playas de Castellón (ESP) titles remains to be seen, yet with the likes of Third-place play-off 2002 Ricardinho, Eder Lima, Alessandro Patias and Mauro Canal among the cast list, Guadalajara – Final Playas de Castellón (ESP) like Belgrade before it – should put on quite a show.

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 17 UEFA FUTSAL CUP

RICARDINHO ‘A NEVER- ENDING PASSION’ Having set Futsal EURO 2016 alight, Ricardinho is ready to go again at the UEFA Futsal Cup finals, from 21 to 24 April in Guadalajara, Spain.

he audacious piece of skill with which Ricardinho flashed past Marko Pršić before smashing a volley beyond Miodrag Aksentijević in the Serbia goal T is one of the most enduring images of Futsal EURO 2016. The Portuguese star’s mastery of the ball was honed on the local hard court in Gondomar, near Porto, using an orange or a rolled up bunch of socks if no ball was available. Now fresh from leading Portugal’s charge at the Futsal EURO, O Mágico – the Magician – is ready to take centre stage once again at the Futsal Cup finals. A winner with SL Benfica in 2010, the 30-year-old Inter FS forward says facing his former club would be difficult, but getting his hands back on club futsal’s most prestigious trophy is all that matters now.

You won the Futsal Cup with Benfica to win it and reach the final, in 2010, beating Inter 3-2 in the final. where we’ll also be aiming What is your fondest memory of that? to succeed. via Getty Images UEFA The fact that we were the ones looking down on everybody else from the stands where the How much will playing the trophy was given to us. To feel that we were tournament in Guadalajara the winners that time around. help Inter? Playing in Spain will be good for What were the Benfica fans like? us because the Spanish fans will It was an unbelievable atmosphere, unique be behind us, but we won’t be in this sport. I just hope we can experience playing in our venue so any kind of something like that again in Guadalajara. advantage will be marginal at best.

How did it feel to lift the trophy? What would it mean to you to play It was without a doubt like I was touching against Benfica? heaven. Winning the most important futsal It would be quite painful for me to face Benfica club competition in the world is something because we’re talking about the club of my that cannot be explained. You have to heart. But I’m a professional and I really want experience it. to win this competition no matter who we play. “My only aim is to Inter have won the Futsal Cup three You know many of the Benfica win the match and times and are in the final tournament players from the Portuguese national again after a six-year absence. How side. What are their strengths? bring joy to all the does it feel to be back? Benfica’s real strength is that they play like fans who come and It’s the most important competition of the year a proper team. And they have two or three pay to see us play.” for us. It’s our main objective for this season players who are particularly creative and Ricardinho and we can’t wait for the semi-final. We want dangerous. They will be very tough to beat. Inter FS

18 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 Ricardinho takes on Spain’s Raúl Campos in the quarter- finals in Belgrade. UEFA via Getty Images UEFA

What do you know about the Russian Where did you and your friends play? side Ugra? My friends and I used to play on a football court They are the Russian champions and that says in our neighbourhood. It didn’t matter if it was a lot. They have a number of players from the raining or scorching hot, that’s what we loved Russian national team, some whom are capable to do. of deciding a match on their own, such as Robinho and Eder Lima. You spent three years in Japan with Nagoya Oceans. How did that And Pescara from Italy? experience help you develop as I don’t know them that well, but they have to a player and a person? have a lot of quality to be one of the four best When you experience different leagues teams in Europe. I know a lot of their players, and countries you learn a lot from the cultures such as Gréllo and Betão, and I’m certain they you encounter. The positives from each of those will also pose all sorts of problems. experiences will of course help you, but nothing compares to playing alongside the best players You are famous around the world for in the world. Nothing beats that! your skill on the ball. What gives you most pleasure on the futsal court? What is it like to play in the Whenever I’m on the pitch my only thought is to Spanish Liga? play in the best way possible without To me it is, and has always been, the best pressure or fear. My only aim is to win the match league in the world. I have always wanted to and bring joy to all the fans who come and pay play in it and I’m really, really happy to have to see us play. the opportunity to do so.

How did you get started in the game? You are one of futsal’s most I started playing football when I was six and then famous players. Does it give you decided to change to futsal when I was 14. From pleasure to help raise the profile that moment on it has been a never-ending of the sport around the world? passion for me. It was always something that I wanted to achieve and this is the level where I want to be. I always As a child were you always playing said that I wanted to be remembered forever in with a ball? this sport. I always worked very hard and learned My parents may not have always had the money from my team-mates and coaches to go as far as I to buy me a ball – sometimes I played with can. Now I have reached that level and it is where oranges, other times with socks rolled up as a I want to remain. I hope I can be an example to all ball – but yes, I always had a ‘ball’ at my feet. of those who love this sport, on and off the pitch.

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 19 THE TECHNICIAN

innovation guidance

knowledge specificity improve ment

training SPORTS perform SCIENCE ance endurance workout PAUL BALSOM PEAK PERFORMANCE

Paul Balsom’s team of sports scientists at Leicester City are at the forefront of a revolution in how footballers are prepared for the demands of the modern game. He takes The Technician behind the scenes at the club setting the Premier League alight.

nalyst Tom Joel plays back a Swansea City’s visit the next day. Most of the video of the session he led players have long since gone home, but for that morning at Leicester City’s the sports science and performance analysis Aylestone training complex. team, the day’s work is entering its second “Specificity is one of He is reviewing a sprint drill, phase. Training over, analysis is under way. the basic principles Alooking to see which players carried it out The mood is upbeat, as you might expect at a of training. You successfully, who may need more guidance club that has become the talk of Europe after should be training in and how well he delivered the session. their incredible rise from the bottom of the He will then study the GPS data recorded Premier League in January 2015 to top spot a very similar way to during the drill to determine the intensity just a year later. Off the pitch too, Leicester what you are going of the players’ workout as they prepare for are among the vanguard of Premier to perform.”

20 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 THE TECHNICIAN

perform ance endurance TwelfthMan/Shutterstock THE TECHNICIAN

League clubs. The GPS technology they are time you change the way you are moving you using to maximise each player’s potential is make a decision and that process is obviously the equal of any of their title rivals’. coupled with the game. Playing as much Four cameras installed on high poles football as possible to get our players as fit around the main training pitch allow as possible is football specificity. Not only are coaching staff and players to review we working physiologically with the same each session from multiple angles and type of stress on the body as we do during perspectives. The cameras are controlled the game, which will then obviously promote remotely from the coaches’ room, which adaptations, we are also hopefully making looks out onto the pitch. No kick is missed. our decision-making processes better, which Paul Balsom is the head of sports science will make us better football players.” and performance analysis at Leicester. He Not all fitness training can be done with also works as assistant to Erik Hamrén a ball at the feet, but the key is to train the with the Sweden national team, and is body to cope with the demands of a game. helping UEFA promote the importance of “We always have in mind our end product: specificity in football training to achieve peak what do we want to see our players do performance and prevent injuries. during the game? We are not training big centre-backs, for instance, to be endurance Training as one performs athletes. We need to develop good maximal “Specificity is one of the basic principles strength, good power, because a lot of of training,” Balsom explains. “You should their work is over five or ten metres. That’s be training in a very similar way to what where gym work will help, monitored by the you are going to perform. If we look at the medical department to make sure that we movement pattern of a football player – are really minimising the risk of injury.” Getty Images standing still, walking, jogging, running at The data gathered by the sports science different speeds, sprinting, moving sideways team has other benefits too. By seeing Above: Leicester’s players are put through their paces. and backwards – the category of movement quantifiable results from training, players Below: Paul Balsom reviews the will change about ten times a minute. Every are motivated by tangible goals and targets, morning’s training session. TwelfthMan/Shutterstock

22 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 THE TECHNICIAN

which also enable them to better understand the philosophy behind their fitness work. “All players are taking more responsibility,” FITNESS FOR Balsom says. FOOTBALL Balsom’s approach is the same whether helping Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri Coach education and fitness experts prepare for the next Premier League game or from across Europe gathered in getting Hamrén’s charges into peak condition Athens between 7 and 10 March for EURO 2016. “The circumstances are for the latest ‘fitness for football’ different, but in essence both are relatively seminar in the UEFA Study Group similar,” he says. “I can’t use high volumes Scheme. Trends in football fitness of fitness work with Sweden to get the and injury prevention were players fit for a game in the short time I am discussed, with topics ranging from with them, but we can make sure that we developing and monitoring speed, optimise the loading, the duration and the high-intensity interval endurance content of the training sessions and that we training and measuring training are in communication with their clubs. The load. “The exchange of information problem is that there are different ways of and knowledge-sharing between monitoring training load. For example, there associations is very beneficial and the is no standard definition of high-intensity UEFA Study Group Scheme is a great work. One club might be saying one thing platform for this,” said Romeo Jozak, and another club another. Unless all clubs a member of the UEFA Development are wearing exactly the same GPS unit with and Technical Assistance Committee exactly the same definitions and thresholds it and technical director at the Croatian is very difficult for me.” Football Federation. “This week in Greece we have learned about best Personality and social skills practices in specific preparation, and After assessing the players’ well-being when we will leave Athens with many new they arrive at Sweden’s pre-EURO training ideas for our programmes in Croatia.” camps, Balsom will establish individual Aristotelis Batakis, technical programmes to ensure each achieves director at the Hellenic Football maximum performance levels when Sweden Federation, added: “We have kick off against the Republic of Ireland on 13 launched a national fitness diploma as June. “Some will literally come from playing we believe it is important to educate a game to the start of one of our camps the experts that can transfer fitness next day,” Balsom says. “The Scandinavian knowledge to real football situations, leagues finish on the Sunday and our second implement it on the training pitch, week of pre-camp starts on Monday. Some improve players’ fitness and try to will finish four weeks before that. It’s my role prevent injuries.” Practical sessions to make sure that the players can start on as were a key part of the programme, level a playing field as possible. Those who with Paul Balsom using one to are rested maybe we just need to work on demonstrate how GPS can help them that week; those who haven’t had any monitor training. “GPS is very new, rest focus on the tactical work and keep the so we are trying to open up and loading down.” discuss the opportunities it presents,” One of the biggest challenges facing he said. “We ask the coaches to sports scientists is how best to share their design a training session to hit certain data with players and coaches. Intriguingly performance goals and get the heart for a man so well versed in cutting-edge rate over a certain threshold. Their technology, Balsom declares that getting the training session is then implemented most out of it is as much of an art as it is a with the players. We measure science. “Personality and social skills are as everything with the GPS and review important if not more important than the the data that evening, then the next knowledge,” Balsom says. day we discuss how close they were “GPS is very new, As advances are made in sports science, to achieving the goals.” so we are trying to more avenues are opening up. Balsom advocates greater links between sports open up and discuss universities and the national associations, for youth players. “There is so much to do,” the opportunities and more research, for example, into long- he smiles. With Sweden and Leicester helping it presents.” term player development and fitness training set the example, the way forward is clear.

