UEFAdirect-85-E 17.4.2009 14:31 Page 1 5.09 Including 33rd Ordinary UEFA Congress in Copenhagen 03 11 guiding principles 04 7 new UEFA Executive Committee members 07 Grassroots workshop in Hamburg 09 No 58 – Février 2007 85 May 2009 UEFAdirect-85-E 17.4.2009 14:31 Page 2 Message Photos: UEFA-pjwoods.ch of the president Shared values A congress is certainly not as glamorous as a final or an exciting match in one of the UEFA competitions, but it is nevertheless an important event in the life of our organisation. Not only does it give representatives of all our member associations an opportunity to air their views on the current issues in European football and exchange opinions and experiences. More importantly, it strengthens the ties that bind our organisation. As the governing body of a team sport, we are ideally placed to understand the importance of cohesion within a team. We also know that the attention paid to the regular, first-choice players must not cause the substitutes to be neglected, because it is the atmosphere and harmony within the team as a whole which is often one of the keys to its success. In the same way, after elections, we are right to congratulate those who are elected, but it is also important not to forget those who missed out and those who, for whatever reason, did not stand for election. IN THIS ISSUE This is why UEFA has a system of committees and panels, so that everyone can make their voice heard within European football, and why we also invite all the 33rd Ordinary UEFA Congress members of the European football family – the associations, leagues, clubs and in Copenhagen 03 players – to join the dialogue. 11 guiding principles 04 UEFA is not just its president and Executive Committee, even if it is they you UEFA and FIFA Executive must take the decisions at the end of the day. Committee elections 07 UEFA is a large family whose policy is “football first”, one of the 11 values Under-17 final round in Germany 08 which I presented to the congress and which received the unanimous support of all Grassroots workshop delegates. in Hamburg 09 This unanimity on the key principles that should guide our work is quite The history of the UEFA Cup 10 clearly a solid foundation from which to take up, together, the challenges that await UEFA Executive Committee us in the months ahead. For this reason, the UEFA Congress in Copenhagen really meeting in Copenhagen 12 was an important event for our organisation. News from member associations 16 COVER Michel Platini The UEFA Champions League UEFA President is reaching its climax, with the final in Rome on 27 May. Ariel Ibagaza of Villarreal shields the ball from Arsenal’s Alexandre Song in the first leg of the quarter-finals. Photo: Getty Images 02 uefadirect 5.09 UEFAdirect-85-E 17.4.2009 14:31 Page 3 Ordinary UEFA Congress in Copenhagen NewNew facesfaces onon thethe ExecutiveExecutive CommitteeCommittee UEFA-pjwoods.ch THE 33RD ORDINARY UEFA CONGRESS TOOK PLACE AT THE BELLA CENTER IN a sign of openness and a fantastic challenge.” COPENHAGEN ON 25 MARCH UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE UEFA PRESIDENT, ■ Financial fair play: “We MICHEL PLATINI, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF THE FIFA PRESIDENT, JOSEPH S. BLATTER, have decided to create a club financial control panel, which will begin its REPRESENTATIVES OF THE OTHER FOOTBALL CONFEDERATIONS, UEFA HONORARY activities later this year. And this is just MEMBERS, THE DELEGATES OF UEFA’S MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS AND GUESTS. the first step, since we will be studying, with you and your clubs, stricter rules After a minute’s silence in main promises, thanks to you and to aimed at guaranteeing the integrity of memory of the members of the foot- the Executive Committee… Such a our competitions.” ball family who had passed away balance sheet particularly enables us to ■ Transfer of minors: since the last UEFA Congress in Zagreb, see what has not yet been accom- “It is for moral and ethical reasons the UEFA president opened the pro- plished and to realise that we still face that we must succeed in persuading ceedings by presenting a review of many challenges!”, he said. the political institutions to allow us to the first two years of his presidency, prohibit the international transfer of mentioning the many achievements, Four priorities under-18s.” from the resumption of dialogue with The UEFA president then ■ Betting: “Illegal betting FIFA to closer relations with the Euro- singled out the four challenges that he can kill our sport. If results are fixed in pean Union institutions, as well as considered priorities for the months advance, football has no further rea- the restructuring of the UEFA club ahead. son to exist. This is why, as we wait for competitions and the