12.0 5 Supplement TEP programme launched 03 World Cup qualifiers 05 General secretaries meet in Nyon 12 EURO 2012 short list 14 No 44 – December 2005 COVER IN THIS ISSUE Eleven questions for Per Ravn Omdal 09 The UEFA Champions League group Women’s Football Conference 10 matches are reaching their conclusion. Top Executive Programme 03 The contest is particularly close General secretaries meet in Nyon 12 World Cup qualifiers 05 in Group E, which includes Schalke 04 EURO 2012 in the spotlight 14 (Mladen Krstajic, in blue) and Fenerbahce (Luciano). Draw in Leipzig 08 News from member associations 16 PHOTO: KOEPSEL/BONGARTS/GETTY IMAGES From oneEditorial anniversary to another Following on from its golden jubilee celebrations last year, UEFA is presently commemorating 50 years of European club competitions. As an oppor- tunity to pay tribute to the founders of our organisation and of its competitions, these celebrations recall the early days of UEFA and the launch of what were to become its most prestigious competitions: the European Champion Clubs’ Cup (UEFA Champions League) and the European Football Championship. 2005 also marks another anniver- sary, that of a ruling which shook European football: in December 1995, the Euro- pean Court of Justice issued its verdict in the Bosman case and put an end not only to the transfer system in place at that time, but also to the limitation on the number of foreign players, in the name of the free movement of workers within the European Union. The Bosman ruling is certainly not the cause of all the evils afflicting European football but it did away with safeguards that the game’s leaders had established quite consciously, not to raise football above EU legislation, but to preserve the special nature of the game and to prevent exploitation. Since then, transfers have mushroomed and the masses of money flowing into the game have accentuated this tendency, gradually depriving clubs of their local identity. Some astute clubs have taken advantage of this enlargement of the market to reach unprecedented heights, but they are in a minority. Generally speaking, the gap between the rich and the less well-off has widened, a phenomenon which can be nothing but detrimental on the competi- tions, making them less interesting. There is no point in calling the Bosman ruing into question; it would be a waste of time to do so. What matters is learning from the past and from the Bosman ruling and, as a result, maintaining close dialogue with the Euro- pean Union in order to be able to convince its leaders of the special nature of our game and of the challenges issues facing it. Such dialogue is already on the right track, but if football’s arguments are to be clearly heard and under- stood, then it has to speak with one voice – like in favour of the training and protection of youth players. A united stand is a persuasive force. Lars-Christer Olsson Chief Executive Football development is an absolute priority. EMPICS/UEFA we care about football 02 uefadirect 12.05 Top ExecutiveA need Programmefor change UEFA deliberately opted for an informal atmosphere. UEFA UEFA’S NEW TOP EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME (TEP) IS DESIGNED round tables and subsequent proj- TO STRENGTHEN THE ROLE OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND IMPROVE ects and courses. Projects will be based on the outcome of these dis- THEIR ABILITY TO ACT. THE PROJECT SWUNG INTO ACTION cussions and will be repeated regu- WITH AN INITIAL SERIES OF ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSIONS NEAR GENEVA. larly on a cyclical basis. In order to launch this The Top Executive Programme tions division. One important pillar dynamic process, UEFA invited the aims to help the associations in their of the programme is the exchange of presidents and general secretaries role as decision-makers and the gov- information. Using a database, round- of five associations with similar erning bodies of football in their own table discussions, personal consulta- needs to the first of three series of country. UEFA decided to create the tions and further training courses, the round tables in October and Novem- programme because of changes in the aim is to set in motion a dynamic ber. In order to ensure the talks European football landscape in recent process which will benefit all parties: were as open and interactive as pos- years. “European clubs and leagues if the associations’ top executives can sible, UEFA deliberately described have become more professional. We clearly explain the needs of their or- the meetings as informal, with no must gain some respect. Our member ganisation, middle managers will also reports, presentations or dress associations need to be able to make be in a better position to do their jobs. code. It also emphasised that, al- decisions and their authority must though the TEP had been