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 23 THE TECHNICIAN

PREPARATION IS KEY From a coaching perspective, the recent Futsal EURO played in Serbia raised a number of issues – some of them related exclusively to the indoor game, but others equally applicable to the outdoor game and the fast-approaching EURO in France.

ne of the challenges faced by the By contrast, the coaches whose work was technicians who led their teams to coloured by the other end of the spectrum Belgrade, for example, was that had to cope with squads where parameters of bringing their squads up to of fitness varied widely. One roster contained speed, literally and figuratively, for two players who were alternating indoor and Oa high-intensity final tournament. Significantly, outdoor football for clubs in Austria. Others perhaps, the final was disputed by Spain and featured a cocktail of players culled from Russia, whose domestic championships are domestic competitions of diverse quality and widely regarded as the most competitive in intensity, with the result that coaches needed Europe. to design individual fitness programmes in a bid For the coaches of many of the other ten to reach a degree of uniformity – a need which finalists, the major pre-tournament task was to evidently affected the structure of training prepare players from lesser leagues to compete sessions. with the best. José Venancio López, coach of “Only two of our squad were from highly the Spain team that won the final 7-3, was able competitive leagues,” said Aca Kovacević, coach to focus on technical and tactical matters. “Our of the Serbia team who fired up local support victory could be interpreted as something of a and claimed fourth place, “so we had to work tribute to the quality of the Spanish league,” hard to bring the others up to competitive he said. “Our fitness levels were uniformly high standard”. The coaches currently designing and our training programme could therefore their schedules for EURO 2016 in France face be focused exclusively on work with the ball.” similar challenges in preparing squads recruited Ditto Russia coach Sergei Skorovich: “Our from domestic championships of vastly players travelled to Serbia from a championship different tempos and intensities. Coaches where the players are used to playing two frequently flirt with conflicting principles. On periods of 25 minutes at very high intensity. the one hand, they acknowledge that players Kazakhstan’s Aleksandr Dovgan Fitness was therefore not an issue for us either.” competing in top leagues around the world are fires at goal against Serbia. Getty Images 24 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 THE TECHNICIAN

the ones most likely to raise standards when as coach of Spain, was in Belgrade as one of “The overall they return home to report for national team UEFA’s observers responsible for compiling the improvement in duty. On the other hand, this gives them the (soon to be published) technical report. “In my physical condition potential headache of building a competitive opinion,” he said, “the overall improvement allowed teams to machine from components forged in leagues in physical condition allowed teams to press of widely differing characteristics. higher up the pitch and exploit greater mobility press higher up the off the ball. In the past, nearly all teams pitch and exploit Striking a balance tended to concentrate defensive work in their greater mobility off Going back to futsal, the squads at the own half. But in Belgrade we saw a lot more the ball.” final tournament in Serbia comprised 14 sustained, aggressive pressing three-quarters players, with all but Spain selecting a dozen of the way up the pitch.” Javier Lozano UEFA technical observer outfielders and two goalkeepers (Venancio For the observers, the conclusion was was alone in opting for three keepers). that the most successful teams were the However, some coaches felt that not all of ones whose physical condition permitted their outfielders were equipped to cope with sustained high pressing – with the Spain the rigours of a EURO and therefore focused v Russia final providing a prime example. on a hard core. During the early stages of a fascinating Captain Igor Osredkar, for instance, was tactical contest, the Russians set out to on court for almost the entirety of Slovenia’s disrupt Spain’s combination play by pressing games, while other squad members remained high up the pitch. Spain’s successes in both unused. Andrej Dobovičnik was by no means the indoor and outdoor games, however, alone in relying on a quorum. And debate has been built on composure under pressure about the validity of the strategy was fuelled and the ability to play out of tight situations by final-tournament debutants Kazakhstan, – and this ultimately prevailed in Belgrade. who went into the record books by claiming Questions that can be transposed from third place at their first attempt, with coach Serbia to France therefore include how Cacau relying heavily on a talented, well- coaches contend with varying fitness levels, balanced, experienced nucleus. how they build competitive teams from Others were obliged to contend with a players who are plying their trade in leagues vicious circle of fitness parameters and tactical of different intensities, what they consider repercussions. Azerbaijan’s Spanish coach to be the ideal balance between a settled Tino Pérez pointed out that “the tendency team and squad rotation/sharing the load to defend deep and counter was not that (and therefore how many squad members visible in this tournament. There was more will remain unused), and to what extent high pressing and teams played with greater tactical questions such as the use of high Spain’s Miguelín shows ambition.” Javier Lozano, two-time world pressing will be influenced by end-of-season spectacular aerial agility champion and three-time champion of Europe fatigue. in the final. Getty Images UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 25 SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

REBUILDING LIVES Football is Paul Pogba’s one true love, and he is sharing that love through his support of UEFA’s partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for landmine victims in Afghanistan.

26 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY UEFA DIRECT •April2016 – 27

LaPresse/Daniele Badolato Getty Images LaPresse/Daniele Badolato

or the ninth consecutive year, UEFA has set aside €100,000 for the ICRC. This year’s cheque was presented to the ICRC’s Dr Alberto Cairo by Juventus player Pogba ahead of the UEFA F Champions League round of 16 first-leg match against FC Bayern München at Juventus Stadium in Turin on 23 February. Voted onto the UEFA.com users’ Team of the Year 2015, the French international midfielder welcomed the opportunity to support the UEFA-ICRC social responsibility partnership that provides landmine victims in Afghanistan with artificial limbs, physiotherapy and, of course, football. A football team has even been established at the ICRC rehabilitation centre in Kabul to help patients regain their strength and self-esteem. In an exclusive interview with UEFA Direct, 22-year-old Pogba gives his thoughts on being selected for the UEFA.com users’ Team of the Year, the importance of being socially aware, and using football as a vehicle for personal development. via Getty Images UEFA

Paul, how does it feel to be part of on playing football even though they have lost From presenting the UEFA.com users’ Team of the limbs. This is incredible, and I congratulate this year’s UEFA donation to the Year 2015? them for that. I want to tell them to keep on ICRC to personally I’m very satisfied, very happy. But I need to keep fighting, try to fulfil their dreams and never give Skyping the ICRC on going, it’s not over. I need to work hard. I up, because they are extraordinarily brave. I’m football team in Kabul, Pogba has play football to fulfil my dreams and reach my lucky enough to be very healthy, and I realise got right behind objectives, and I have many targets in mind. I that. I’m proud of them when I see what they the victims of want to remain among the best. I want to work are doing. landmines in hard and find myself in the UEFA.com Team of Afghanistan. the Year again. These players are using football to rebuild their lives. How has football You are also an ambassador for the helped you build your identity and UEFA-ICRC partnership for landmine confidence? victims in Afghanistan. How Football has always helped me to realise my important is it for you as a footballer dreams. I have a winning mentality; I like to to be involved in this initiative? win. If I’m upset, or if something is not right in It’s an honour for me to take part in this, and my private life, then football puts a smile back to have been chosen. It shows us again how on my face. I love football. It always helps me lucky we are: we’re able to play football, we’re in my everyday life. As people say: it’s the love healthy. I’m really touched to be doing this, and of my life. Watch Pogba’s I want to thank the ICRC. When I play football exclusive interview I think a lot about these people, because when Pogba went beyond you’re off the pitch, life goes on; you’re a the call of duty to engage directly with the ICRC normal person. We’re incredibly lucky, and we football team, taking have to realise that. questions from the players via Skype. What is your message to the people of Afghanistan who have been Watch Pogba’s first injured by landmines and keep chat with the ICRC team playing football? I want to tell them how courageous they are, and to hold on to their dreams and never give up, because they have experienced a lot at a young age and they are brave enough to keep LaPresse/Daniele Badolato

28 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 Getty Images SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY UEFA DIRECT •April2016 – football team in Kabul, who football teaminKabul,who are usingfootballtorebuild We are veryappreciative of game, it is a game changer game, itisagamechanger and thisiswhattheUEFA- Paul Pogba’s involvement. ICRC partnership is about. ICRC partnershipisabout. major landmineinjuries.” their lives after suffering their livesaftersuffering the project – supporting, the project –supporting, Social Responsibility Responsibility Social Skyping with the ICRC Skyping withtheICRC UEFA Fair Play and and Play Fair UEFA “Football is not just a “Football isnotjusta He has genuinely and He hasgenuinelyand generously embraced generously embraced exchanging and even exchanging andeven Chairman of the the of Chairman Peter Gilliéron Peter Committee 29 SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

FOOTBALL IS A GAME CHANGER Football can help rebuild a broken body as well as a person’s self-esteem. And this is precisely what is happening in the six International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) rehabilitation centres in Afghanistan, supported by UEFA. These people have used their passion for football to fight back against landmine injuries. We wish to pay tribute to their hard work, commitment to life and love of football. Photos Olivier Moeckli

30 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

“It’s been four months since I joined the football team and it’s been a great adventure from the start. So many things have changed, and I have so many friends now. My family is also very happy for me and that I’m playing with my friends again. My life is back to almost normal again and I am happy.” Habibullah Rasoli, 8 years old ‘SMILING WITH THEIR EYES’ IN AFGHANISTAN Olivier Moeckli is the ICRC’s communication delegate in Kabul. As a photographer too, he explains how, through photos and sport, he is making victims of landmines proud of what they have achieved.