expansion of the ■ EURO 2012: “It is a deci- the public authorities to fully grasp the European Football Championship sion that we must and want to imple- situation and deal with it properly – final round. ment … because this European because these, we should remember, “This balance sheet shows, I Championship final round is a message are criminal activities – the UEFA Execu- hope, that I have managed to keep my of hope, an investment in the future, tive Committee has decided to set 03 UEFAdirect-85-E 17.4.2009 14:31 Page 4 The general secretary, Opening adresses David Taylor, presented a positive Carina Christensen, Denmark’s financial outlook minister of culture, welcomed the for the years ahead. participants on behalf of the Danish government. She announced that 2009 was the Year UEFA-pjwoods.ch of Sport in Den- mark and that the UEFA Congress up a fraud prevention and detection received the unanimous support of the was one of the system. member associations. key events taking “One thing is certain … UEFA The congress then approved place there during will provide you with an effective tool. the reports of the UEFA president, the year. She also It will then be up to you to persuade Executive Committee and administra- stressed the impor- your public authorities to tackle the tion for 2007/08, a year that stood tance of football in Danish society problem head-on because we need out for the resounding success of and said that although the sports to cooperate with the courts and the EURO 2008. movement most often knew what police if we are to eradicate this was best for it, there were never- problem for good.” Sound financial situation theless also issues that it could not The president closed his That success certainly con- solve by itself, for example doping address by listing 11 principles that tributed to the satisfactory financial and match-fixing. Her words were echoed by the could “help us to reaffirm our values situation that Marios N. Lefkaritis, FIFA president, Joseph S. Blatter, who in these troubled times” and which UEFA vice-president and chairman of began his address by stressing the should “represent a useful basis for the Finance Committee, was able to importance of the our future discussions with the politi- present. Although the general eco- autonomy of sport cal, economic, social and sporting nomic context is no cause for celebra- and the threats worlds,” (see below). These principles tion, on the whole the financial fore- posed to it by interference from different direc- tions: “What The 11 gui would happen to sport if, all over 1 ● Football first so that the Executive Committee can the world, supranational organisa- In everything that we do, take the right decisions. And we will tions were to interfere in it directly? football must always be the first and aim for closer relations with football Leave sport, leave football alone,” most important element that we take fans, without whom there would be he said, adding that there were, how- into consideration. Football is a game no professional game. ever, “areas where sport needed the before being a product, a sport before political authorities,” citing corrup- ● tion, doping and financial fair play being a market, a show before being 4 Good governance as examples. a business. and autonomy Concluding his address, the FIFA UEFA and its member asso- president called for solidarity: “The 2 ● Pyramid structure ciations are committed to good economic crisis is affecting everyone. and subsidiarity governance. Good governance means The second wave will affect all of us, At international and European openness, democracy, transparency and solidarity is called for (…) Foot- level, the autonomy of sport is reflected and responsibility. In this spirit, UEFA ball is a means of integrating people by the pyramid structure of football. defends the autonomy of sports struc- and bringing them closer together FIFA, UEFA and the national associations tures, so that football bodies – with (…) We can make the world a better work hand in hand, while respecting national associations in the lead – are place, with your help.” Allen Hansen, president of the the principle of subsidiarity. This allows the ultimate decision-makers in matters Danish Football Association, high- us to defend the interests of football in concerning football, with no undue lighted the impor- the best possible way. interference from governments. tance of football in his country, 3 ● Unity and leadership 5 ● Grassroots football where, with 1,600 UEFA does not act by dictat. and solidarity clubs and 300,000 We will continue to show strong Football is based on the grass players, including leadership but operate in a spirit of roots, played everywhere by men and 61,000 women, it consensus. In addition to the national women, boys and girls.