launched no longer be challenged,” said Geoffrey A dynamic process at UEFA’s initiative, the associations Thompson, a UEFA vice-president and So what are the needs of the would play an essential role in shap- chairman of the Executive Committee’s national associations? The UEFA Ad- ing the programme. “There is huge National Associations working group. ministration visited 27 medium-sized potential here, but our mutual The TEP is coordinated by the associations in order to gather the success depends on your partici- recently created UEFA National Associa- necessary information and to plan the pation in these discussions,” said 03 Active The discussions. UEFA Chief Executive, Lars-Christer Olsson, opens the round table. UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer effective marketing strategy, an asso- Olsson at the opening of the discus- ciation can kill two birds with one sions. “We are here to assist you, stone by increasing its income at the but ultimately you will have to solve same time as reducing its costs. the problems yourselves”. Associations which have ad- A clear separation of tasks, duties ditional financial resources find it and responsibilities is essential.“ Potential for improvement easier to pursue a second important The presidents and general After this opening message, objective: youth development. For secretaries in attendance agreed. the presidents and general secretaries example, they can invest in national One president thought that the were asked to list their most pressing youth academies and other develop- associations were not professional needs, i.e. the areas in which they ment programmes, which have long- enough and lacked the necessary would like support or advice. These term benefits for the senior national expertise to keep up with the pro- were then divided into categories in team. Then, if the national team is fessional leagues. The current com- which they could be tackled. successful, more money becomes mittee structures were also consid- One area in which the national available for football development. ered to be a hindrance. Everyone associations definitely want and have agreed on one thing: the necessary to improve is marketing. With an Internal organisation resources were lacking and outside Internal organisation, another help was needed. Clear progress core aspect of the TEP, was recog- had been made in areas in which in- nised as being essential to an associ- vestment had been possible thanks ation’s ability to perform better. The to state subsidies or the UEFA round table began by looking at this HatTrick programme. The top exec- subject. The UEFA Chief Executive utives were therefore very grateful referred to the success of UEFA’s for UEFA’s support and praised the internal reorganisation as part of the mini-pitch project in particular. FORCE project in 2000 and said that this was a recipe for success that the First step taken associations could follow: “You Many associations have a shouldn’t think: I’ve never done this long way to go in order to achieve The needs of the associations were noted… before, so why should I start now? the goal of becoming more profes- sional and efficient, with numerous ... then shared. courses and consultations ahead of them. However, feedback on the launch of the TEP has been very positive, which augurs well. It should be remembered that this is a brand- new programme, which the associa- tions will take a while to get used to. However, everyone agrees that fundamental changes are required. Lars-Christer Olsson summed it up perfectly: “We cannot change the balance of power just by amend- ing our statutes. We need to recog- nise our own qualities as a means for us to compete, and put them PHOTOS: UEFA PHOTOS: into practice!” 04 uefadirect 12.05 Ukraine (goalkeeper Holland and Oleksander Shovkovski the Czech Republic and defender have met Serhiy Fedorov) were the several times in first team to qualify. recent years. SHLAMOV/APF/GETTY IMAGES KLAMAR/APF/GETTY IMAGES 2006 FIFA World Cup A first and several expected qualifications TEN EUROPEAN NATIONAL TEAMS HAD ALREADY QUALIFIED FOR THE WORLD CUP BY THE END OF THE GROUP PHASE, WHILE THE OTHER SIX HAVE BEEN CONTESTING THE PLAY-OFFS FOR THE THREE REMAINING PLACES. It was a tense struggle in Ukraine, managed by the great former dynamic group. The 2002 World almost every group, the outcome re- striker Oleg Blokhin, who also won the Cup “bronze medallists”, who bene- maining undecided until the very end. Ballon d’Or in 1975, have qualified for fited greatly from Fatih Terim’s In the run-up to the draw to be held in a major final tournament for the first return to the dugout in spring 2005, Leipzig on 9 December, we look back time in their history. In fact they were pipped Denmark and reigning Euro- at nearly 18 months of this exciting the first European nation to secure pean champions Greece at the post.