“All these people – who are amputees or are paralysed – spent months, even years, hiding away in their rooms. They didn’t go out any more, because it was complicated and because they were ashamed. But when they found out that they could play or football, they walked again, they made friends, they did sport and they returned to a life that’s almost normal. What’s fascinating about these people is that when they start to walk again and do sport they put their problems behind them and their outlook is positive. “Through these photos, I wanted to capture these victims of landmines in a positive light, showing their human side as much as possible. The idea was to take portraits of them in everyday clothes with soft lighting, looking full of life – not something sad. I wanted them smiling with their eyes rather than their mouths. Then I took photos of them as footballers. For these I chose harsher, more dynamic lighting, where you see the artificial limbs, to play with the contrast between the two shots and make it clear what I was trying to do. At first they were sceptical about the concept. But they quickly played along.” SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

“I stepped on a mine when flying a kite in 2003. Being disabled was driving me crazy. I had no hope and thought that this was going to be the end. Football totally changed my life. Now I’m part of a team, I do what I like, and I see a bright future ahead of me.” Ramish Nikzai, 21 years old Assistant coach for the ICRC

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 33 “Since playing for the orthopaedic centre football team my life has changed again, but this time I’m happy for the change.” Fawad Haidari, 9 years old

“I feel happy and honoured to be part of this team. We are all inspirations for other people like us. Through us they can learn that they can also do things, they can play, they can do sport and they can work. I would never stop playing or coaching.” Moharam Ali, 38 years old Coach of the ICRC orthopaedic centre’s football team

34 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 “When I lost my leg and my hearing at 13 I stopped going to school and lost my friends. Now I can walk and hear again. I’m back in school and my life is more interesting as I just joined the centre’s football team.” Noor Rahman, 17 years old

“It’s been one year since I joined the team. Every morning I wake up very happy and I come to the centre at 5.30 to play football. It’s a dream come true for me to be able to play football with such a great and friendly team.” Mohammed Rafi Ahmadi, 20 years old EURO 2016

The finalists workshop in Paris 100 days before the ball starts rolling gave the 24 teams participating in EURO 2016 the latest on all the final preparations. UEFA 100 DAYS TO GO On 2 March, precisely 100 days before the opening match between France and Romania, representatives of all 24 teams participating in EURO 2016 met in Paris to discuss the final preparations.

ith the last pieces of the Last but not least, a meeting was held puzzle being put into place with supporter representatives to discuss W for this summer’s flagship the fan embassies project. tournament, it was time to get the Jacques Lambert, the president of EURO teams together and bring them up 2016 SAS, and Noël Le Graët, president of to speed on various organisational the French Football Federation, gave a press aspects. Topics at the finalists workshop conference at the Maison de la Radio in Paris included match organisation, transport, to mark the ‘100 days to go’ milestone. The logistics, accommodation, security, French secretary of state for sport, Thierry disciplinary matters, integrity, marketing, Braillard, and ambassadors of the host cities communication and media. were also in attendance. Media representatives were given the opportunity to put their questions to ‘Everything is ready’ the head coaches of the 24 teams after “Everything is ready,” said Mr Le Graët, the coaches had been briefed on various who added that the aim of the tournament aspects of the Laws of the Game by UEFA’s is to “spread happiness through the game”. chief refereeing officer, Pierluigi Collina, Mr Lambert, meanwhile, addressed the issue who also talked about the Executive of security. “I will not hide the fact that it is our Committee’s decision to introduce goal- primary concern,” he said. “We are in charge line technology in addition to the use of this event and the level of risk is what it is. of additional assistant referees. The We are handling it with professionalism and referee teams, whose appointments were composure.” Some 900 security agents will be announced on 1 March, are due to meet for appointed for each match, which is 30% more their own workshop in Enghien-les-Bains, than normal. in the suburbs of Paris, from 18 to 22 April. With everything being done to make EURO The doctors of the 24 teams also met in 2016 a wonderful celebration of European The doctors of Paris in parallel with the finalists workshop football at its best, supporters truly have a treat the 24 teams signed in March, when they signed a charter in store. As well as at the stadiums and in the a charter pledging pledging their full support for UEFA’s host cities, excitement is expected to be high anti-doping strategy and confirming their at the team base camps, where each team will their full support commitment to a doping-free tournament hold at least one open training session during for UEFA’s anti- this summer. the tournament. doping strategy.

36 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 UEFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

The trophy was entrusted to the city of Reggio Emilia on 16 February, ahead of the official Getty Images event launch at the city hall. REGGIO EMILIA BUZZES WITH ANTICIPATION The Women’s Champions League final will be held on 26 May at the Città del Tricolore stadium in Reggio Emilia, Italy.

t will be the first Italian city to host the for society as a whole. We want to see a flagship European women’s club football change in outlook. There is certainly a lot I final. The countdown began in earnest with of room for improvement.” 100 days to go, when the event was officially Karen Espelund echoed these sentiments. launched at the city’s historic Sala del Tricolore “Italy has implemented a coherent development on 16 February – the very hall in which, on 7 plan that encompasses both the grassroots January 1797, the now familiar red, green and and senior levels of the game. This final can white tricolour was adopted as the flag of the have a meaningful legacy that gives a great young republic. many young women the opportunity to play With the Women’s Champions League football, and the ticket prices are accessible to trophy proudly on display, the launch ceremony everyone, because we want to encourage as included contributions from Carlo Tavecchio many families and children to go to the match and Francesca Sanzone, president and as we can.” deputy general director of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC); Karen Espelund, member of A promotion package UEFA’s Executive Committee and chair of its The event is being heavily promoted in Women’s Football Committee; and Luca Vecchi, and around Reggio Emilia, not least by event the mayor of Reggio Emilia. Also in attendance ambassador , who together were Antonio Conte and , the with team-mate Alessia Tuttino and captain head coaches of Italy’s men’s and women’s received a UEFA award in national teams; Luigi Di Biagio, the head coach recognition of her 100+ caps at the ceremony “Italy has of the men’s Under-21 team; Fiona May of the in Reggio Emilia. implemented FIGC’s integration and anti-racism committee; The Women’s Champions League final a coherent Roberto Rosetti, the event coordinator for the promotion package includes a programme development plan final; Rosella Sensi of the national amateur of activities designed to encourage participation that encompasses league’s women’s football department; and in women’s football. These include a schools representatives of local clubs US Sassuolo, tournament that will take place in Reggio Emilia both the grassroots Reggiana Femminile and Reggiana 1919. and neighbouring provinces as part of a wider and senior levels “The final is a fantastic opportunity to women’s grassroots festival under the direction of the game. This promote women’s ,” the FIGC of the FIGC’s youth and school football division, final can have a president said. “Participation by women and the ministry of education, the Italian Olympic meaningful legacy girls is fundamental to the growth of Italy’s Committee and Reggio Emilia city council. In that gives a great football system as a whole. The FIGC is behind addition, the week of 30 April to 8 May has many young women this project 100%. Not only is it an important been designated women’s football week, with sporting event in its own right; it also sends a promotional tour scheduled to visit eight of the opportunity out a vital social and cultural message. There the region’s principal towns and cities, followed to play football” are currently 20,000 female players registered by a Women’s Champions League trophy tour Karen Espelund with the FIGC, and 1.2 million men. This isn’t through which even more activities will be Member of UEFA’s so much a sporting problem as an issue organised to engage with fans. Executive Committee

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 37 FOR THE RECORD

FEMALE COACHES – STATE OF PLAY UEFA takes a snapshot view of the current landscape of coaching in Europe. There is much to do to increase the number of qualified female coaches and UEFA’s women-only UEFA B diploma course is helping to bridge the gap.

uring the 2015 UEFA Coach would encourage greater participation. Education Workshop in Bratislava In turn, it was agreed that more D attended by all UEFA member opportunities were needed for women association technical directors and heads to enhance their skills and qualifications of coach education, the number of qualified in a hands-on coaching environment – female coaches in Europe was highlighted experience that has often proved difficult as a major concern. Though there was to acquire. In response, UEFA is exploring acknowledgement that some progress targeted initiatives that address the gender had been made in terms of promoting imbalance among qualified coaches. equal opportunities in coaching, including Women-only UEFA B diploma courses started All data taken from the above by UEFA encouraging associations to have last year and have already produced positive publication, based on research by at least one woman on the coaching staff results in Azerbaijan, Croatia, Denmark, Leeds Beckett University. of their national women’s youth teams, the Estonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania and conclusion at the workshop was that more Turkey. These are set to continue and further female coaches were required at the base dialogue is taking place into the possibility of of the pyramid, to provide women and girls a scholarship programme for female coaches with female role models whose presence hoping to obtain UEFA A and Pro licences.

34.4% FEMALE 105 NATIONAL TEAM COACHES

TWO-THIRDS OF ALL WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAMS ARE COACHED BY MEN.

Female WOMEN’S SENIOR, U19 Male 305 AND U17 TOTAL NATIONAL TEAM COACHES

65.6% 200

38 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 FOR THE RECORD

3.11%

Three out of every 100 UEFA-qualified coaches in Europe are women.

Female RATIO OF FEMALE 96.89% TO MALE COACHES Male IN EUROPE

Women’s national teams 9.6% 41.1% demand highly qualified coaches. Nine out of ten 14 60 women’s national team 146 head coaches have a TOTAL UEFA A or Pro Licence.

WOMEN’S SENIOR, 49.3% U19 AND U17 72 NATIONAL TEAM COACHES

4% 2 52% 26

UEFA A 50 TOTAL UEFA B 44% WOMEN’S SENIOR UEFA PRO 22 NATIONAL TEAMS

3,338 women hold UEFA coaching licences in Europe.

Female Male UEFA COACHING UEFA PRO 101 8,809 LICENCE HOLDERS ACROSS EUROPE UEFA A 540 42,263

UEFA B 2,697 139,042

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 39 FAROE ISLANDS

MODERNISED STADIUM GIVES FAROESE FOOTBALL A BOOST

Tórsvøllur, the national stadium in the Faroe Islands, has undergone a comprehensive modernisation process and the new-look stadium has given the national team and its supporters a real boost.

On 14 November 2014 the which is new at Tórsvøllur – and in a country Faroese national team made like the Faroe Islands, where the weather is waves when they beat Greece very unstable and rainy days are all too 50,000 1-0 in Piraeus. This result caused common, it is much appreciated by the fans. the population quite an upset in footballing The renovations were originally scheduled of the Faroe Ocircles, but for the Faroese it came at a time for completion ahead of the Faroe Islands’ first Islands when many things were changing both on European Qualifiers home game against Finland and off the pitch. A new generation of young in September 2014, but as fate would have it, players were making names for themselves there were a few delays. 5,100 and Tórsvøllur, their national stadium, was total capacity undergoing an equally significant makeover. The perfect start at Tórsvøllur The two new stands were ready for the national Step by step team’s first European Qualifiers home match The modernisation of the national stadium of 2015. Ironically, this match was against 3,600 started back in 2011, when state-of-the-art Greece, on 13 June. The result in Piraeus some seats in the new floodlights were installed so that games could six months earlier and the new facilities at south and east stands also be played after dark. A year later the grass Tórsvøllur meant that, for the first time in four pitch was taken up and replaced by artificial years, the Faroese national team played to a turf. Then came a new south stand, which sell-out crowd at home. And on that sunny 2018 would also house the offices of the Faroese FA, night in Torshavn, the Faroe Islands caused yet completion date for followed by a new east stand. The two new another upset in front of 5,100 ecstatic fans new west stand stands together provide around 3,600 of the as they beat Greece 2-1. The perfect start to total 5,100 capacity and both are fully covered, a new era in a new stadium.

40 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 FAROE ISLANDS Álvur Haraldsen

Apart from the result on the pitch, the Hvidbro explains. “Together with the city much-improved facilities went down well council of Torshavn, we will soon make a final with the fans and sparked renewed interest in decision on how to proceed with this work. the national team. When tickets for the next We will improve the facilities so that we have home game went on sale online after the win more press boxes, more VIP boxes, larger press against Greece, they sold out in a matter of conference facilities, multiple dressing rooms, hours. A scenario previously unheard of in a gym and, of course, rooms for medical staff, the Faroe Islands. UEFA delegates and others.” The goal of the Faroese FA and the city Heading in the right direction council is to have this part of the project Virgar Hvidbro, the general secretary of the completed by September 2018. “By that time Faroese FA, is delighted with the result of the the national team will be involved in two renovations at Tórsvøllur and the impact that competitions: the EURO 2020 qualifiers and the this – along with the positive results on the new UEFA Nations League. All the work must pitch – has had on support for the national be done when these competitions kick off,” the team. “There is no doubt that we are heading general secretary of the Faroese FA confirmed. in the right direction,” he says. “Our last three home matches were also sell-outs, which is Vital backing from unbelievable. There is no doubt that the two UEFA and FIFA new stands really have given us a boost and at This huge renovation and renewal of the the same time, we have got the results needed national stadium is a costly affair and Hvidbro on the pitch. We have entered a new era with acknowledges the vital role played by both the national team, and we have not finished UEFA and FIFA in making it financially possible. the modernisation of Tórsvøllur yet.” “There is no doubt that we could not have With a modernised stadium, The next step will be a new west stand, undertaken this project without funding from promising results on the pitch which will house new dressing rooms for UEFA and FIFA, as well as the city counsel and enthusiastic support from the fans, Faroese football the teams and referees, and facilities for the of Torshavn. They have all played a huge is riding high. medical staff and media, among others. “This part in making this new stadium a reality,” is a very important part of the stadium,” he concludes. Álvur Haraldsen

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 41 ROMANIA

PROMOTING REFEREEING EXCELLENCEE Inspired by the UEFA CORE programme, the referees committee of the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) has launched its own development programme for promising young match officials.

By Paul Zaharia

he first course was held at the mentoring process. The coaches submit “These courses FRF’s national training centre in monthly reports and six-monthly evaluations, that we organise in Mogosoaia, where 12 referees and they watch and analyse domestic top- Romania are similar and 11 assistant referees (all born division matches together, and televised foreign to those organised between 1985 and 1990 and championship matches. Tofficiating in the second-highest national “These courses that we organise in Romania by UEFA.” division) were joined by 13 referee coaches are similar to those organised by UEFA and its Kyros Vassaras (many of them members of the federation’s Centre of Refereeing Excellence,” explains Kyros Chairman of the FRF referees committee). The match officials Vassaras, chairman of the referees committee. referees committee underwent a thorough programme of fitness “And they have the advantage of greater checks, weight and height measurements, continuity, because the referees can liaise better practical sessions on the pitch, theory tests, and on a more permanent basis with their group discussions and video analysis, before referees’ coaches.” Another very important being appointed to different championship aspect is that all the coaches are former FIFA matches and assigned a coach to evaluate their referees or FIFA assistant referees, meaning they performance. The referees and their coaches have an elite refereeing background and are The match officials attending the inaugural development now remain in permanent contact well placed to assess the performances of their course at the national training as part of an ongoing monitoring and young talents. centre in Mogosoaia. FRF

42 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 The match officials were put through their paces on the pitch and in the classroom. FRF

The above-mentioned courses and mentoring development programme for referees and are not the only component of the FRF’s talent assistant referees in the fourth division, coaching programme (TCP), which also includes giving them the opportunity to officiate in regularly appointing the participating officials the next division up. There are no referees’ to second and even top-division matches and coaches at this stage but the match officials’ inviting them to the six-monthly gatherings performances are evaluated by top-division of Romania’s elite referees, sharing with referee observers and the committee then them the atmosphere at the highest echelons decides which to invite to participate in its of Romanian refereeing and keeping them training courses. informed of everything that is discussed in these The work done in Romania to develop circles. The talent development programme lasts and promote top-class refereeing has already one to two years, the aim being to lay the best borne fruit and earned the FRF recognition at possible foundations for these promising young UEFA level, with Ovidiu Hategan among the referees to reach the highest levels of the game. referees selected to officiate at this summer’s EURO 2016. Hategan will be the first Rising through the ranks Romanian referee to take part in a EURO or The FRF’s referees committee is also a World Cup since Ioan Igna officiated at the establishing a talent spotting and 198 European Championship 28 years ago.

The aim is to lay the best possible foundations for the promising young referees to reach the highest levels FRF of the game.

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 43 UEFA LICENSING SEMINAR IN HELD BAKU CHANGES INCHANGES COACH EDUCATION TEAM BY TORA AKHMEDOVA AKHMEDOVA TORA BY BY REDL CARMEN associations of Belarus, the Czech Czech the of Belarus, associations national the from experts licensing and UEFA representatives together bringing 17 on inBaku seminar 18 and February, overseen be now will education coach of year. last administration The position to that appointed was who Lindenberger, Klaus with remains coaches goalkeeping of training for the Koller. Responsibility Marcel coach to head assistant as role his on fully concentrate now will who Janeschitz, Thomas replaces He education. of coach aspects sporting all for responsible be will Thalhammer, who Dominik be will At side his diploma. UEFA Pro the be will focus main his and education, for coach responsibility have overall now will Ruttensteiner Willi director, sporting as ofrole his part As department. sporting Association’s Football Austrian inthe changes AZERBAIJAN MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS 44 – 44 AUSTRIA F. Krvavac UEFA DIRECT •April2016 hosted a UEFA club licensing aUEFA licensing club hosted (AFFA) Azerbaijan of Federations of Football Association The a number of personnel of personnel a number been have recently There and possible future developments in the inthe developments future possible and UEFA’s and FIFA regulations licensing club season, licensing last of the analysis and areview included Topics of discussion Turkey Spain, Slovakia, Russia, Ukraine. and Romania, Moldova, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Republic, in13 unbeaten stretching matches side. senior the Under-17 to coach continue will team, women’s women’s the and team senior the of both coach head the and St Polten in centre women’s football national the of 2011 director sporting the been has Under-18 for the manager team. team the to being in addition academies, of the administration the oversee now Under-19and will Pusam Bernhard teams. Under-15 national for the manager team the be also will Gangoly, who Michael by supported be will He academies. association’s of the head administrative and side senior for the manager team the by Walter Konir, been has now until who Under his command, the team are are team the command, his Under since Thalhammer,Dominik who national women’s football centre. women’s football national the at players individual to coaching inaddition coach, assistant their been has now until who Hackl, Markus be will team women’s of the Under-17 coach head new Under-19 The deputy. his be will team, women’s of the coach head Fuhrmann, Under-21 national of the Irene team. coach head to the assistant and Grödig SV at coach assistant Salzburg, at FC coach licence, has an academy previously been UEFA his Pro obtained recently who old, 36-year- Luisser. Wolfgang is centre The women’s football national of the director sporting new The reassigned. been EURO. Women’s year’s for next to qualify position strong ina them putting months, 22 back in Baku. Stadium Olympic of the atour organised and in Azerbaijan system licensing the about participants seminar other the told FK Qäbälä club league premier Azerbaijani and group licensing AFFA the of Representatives system. licensing His other two roles, however, roles, have two other His www.oefb.at www.affa.az

AFFA MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA www.nfsbih.ba GATHERING THE BEST YOUNG PLAYERS

BY FUAD KRVAVAC

The Football Federation of “This winter camp more than fulfilled between the federation and ŠF Respekt, our expectations,” says Pirić. “We are to which Jaha presented equipment and (NFSBiH) recently organised especially happy with the turnout from training materials. The purpose of this a month-long winter camp at its state- abroad and these young players’ desire unique initiative, which is open to all and of-the-art training centre in Zenica for to play on our national youth teams.” free of charge, is to give all children the all its youth selections (U19, U17, U16 In other news, Murat Jaha, the NFSBiH’s opportunity to play sport and benefit and U15), and talented young Bosnian youth football coordinator, visited the from regular training whatever their and Herzegovinian players living abroad. ŠF Respekt Soccer School in Sarajevo, physical or developmental abilities or This event builds on the federation’s marking the start of official cooperation disabilities and regardless of social status. successful Open Doors project, through which similar training camps have been organised in Sweden, Germany and the US. Some 35 young talents of all ages travelled to Zenica from Austria, Canada, Croatia, Germany, Switzerland and the US to join their local compatriots and national youth team coaches Toni Karačić (U19), Sakib Malkočević (U17) and Zoran Erbez (U15). Those who showed the most potential at the training camp may be called up for the qualifying rounds of next season’s European championships. Visiting the training camp, general secretary Jasmin Baković and technical director Denijal Pirić were delighted by the turnout and by the youngsters’ desire to one day represent the Dragons. The general secretary took the opportunity to tell the participants about the federation’s development activities, especially in terms of youth football. Krvavac F.

BULGARIA www.bfunion.bg BIG TURNOUT FOR YOUTH SEMINAR

BY NIKOLAY DYULGEROV

Almost 100 coaches attended aim of familiarising youth academy development and methodological a seminar in Sofia organised coaches with modern trends in their consistency in the development of by the Bulgarian Football Union profession. Through their work with players aged 6 to 19, based on a (BFU) and the local council to discuss clubs and their youth academies, concept introduced by the BFU in 2012. the development of youth academies, these coaches play a key role in the For the practical part, the head in particular the use of 5v5, 7v7 and development of young players. coaches of Bulgaria’s U16, U17 and 9v9 formats. With this in mind, Plamen Mihov, U19 national teams – Aleksander The one-day event began with a director of the BFU’s children’s and Georgiev, Viktorio Pavlov and Svetoslav moment of silence in memory of one youth football department, gave a Todorov – held a demonstration training of Bulgaria’s greatest footballers, Trifon presentation on the various facets session with children, designed to Ivanov, who died on 13 February at the of physical, technical, tactical and introduce them to the basic elements age of 50. The seminar itself included psychological training for adolescents. of the game and the technical and both theory and practice, with the He then turned his attention to staff tactical training process.

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 45 MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

CROATIA www.hns-cff.hr DENMARK www.dbu.dk INTERNATIONAL A FOND GOALKEEPING CONFERENCE FAREWELL

BY TOMISLAV PACAK BY MARTIN MOGENSEN

The Croatian Football Federation After the EURO 2016 play-offs (HNS) is organising its second against Sweden, Denmark’s head annual conference for goalkeeping coach Morten Olsen called time coaches at the national football academy on his long career in the service of Danish in Zagreb from 23 to 25 May. HNS football as both player and coach. Talks will be given by an all-star line- Between 1970 and 1989, Olsen earned up of goalkeeping coaches comprising clubs over the last ten years,” the HNS over 102 caps for Denmark and captained John Achterberg (Liverpool FC), Carlo president, Davor Šuker, said on opening the team for much of his playing l’Ami (AFC Ajax), Goran Boromisa (GNK the workshop. career, including at the 1984 European Dinamo Zagreb), Antonello Brambilla (UC As regards the action on the pitch, Championship in France, the 1988 Sampdoria), Tihomir Bulat (RNK Split), the cities of Zadar, Zagreb and Porec European Championship in West Germany Vatroslav Mihačić (HNS), Roberto Navajas recently hosted the country’s first-ever and the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. (Real Sociedad), Nélson Pereira (Sporting) women’s futsal championship. This Having hung up his boots, in 2000 he and Jose Sambade (Beşiktaş JK). groundbreaking competition was very took on the job of national team coach, Also on the events calendar, the HNS successful and has opened up new a position he then held for 15 years and referees committee recently organised horizons for the development of 166 international matches. During his its 48th course for referees and referee women’s football in Croatia. tenure, Olsen helped Denmark to qualify observers, where participants were Elsewhere, the Croatian U19 team for EURO 2004 in Portugal and EURO introduced to the latest UEFA guidelines performed well in Asia recently, where 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, as well as the on refereeing and integrity. Meanwhile, they won the 2016 China-ASEAN 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea the association organised a licensing International Youth Football Tournament. and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. workshop for around 50 representatives The senior team, meanwhile, remained Following his resignation, the board of first and second division clubs. “We fully focused on EURO 2016 and have of the Danish Football Association are proud of the clubs who participate in selected the town of Deauville in nominated Olsen for the Danish Football our licensing process, which has proved Normandie as their home from home Hall of Fame – the finest honour in to be very successful and beneficial to the this summer. Danish football.

ENGLAND www.thefa.com UP FOR THE CUP The FA

BY THOMAS ROWLAND

Much has been written in recent seasons about the state of the FA Cup, but the world’s oldest club competition could not be in ruder health FA Cup back into the English public’s Cambridge United’s run to the fourth or a better position to support clubs consciousness. The numbers certainly round of the competition earned them throughout every sphere of the game. back this up: the audience for Liverpool’s in the region of £1.7m, eclipsing the In May 2015 The FA signed a three-year trip to Exeter City peaked at 6.6 million club’s annual turnover in just 180 minutes deal with Emirates, the first ever named and 5.8 million tuned in for Derby of football. partner of the competition. This followed County’s game against Manchester The money distributed by the FA Cup hot on the heels of a long-term broadcast United at the iPro Stadium. prize fund and broadcast revenues has commitment from the BBC and BT Sport. These impressive broadcast figures been boosted even further by Emirates’ BT Sport has enjoyed impressive growth encapsulate the public appetite for the long-term commitment. To date, the in recent years. However, it’s arguably competition and the monetary gains for Emirates FA Cup has distributed over The FA’s renewed association with the clubs are there for all to see. Never was £17m across the game and gate receipts BBC that has catapulted the Emirates this better highlighted than in 2015 when are growing year on year too.

46 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

ESTONIA www.jalgpall.ee SPOTLIGHT ON MATCH-FIXING PREVENTION

BY MAARJA SAULEP

The Estonian Football Association (EJL) recently organised a series of match-fixing prevention sessions to alert players to the seriousness of the issue and the importance of fair play in all its forms. Sessions were held with a total of 38 clubs in the top three men’s leagues and the women’s top tier. All heard from the EJL’s own integrity officer, Mihkel Uiboleht, who explained how UEFA and the EJL are working to raise awareness of Soo Veiko and address the problem of match-fixing. Among other things, the EJL has imposed were approached by someone suggesting the players a better overview of the issue strict and clear betting restrictions on any sort of match-fixing. in their own language. At the opening players and referees to protect the Recent cases in Estonia have highlighted games in this season’s top three men’s integrity of the game. that the problem is very real and close to leagues and top women’s league, the The players were introduced to the the players. It is therefore more important captains all signed a plaque that reads: three Rs principle – Recognise, Reject than ever that teams competing at the ‘My game is fair play’. In doing so, they and Report – and were advised on how highest domestic levels are aware of the committed, on behalf of their teams, to to avoid situations in which suspicious threat and know how to counter it. Videos steer clear of any match-fixing activities. activity might occur. They were also told in Estonian, English and Russian were Pictures of the two teams and referees what to do and whom to turn to if they used at the prevention sessions to give together were also taken before kick-off.

FRANCE www.fff.fr 100,000 REGISTERED FEMALE PLAYERS

BY JEAN-BAPTISTE SCHMIDT

The French Football Federation The commitment shown by (FFF) registered its 100,000th administrators, coaches and referees female player on 5 February is growing constantly, as is the amount this year. As the person responsible of training they receive”. for the FFF’s women’s development Looking to the top of the pyramid, plan, the federation’s general secretary, Henriques said: “The French women’s Brigitte Henriques, said: “I am delighted team, on whom we impose the same to announced that the FFF now has sporting standards as the men’s A team, 100,000 registered female players. The rank among the top three in the world FFF president and his team set us this and have set themselves ambitious objective in 2011, in order to give a targets for the 2016 Olympics and the decisive boost to women’s football in World Cup we are hosting in 2019. The France, and at the time it seemed highly popularity of women’s ambitious. But we did it.” is also thanks to the work carried out and Henriques thanked the FFF president, results achieved by our elite clubs. I am Noël Le Graët, for providing the impetus thinking in particular of Lyon, Montpellier, for this women’s development plan and Paris Saint-Germain and Juvisy, but also highlighted the “decisive efforts of the all the others who are stepping up their leagues, districts and amateur clubs”. game. Mindsets are changing – they have She also thanked the FFF staff, pointing already changed – and these promising out that “opportunities to play have been results only increase our commitment to improved throughout the country. FFF achieving even more.”

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 47 FIVE-YEAR DEVELOPMENT PLAN BY STEVEN GONZALEZ MUMLADZE OTO BY STRENGTH TO STRENGTH ROCK ONTHE WOMEN’S FOOTBALL GOES FROM same age level, and a mixed championship championship amixed and level, age same the at held be will championships school annually, organised be will competition country. the across appeal mass football’s enhancing and players youth of registered number the increasing include Priorities years. five next the over education technical and activities development youth infrastructure, football of its standard the to aims raise GFF the championship, pyramid. football the in position to its proportionate funding receive will of which each championship, national of the divisions three top the to restructure decided has GFF the situation. current of the analysis thorough a follows exercise planning strategic groundbreaking This plan. development five-year first-ever its established has MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS 48 – GEORGIA FA’s Friday Fun Football sessions for girls FA’s sessions Football Fun Friday Gibraltar the attending ladies RAF the of insome resulted also team football women’s FA RAF’s the and Gibraltar the promising performance.extremely an on put squad to the added have been that faces new the but 3-0, lost Gibraltar (RAF). Force Air Royal the against recently most active, very been has team national acompetitive establish and Gibraltar Rock. the on game women’s the indeveloping strides great have made team proactive her and she GIBRALTAR To U13 aregional end, this cup domestic the enhancing as well As plan, development of the part As The excellent relationship between between relationship excellent The to represent selected squad The UEFA DIRECT •April2016 FA’s of women’s football, head Gibraltar the as Alvarez Lynette of appointment the Since the Georgian government, government, Georgian the of support the with (GFF), Federation Football Georgian The

fan liaison officers, stewards, security security stewards, officers, fan liaison for seminars and forum a marketing workshops, media include will strategy and football doctors. analysts coaching coaches, forfitness courses as well as drive, recruitment a referee academy, and of arefereeing creation the for match officials, courses includes also plan development The Georgian. in delivered be will and Management Football in UEFA Certificate of the edition national of the success by the inspired is that inSeptember aprogramme to launch planning is GFF The medics. and referees coaches, for administrators, component, players. disabled for aleague and tournament masters indoor awinter leagues, soccer beach and futsal to establish plans are there appeal, 15.under To mass football’s enhance aged for girls championships regional and women’s league, anational organise also for U11s. established be will will GFF The female footballers. footballers. female Gibraltar’sgenerationwith of next skills to their share happy than more were and board on right got RAF the from of 12. age toup the guests The The second stage of the educational educational of the stage second The important very another is Education

will bring success to Georgian football.” to Georgian success bring will strategy this surethat Iam project. the of and endorsement assessment positive for its inparticular government the thank like Iwould to positive. overwhelmingly been has response the and stakeholders, our of all to representatives and public general the plan to five-year the have “We presented said. Kobiashvili, GFF,football,” of the president Levan the of Georgian development inthe stage avital marks programme development and groundsmen. football “This staff from to strength strength. go also doubt no will relationship this Ladies, RAF by the planned visits annual and constantly growing inGibraltar women’s the game With Lasha Kuprashvili www.gibraltarfa.com www.gff.ge

GFA MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

GREECE www.epo.gr EPONEWS IS HERE TO STAY

BY GIOTA KAISARI

Precisely two years ago, in March the Greek national teams and the EPO’s EPO 2014, the Hellenic Football various activities. Federation (EPO) launched an EPOnews was created to transform innovative new communication channel to online communication into a convenient, provide optimised, authoritative updates direct, reader-friendly experience. A on the federation’s news and activities. A new relationship was formed between dedicated, electronic newsletter, EPOnews, the federation and its followers and this was born. relationship continues to go from strength 110,000 subscribers and will remain a With just one click, subscribers to the to strength. The ever-evolving EPOnews cornerstone of the EPO’s communication newsletter can find all the latest news on has reached the screens of more than strategy in the years to come.

ISRAEL www.football.org.il KAZAKHSTAN www.kff.kz FOOTBALL, SOCIETY TWO MORE AND EDUCATION FRIENDLIES BY EITAN DOTAN LINED UP

The Israel Football Association BY DMITRIY NESTERENKO (IFA) has signed a cooperation agreement with the organisers The Kazakhstan national team of The Equalizer, a social, educational have a series of friendly matches and sporting project that aspires to build lined up to put the players a better society based on education through their paces. On 29 March they through football. The signing ceremony travel to Tbilisi to pit themselves against

was held at the national team training IFA the national team of Georgia, and later in centre in Shfayim and attended by the the year they plan to visit neighbouring vice-president of the IFA, Tamir Gilat, IFA with The Equalizer is extremely important. Kyrgyzstan, for a friendly match there on general secretary Rotem Kamer, Israeli We believe that through football we 30 August. international Orel Dgani, the organisers of can have a positive influence on Israeli Kazakhstan and Georgia were grouped The Equalizer and 200 boys and girls from society.” Turning to the 200 children, Gilat together in the qualifying competition schools around the country. said: “Every day that you spend together for the 2006 World Cup. Kazakhstan The Equalizer’s goal is to establish on the football pitch will enhance your lost 2-1 at home in Almaty, but held the a social, educational and sporting lives, because you will become better Georgians to a scoreless draw in Tbilisi. framework for children from people and more sensitive to the needs They met most recently at Astana Arena disadvantaged areas and less affluent of one another, and this is far more in Kazakhstan on 14 August 2013, where backgrounds, through which they important than the possibility of one day the hosts won 1-0 thanks to a goal by receive professional football training becoming professional players.” Sergey Khizhnichenko. Kazakhstan and and educational support. This season, The IFA general secretary added: Kyrgyzstan have also met numerous times. the project involves over 2,500 children “Working with The Equalizer gives us a They have played seven friendly matches, from more than 150 teams spread over key platform on which to develop the of which Kazakhstan have won five. 12 different regions. By combining game and apply our social responsibility Their last match was at Astana Arena on football with education and involving principles. Wherever we are able to assist, 5 September 2014, when the home team girls and boys, Jews and Arabs, secular give direction and move forward, we will won by a landslide 7-1. and religious groups, deaf and hearing- endeavour to do so – to have an impact, impaired groups, natives of Israel and new make a contribution and act for the good arrivals, this highly welcome project makes of football and Israeli society.” a great contribution to unity, equality and After the signing ceremony, matches excellence in Israeli society. were played at the training centre, with Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Israeli national team player Dgani having IFA vice-president said: “Our cooperation the honour of kicking the first ball. KFF

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 49 MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

LATVIA www.lff.lv MOLDOVA www.fmf.md NEW EDUCATION 14TH PROGRAMME IN ORDINARY FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT CONGRESS

BY TOMS ĀRMANIS FROM THE PRESS OFFICE

The Latvian Football Federation On 29 January, the Football (LFF) has teamed up with local Association of Moldova (FMF) held educational institutions to launch its 14th ordinary congress at the a new football management programme FMF Futsal Arena in Ciorescu. aimed at clubs and other organisations The meeting began with a minute’s delivering football locally in Latvia. silence in memory of all the figures from The programme is designed to increase the world of Moldovan football who had the skill sets of local club leaders and the passed away since the last FMF congress heads of football academies and regional on 27 February 2015. football centres. The congress was attended by UEFA’s In the future, the LFF plans to open second vice-president, Marios Lefkaritis, it up to a wider range of stakeholders, LFF the Moldovan minister for youth and providing them with in-depth information sport, Victor Zubcu, the vice-president on all aspects of football management development of Latvian football structures of the Moldovan Olympic Committee, and giving them the tools they need has been massive, and it is only logical Nicolae Piatac, the mayor of Ciorescu, to establish and run successful football to now offer the people within those Ivan Scripnic, and a former president of organisations. Topics include sports structures the opportunity to develop and the FMF, Grigore Cuşnir. rights, the psychology of management, grow. We hope this programme will make In his address to the congress, the marketing, public relations and the history a positive contribution to the daily work FMF’s president, Pavel Cebanu, listed the and culture of football. Lectures will be of all our clubs and football professionals,” association’s various achievements over given by professionals, all of whom are says Edgars Pukinsks, deputy general the last year, which he said gave him experts in their fields. secretary of the LFF. The first edition of the confidence for the future. At the same “The development of our football programme will be open to more than 20 time, he emphasised his determination environment, through the clubs and participants, who are expected to complete to address the problems that remained. regions, is a priority for us. Our input in the the course in mid-June. A number of changes to the FMF’s statutes (the legal foundations underpinning Moldovan football), a report MALTA www.mfa.com.mt by the FMF’s president and executive committee on 2015, and various financial SCHOOLS FUTSAL FESTIVAL matters (including consolidated annual accounts for 2015) were also discussed BY ALEX VELLA and approved by delegates at the meeting. In addition, the FMF’s technical For eight years now, the Malta while the climax for secondary schools director, Ghenadie Scurtul, presented Football Association’s grassroots will be in the spring, when the older a detailed development programme for department has teamed up with children will compete at one of the youth football in Moldova, which will its technical centre and other national top sports complexes in the country. run until 2020. sports organisations to organise an This national event, which is both The FMF’s Order of Honour was annual futsal festival for some 1,600 fun and competitive and enjoys UEFA’s awarded to Vsevolod Voloșin, Leonid boys and girls from 60 schools across support, seeks to raise awareness of Pascaru, Nicolae Sandu, Chiril Șușu, the country. futsal and encourage participation. Petru Caraman and Ion Caras. The event has become a firm fixture in Judging by the constant cheering and the association’s calendar. It is organised the joyful expressions on the children’s over several months and its popularity faces, those objectives have been more FMF among the country’s schools and than met. colleges – as attested to by the number The festival also serves to give the of participants – has risen year on year. children a sense of fair play, an essential This season’s festival was rounded off ingredient at all levels and in all areas of in primary schools at the end of January, the game.

50 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

NORTHERN IRELAND www.irishfa.com POLAND www.pzpn.pl DEVELOPING ACCOLADES FOR THE GAME LEWANDOWSKI AND BONIEK

BY NIGEL TILSON BY JAKUB KWIATKOWSKI

The Irish Football Association has Robert Lewandowski won the Sports Champions launched the first ever School 81st sports personality of the year Ball, Nawałka said: Quality Mark across Northern award organised by Polish sports “For me this award Ireland, allowing 125 schools to achieve daily Przegląd Sportowy and public is the ultimate accreditation over a five-year period. broadcaster TVP in 2015. The manager of accomplishment The new initiative is aimed at the Polish national football team, Adam for the squad, my enhancing and improving school football Nawałka, was voted coach of the year, staff and everyone at both primary and post-primary levels and the president of the Polish Football associated with R. Lewandowski Images UEFA-Getty as part of the Irish FA’s Let Them Play Association, Zbigniew Boniek, picked up the Polish national strategy, a key aim of which is to get the prestigious award of best footballer of football team. Of course, we must not more kids playing football in schools. the last six decades. lose sight of the challenges that await The association has identified the “I would like to thank my wife, my us, but I believe strongly in the team I development of school infrastructure and family and my friends for their support lead. I am confident that we will make cooperation with the Northern Ireland and for ensuring that I can always count our fans happy.” Nawałka was presented Schools’ Football Association as being on them,” Lewandowski said. “I also with his award by the president of the essential for the future development of want to say thank you to my coaches and Polish FA, who himself was selected by the game. team-mates on the Polish national team the football weekly Piłka Nożna as the and at Bayern Munich for our collaboration best footballer of the last six decades in on the pitch and our solidarity in search Poland. The magazine also gave accolades of team success. Thank you to everyone to the Polish national team, their coach who has helped me get to where I am Adam Nawałka, Robert Lewandowski and today.” On receiving his award at the Bartosz Kapustka.

SAN MARINO www.fsgc.sm

IFA FIRST UEFA FUTSAL B The School Quality Mark provides COACHING COURSE schools with guidance on implementing structures to build capacity and allow BY EMILIO CECCHINI football to flourish. Schools will be able to apply for quality mark accreditation The San Marino Football coaching theory and methodology at three different levels – bronze, silver Federation (FSGC) has organised modules, assembled a group of leading and gold – depending on the structures its first-ever UEFA Futsal B diploma coaching instructors from San Marino they have in place. Key areas include course, culminating in practical and theory and neighbouring regions of Italy. school governance and management, exams on 20 February and 2 March The course organisers succeeded in games development, duty of care and respectively. The course director, Luciano delivering a highly effective programme, female participation. Casadei, accepted 14 participants onto the making use of the Fiorentino sports School-club links are also a major part course, which ran from 4 November to 13 complex, the Multieventi Sport Domus of the quality mark accreditation process, February. It comprised a total of 130 hours complex and the well-equipped as the Irish FA believes it is important for of training, with sessions on Thursday and multimedia seminar rooms at the pupils to be given a pathway from school Friday evenings, as well as Saturdays. The FSGC headquarters. to club football. idea was to create a timetable that would Precision Training, the UK’s number enable all the participants to juggle their one supplier of sports training equipment, sporting ambitions and existing, day-to- clothing and accessories, has agreed to day commitments, helping them to remain sponsor the School Quality Mark and motivated and fully focused. will provide up to £500 of equipment The course coordinator, Emilio Cecchini, and training aids to schools that achieve who heads the FSGC’s education the accreditation. department and taught the course’s FSGC

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 51 MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

SCOTLAND www.scottishfa.co.uk SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN IN SPORT

FROM THE MEDIA DEPARTMENT

The Scottish FA has been ensure that every player in Scotland under Scottish FA named the first national football the age of 18 receives the same level of association to implement safeguarding and protective measures as at all levels of the national game, and to International Safeguards for Children recognised internationally. be part of UNICEF UK’s global network – in Sport, as part of a global initiative A draft set of child safeguarding and the first national football association coordinated by UNICEF UK. standards were agreed in 2012 by a to join – is another example of the sterling Scottish football’s governing body working group of international youth, sport work undertaken by our child protection joins Manchester United FC, Manchester and development organisations coordinated and safeguarding manager at the Scottish City FC and the US Olympic Committee by UNICEF UK, based on the work of the FA. I am also pleased to see our affiliated among a select group of 50 pioneering Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) of national associations supporting us in organisations from all continents working the National Society for the Prevention this commitment. The well-being of with the International Safeguarding of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). These children is of paramount importance Children in Sport Working Group to safeguards were formally launched at the in Scottish football.” further develop, implement and test Beyond Sport summit in Johannesburg, Liz Twyford at UNICEF UK added: “On safeguards designed to promote and South Africa, in October 2014. behalf of the International Safeguarding protect young players’ well-being. “I am really proud that the Scottish Children in Sport Working Group, we are With the help of the Scottish Amateur FA has become a pioneer organisation really pleased to welcome the Scottish Football Association, the Scottish in this excellent and essential initiative to FA as our latest pioneer organisation. Junior Football Association, the Scottish implement International Safeguards for By working together and sharing good Schools Football Association, the Scottish Children in Sport,” Stewart Regan, chief practice and the experiences we have Youth Football Association and the South executive of the Scottish FA, said. “We are globally, we aim to make sport safer for of Scotland League, the Scottish FA will committed to the welfare of young players children everywhere.”

SLOVAKIA www.futbalsfz.sk HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY TO JOZEF VENGLOŠ

BY PETER SURIN

Jozef Vengloš, the biggest name five (Australia, Czechoslovakia, Malaysia, Alberto Parreira and Carlos Queiroz in six in Slovakian football, celebrated Slovakia and Oman) is already quite a feat, exhibition games. He did not miss a single his 80th birthday on 18 February. and he was just 33 when he took up the World Cup or European Championship Vengloš has had an exceptional career, reins of the Socceroos. between 1974 and 2010, attending either especially as a coach, but is also known His CV is filled with momentous as the coach of a participating team or as for his exceptional character. He may not moments: winning the European a member or the chairman of the UEFA have matched Rudi Gutendorf’s record of Championship in 1976 and taking third and FIFA technical committees. The bronze managing 18 different national teams, but place in 1980 (both with Czechoslovakia), medal he earned with Slovakia at Art- winning the then European U23 Football 2007 may be more of a curiosity, Championship with Czechoslovakia in but it also proves his versatility and true SFZ 1972, becoming the first non-British coach coaching mastery. to manage an English Premier League His personal credo is one of politeness, side (Aston Villa in 1990/91), winning regardless of the job at hand or how the Czechoslovakian championship twice hard it is. This is one of the reasons for with Slovan Bratislava and the Malaysian his nickname ‘the Gentleman’ (he is also championship with FC Kuala Lumpur. known as Dr Jo in the UK because of Vengloš also managed Sporting Clube his PhD in physical education). Vengloš’s de Portugal, Fenerbahçe, Celtic and personal credo and exceptional character Japanese club JEF United Ichihara, and have also earned him the UEFA Order has led all-star teams involving the likes of Merit in Diamond and the FIFA of Jupp Derwall, Bora Milutinović, Carlos Order of Merit.

52 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

SLOVENIA www.nzs.si LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR FORMER PRESIDENT RUDI ZAVRL

BY MATJAŽ KRAJNIK

Former long-time president of the Football Association of Slovenia Rudi Zavrl was given a tremendous honour in February when he was awarded a Bloudek Award for his lifetime achievements in football. The Bloudek Award, Slovenia’s most NZS prestigious sports award, is named after one of the pioneers of Slovenian sport, pride,” Zavrl said at the awards ceremony, to exert our influence to make sure that Stanko Bloudek. It has been presented speaking on the behalf of all the award Slovenian sport has the best possible annually since 1965 and has only once winners in 2016. “At a time when doping, conditions for constant development.” before gone to a former footballer, match-fixing and over-commercialisation Rudi Zavrl was first elected president when Branko Elsner, one of the first are threatening today’s sport, we can be of the Slovenian FA in 1989 and was re- Slovenian football coaches, received pleased that traditional sporting values are elected four times. Under his leadership, the award in 1999. still the foundations that we try to pass the association became an independent, “I believe I speak for everybody in on to our successors. The fact remains important member of both FIFA and this auditorium when I say that being that sport is always going to be a pillar of UEFA. He oversaw the country’s first presented with a Bloudek Award is a society and one that involves the young qualification for the EURO in 2000 and magnificent achievement. Just to have and the old, men and women, and people the World Cup in 2002, and in 2009 our work recognised by the awards of different ethnic backgrounds, religions he was named the first-ever honorary committee fills us with happiness and and philosophies. But it is on us to try president of the Slovenian FA.

SWITZERLAND www.football.ch NEW CONTRACT FOR HEAD COACH MARTINA VOSS-TECKLENBURG

BY PIERRE BENOIT

Swiss women’s football has head coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s come on in leaps and bounds contract to 2018. The 48-year-old UEFA in recent years. Following Pro licence holder and former international numerous successes at youth level, (who was capped 125 times by Germany) with various teams qualifying for final is keen to push on and celebrate further tournaments, the senior side qualified successes with her team, convinced that in an impressive fashion for last year’s their shared journey still has some way Women’s World Cup – their first ever to go: “I am so proud to be coaching the

– and gave a very good account of Swiss national side. We are going from SFV themselves in Canada. strength to strength at the moment, and The team are currently riding high we have a couple of major objectives in important milestone for us. It will allow on another wave of success. They have our sights – qualifying for the Women’s us to continue our excellent progress begun their Women’s EURO 2017 EURO and the Olympic Games. The fact under a coach who is a true ambassador qualifying campaign with four straight that the atmosphere at the Swiss FA is so for women’s football in Switzerland.” victories, scoring an impressive 20 goals positive also made this a very easy decision Just days after the new contract was and conceding just twice, putting them for me. I didn’t think twice about staying signed, the Swiss team headed to the within touching distance of their first in Switzerland.” Netherlands in early March for the play- Women’s EURO. As a result, the Swiss The Swiss Football Association is equally offs for the last European place in the Football Association’s sporting director, pleased, as Laurent Prince explains: “The women’s football tournament at the Laurent Prince, has decided to extend extension of Martina’s contract is an 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 53 MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

TURKEY www.tff.org UKRAINE www.ffu.org.ua GREEN LIGHT SHEVCHENKO RETURNS FOR TRAINING BY YURI MAZNYCHENKO CENTRE Ukraine’s star striker Andriy Shevchenko (39) has returned to BY AYDIN GÜVENIR the national team, where he joins the coaching staff ahead of this summer’s The Turkish Football Federation EURO 2016 in France. (TFF) headquarters and the Shevchenko appeared at the coaching entire Hasan Doğan National and administrative staff presentation Teams Camp and Education Facilities at the headquarters of the Football

that opened in July 2014 have received Federation of Ukraine (FFU) on 16 OKSANA VASYLYEVA a gold rating from the U.S. Green February. He will work alongside Building Council under its Leadership in Volodymyr Onyshchenko, Yuri Syvukha return to the national team. I hope the Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Vitaliy Shpanyuk, who assisted head knowledge I gained during my playing certification programme. coach Mykhailo Fomenko in successfully career will help me in the future. I was a In the official letter announcing leading the team through qualifying. successful player at international level and the decision, the CEO and founding “I’m delighted that Mykhailo has I’m sure our joint work with these young chairman of the U.S. Green Building given me the opportunity to work with players will stimulate their growth,” Council, Steven Richard Fedrizzi, him. It’s a big responsibility for me, and Shevchenko said during the presentation congratulated the TFF’s national training I am proud to have the opportunity to at the FFU headquarters last month. centre and headquarters on being a showcase for sustainable design and on WALES www.faw.cymru demonstrating leadership in transforming the building industry. BALA TOWN FC JOIN PROJECT 3G

BY ROB DOWLING

Bala Town Football Club in to this state-of-the-art playing surface. Gwynedd are soon to become “The club’s intentions are to make Maes the latest club in the Welsh Tegid a hub for community activity, Premier League to play on a 3G synthetic to stimulate collaboration with local

TFF pitch, having successfully applied for partners and other users, and to deliver a £350,000 grant from the Football wider economic regeneration, social The centre was deliberately built on Association of Wales (FAW) through inclusion and extensive health and social a single axis, with capability to expand the governing body’s Project 3G. benefits for the community.” towards the sea. No electricity is used The bulk of the project costs will The FAW president, David Griffiths, to heat or cool the buildings; instead, be covered by this grant from the FAW, added: “I am delighted to confirm, the energy-efficient facilities rely on whose Project 3G investment scheme on behalf of the FAW, that another huge solar panels and the nearby river is funded by the UEFA HatTrick HatTrick-supported 3G project will be for heating and air-conditioning. programme. The local council, in close implemented, this time at the home of The designers wanted to create a conjunction with its education authorities, Bala Town.” transparent building, using crescent- also agreed to provide financial assistance shaped foundations and huge panels to ensure that this project would get the of glass to create a sense of space green light. and inclining the roof so that from the In addition to the new artificial pitch, outside it looks entirely open. Sustainable the floodlights at the Maes Tegid ground materials were used, including a special will be upgraded to allow for the use of kind of glass that prevents the facilities low-level community lighting. from getting too hot or too cold. Bala Town CEO Nigel Aykroyd The Hasan Doğan training centre and said: “Our football club aims to TFF headquarters are a shining example work in partnership with Gwynedd of modern architecture and the TFF education services and all the schools is proud to be considered a leader in in the surrounding area to encourage a sustainable design. significant rise in physical activity thanks FAW

54 – UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 BIRTHDAYS, NOTICES, FORTHCOMING EVENTS

BIRTHDAYS Charles Schaack (Luxembourg, 17 April) Philippe Verbiest (Belgium, 25 April) Frances Smith (Republic of Ireland, 17 April) Dany Ryser (Switzerland, 25 April) Oguz Sarvan (Turkey, 18 April) Domenti Sichinava (Georgia, 25 April) 50th Carlo De Gaudio (Italy, 1 April) Alexandre Remin (Belarus, 18 April) Salustia Chato Cipres (Andorra, 25 April) Jan Peeters (Belgium, 2 April) Norman Darmanin Demajo (Malta, 19 April) Valentin Velikov (Bulgaria, 25 April) Elisabeth Derks (Netherlands, 2 April) Virgar Hvidbro (Faroe Islands, 19 April) Yariv Teper (Israel, 26 April) Michael Sjöö (Sweden, 2 April) Elena Charina (Russia, 19 April) Jan Pauly (Czech Republic, 26 April) Márton Dinnyés (Hungary, 2 April) Jean-Luc Veuthey (Switzerland, 20 April) Marina Sbardella (Italy, 27 April) Kaj Østergaard (Denmark, 3 April) Michael Argyrou (Cyprus, 20 April) Jan Carlsen (Denmark, 27 April) Martin Sturkenboom (Netherlands, 3 April) İlhan Helvacı (Turkey, 20 April) Edgar Steinborn (Germany, 27 April) Dennis Cruise (Republic of Ireland, 3 April) Nenad Santrač (Serbia, 20 April) Frank Fontvielle (France, 27 April) Yoav Strauss (Israel, 3 April) Marc Lesenfants (Belgium, 21 April) George Frank (Israel, 29 April) Emil Ubias (Czech Republic, 3 April) Vitor Pereira (Portugal, 21 April) Gudmunder Ingi Jónsson (Iceland, 29 April) Christian Kofoed (Denmark, 4 April) Martinus van den Bekerom (Netherlands, Eamon Naughton (Republic of Ireland, 21 April) 4 April) Alexandru Burlac (Moldova, 21 April) NOTICES Alex Miescher (Switzerland, 4 April) Tomislav Vlahović (Croatia, 21 April) Marco Casagrande (Finland, 4 April) Jan Damgaard (Denmark, 22 April) • On 28 February, Terje Svendsen was Jan Ekstrand (Sweden, 5 April) Morgan Norman (Sweden, 22 April) elected president of the Football Momir Djurdjevac (Montenegro, 5 April) Rod Petrie (Scotland, 22 April) 60th Association of Norway, replacing Alexey Sorokin (Russia, 5 April) Volodymyr Petrov (Ukraine, 22 April) Yngve Hallen at the helm. Aleksandra Pejkovska (FYR Macedonia, Claudine Brohet (Belgium, 22 April) 5 April) Roland Tis (Belgium, 23 April) • Following the resignations of the Vencel Tóth (Hungary, 6 April) Mehmet Binnet (Turkey, 23 April) president and general secretary of Snježana Fočić (Croatia, 6 April) 50th Prune Rocipon (France, 23 April) the German Football Association, László Szalai (Hungary, 6 April) Nebojša Ivković (Serbia, 24 April) an electoral congress will be held on Pavol Peracek (Slovakia, 7 April) Avraham Luzon (Israel, 24 April) 15 April, with vice-presidents Rainer Jacques Devismes (France, 8 April) 80th Sandor Piller (Hungary, 24 April) Koch and Reinhard Rauball leading Jim Fleeting (Scotland, 8 April) İlker Yücesir (Turkey, 24 April) 50th the association in the interim. Peter Hegyi (Hungary, 8 April) Roy Millar (Northern Ireland, Yevgeniy Stolitenko (Ukraine, 8 April) 40th 25 April) Márton Esterházy (Hungary, 9 April) 60th Ladislav Svoboda (Czech Republic, 9 April) FORTHCOMING EVENTS Zoran Petrović (Serbia, 10 April) Gordon Pate (Scotland, 10 April) Panagiotis Tsarouchas (Greece, 10 April) Meetings Vlastibor Minarovjech Jr (Slovakia, 10 April) 4 April, Nyon 19 April, Nyon 26 April, Nyon Eduard Kindle (Liechtenstein, 10 April) Medical Committee Youth and Amateur Fair Play and Social Umberto Gandini (Italy, 11 April) Football Committee Responsibility Committee Kristiaan Van Der Haegen (Belgium, 11–15 April, Ljubljana 11 April) UEFA Grassroots Workshop 20 April, Nyon 29 April, Nyon Pierre Dumarché (France, 11 April) Finance Committee National Team Rodger Gifford (Wales, 12 April) 15 April, Nyon Competitions Committee Valeriu Ionita (Romania, 12 April) UEFA Champions League 21 April, Nyon François De Keersmaecker (Belgium, and UEFA Europa League: Stadium and Security 12 April) semi-final draws Committee António José F. Cardoso (Portugal, 12 April) Adrian Ixari (Moldova, 12 April) Paolo Piani (Italy, 13 April) Competitions Giovanni Spitaleri (Italy, 13 April) 5/6 and 12/13 April 12 April 23/24 and 30 April–1 May Edvinas Eimontas (Lithuania, 13 April) 40th UEFA Champions League: Futsal World Cup: European UEFA Women’s Champions Octavian Goga (Romania, 14 April) quarter-finals play-offs (return legs) League: semi-finals Georgios Bikas (Greece, 15 April) Erol Ersoy (Turkey, 15 April) 5–10 April 15–18 April, Nyon 26/27 April www.uefafoundation.org Antonius van Eekelen (Netherlands, European Women’s Under-19 UEFA Youth League: UEFA Champions League: 15 April) Championship: elite round final four semi-finals (first legs) Dušan Fitzel (Czech Republic, 15 April) Anders Hubinette (Sweden, 15 April) 7 and 14 April 21–24 April, 28 April Manuel Enrique Mejuto González (Spain, UEFA Europa League: Guadalajara (Spain) UEFA Europa League: 16 April) quarter-finals UEFA Futsal Cup: finals semi-finals (first legs)

UEFA DIRECT • April 2016 – 55

No. 156

APRIL 2016 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE UNION OF EUROPEAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATIONS NO TO RACISM

GAME CHANGER How football is giving amputees in Kabul a new lease of life No.156 2016 • April YOUTH THE EXECUTIVE LEAGUE TECHNICIAN COMMITTEE The finals return A revolution in sports Theodore Theodoridis to Nyon science at Leicester FC handed the reins