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3.05 Conference of presidents and general secretaries 03 European Club Forum 06 Meridian Cup in Turkey 10 Promoting local training 14 No. 35 – March 2005 No. 35 – March COVER IN THIS ISSUE World Cup qualifiers 08 The Meridian Cup gives young players like Spain’s Carmona (in red) Conference of presidents Meridian Cup 10 and general secretaries 03 and Egypt’s Ayman a unique opportunity to experience football Referee courses 05 Executive Committee decisions 14 from another continent. PHOTO: UEFA European Club Forum 06 News from member associations 17 It’sEditorial good to talk In the space of just a few days at the beginning of February, three important meetings were held at UEFA’s offices in Nyon: a session of its Executive Committee, an extraordinary conference of the presidents and gen- eral secretaries of the member associations, and the European Club Forum. A sign of the times, many of the subjects discussed at these meetings were of an economic nature, such as the sale of TV rights and the repositioning of certain competitions to raise their value. These eco- nomic questions are often closely linked to legal aspects, especially with regard to European legis- lation, which gives further weight to the argument that it is vital for the national associations to have the necessary knowledge and expertise in these fields in order to be able to deal with their part- ners on an equal footing. It is only in this way that the associations, which constitute the traditional basis of football, can fulfil their role of governing football as a whole in their respective territories, while defending the general interests and maintaining a balance between the different parties involved. The three meetings had one item in common – the promotion of the local training of players – and it was reassuring that the measures pro- posed and adopted by the Executive Committee largely met with a positive response from the conference delegates and forum participants. Not only is such consensus encouraging, it also demonstrates the importance of dialogue, since these measures are the result of wide con- sultation. It also shows a general awareness of the fact that after years of unrestrained developments a certain degree of control is now required. The same need was felt during the European Club Forum when players’ agents were discussed. By putting individual and immediate inter- ests first, a state of chaos has been allowed to develop in this area, to the advantage of third parties in particular. The European football family is not immune to the general rules. If it wants to be sure that others do not take it upon themselves to sort out its problems, then it had better put its affairs in order itself. And this requires dialogue, mutual respect and understanding above all else. Lars-Christer Olsson Chief Executive we care about football 02 uefadirect 3.05 Presidents and General Secretaries Strengthening the national associations UEFA-PRALONG AN EXTRAORDINARY CONFERENCE OF THE PRESIDENTS question of taking initiatives so that the national associations remained in AND GENERAL SECRETARIES OF UEFA MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS WAS HELD control of football. AT UEFA HEADQUARTERS IN NYON ON 3 FEBRUARY. Jacob Erel, head of UEFA’s new National Associations division, The Kazakhstan FA was the Geoffrey Thompson, UEFA presented the Top Executive Pro- only association absent from the con- vice-president and chairman of the gramme, which is based on the fol- ference, the main aim of which was to Executive Committee’s National Asso- lowing ten points: present the Top Executive Programme ciations Working Group, said that the ■ national association management; (TEP) intended for the presidents and role of the national associations ■ relations with national authorities; general secretaries or Chief Executives needed to be clearly defined. They also ■ commercial/marketing management; of the member associations. In his needed to be well organised, well ■ information technology; opening speech, the UEFA President structured and always seeking to im- ■ relations and cooperation with placed the new programme in the cur- prove. He also stressed the impor- other sports entities; rent context of European football, tance of transparency, solidarity and ■ human resources, qualification where the massive influx of financial dialogue. The national associations of staff; resources had led to a shift in power should recognise the needs of the ■ setting of targets and long-term from the national associations to the leagues but also ensure continuity. strategies; leagues and clubs. It was therefore UEFA Chief Executive Lars- ■ financing, budgeting and necessary to redress the balance and Christer Olsson also advocated dia- accounting; help restore the importance of the logue. He said that the proposed pro- ■ project management; national associations, which were the gramme was not a training pro- ■ media relations, communication foundation on which UEFA was built. gramme but one of action; it was a and public relations. 03 The Executive Committee and the UEFA Chief Executive. UEFA-PRALONG The programme is designed to This initial phase will prepare the way new training (grassroots football meet the specific needs of each associ- for visits to 25 other associations administrators, fitness coaches, etc.) ation. It will begin in March 2005 with between May and October this year. and management courses (IT, PR, visits to three pilot associations (Den- Once the needs have been security, etc.) will be added to the mark, FYR Macedonia and Slovakia) by identified, a tailor-made programme existing refereeing, coaching and members of the Executive Committee will be devised for each association, medical courses. and senior UEFA administrators, who including three modules (strategic and will gather all the information neces- financial management; relationship Under-21s, referees, licences sary to determine their specific needs. management, PR and marketing; man- and agents aging human resources, technology and Various other topics were change). Held in Nyon, each module also addressed at the conference. will be attended, in principle, by dele- The delegates noted the plans to Encouraging gates from five national associations, amend the calendar of the European youth training with the first module planned for the Under-21 Championship, the final second half of 2005. In total, there will round of which would be played in The presidents and general be around 30 modules lasting two to odd-numbered years, starting in secretaries had already heard about three days, spread over a two- to three- 2007, in order to enhance the value UEFA’s plans to protect the training year period. of the competition. of young players at their conference The working method will They expressed interest in in Lisbon in July last year, and while promote dialogue and exchanges of the plan, but were also concerned in Nyon, they were informed about views and experiences. Experts and about the increased costs and logisti- the rule adopted by the Executive well-known personalities will also be cal complications of separating the Committee the previous day (see involved. Under-21 and senior competitions. page 14). The top executives largely In parallel with and comple- The participants also heard welcomed the decision, and many menting the Top Executive Programme, about the UEFA Convention on also stressed the need to protect UEFA will continue its HatTrick pro- Referee Education and Organisation the training clubs, which were often gramme with a special emphasis on approved by the Executive Committee “stripped” of the fruits of their education. CHF 20 million has been set the previous day. training efforts. aside for the 2004–2008 period and Regarding the introduction of the UEFA club licence at national level, the participants preferred the option of voluntary implementation rather than a compulsory measure enshrined in the UEFA Statutes. Before a presentation of the current advantages and prospects for the future development of the extranet system, which enables the national associations to exchange information with each other and with UEFA, the delegates were asked by Giangiorgio Spiess, Executive Com- mittee member, to use UEFA-licensed agents (of which there are currently 74) to organise friendly matches and tournaments involving their UEFA-PRALONG national teams. 04 uefadirect 3.05 Fitness Referees tests and find mass discussions. confrontations hard to cope with. UEFA UEFA D. AQUILINA from Spain and German attacker Hansi Müller. Understandably, much Referee courses of the debating focused on topics that were on the agenda for the immi- nent meeting of the International Football Association Board and which, in Antibes by the time you read these lines, may have become reality rather than Acting against actors talking points. But players and referees pin- WITH VOLKER ROTH CALLED TO NYON FOR A MEETING OF UEFA COMMITTEE pointed two areas of special concern: ‘CHAIRPERSONS’, IT WAS LARS-ÅKE BJÖRCK WHO WAS IN THE CHAIR AT THE PRESS simulation and the amount of holding CONFERENCE WHICH ROUNDED OFF THE ANNUAL REFEREE COURSES STAGED and shirt-pulling in the penalty area. Both, they felt, require a concerted THIS YEAR FROM 31 JANUARY TO 3 FEBRUARY IN ANTIBES IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE. effort by players, coaches, media and supporters if they are to be erradicated “What struck me forcibly,” intends to manage the technical area and prevented from tarnishing the he commented, “was that, when the – and the team decides which points image of the game. Simulation is doubly new referees arrived for the 14th need to be raised at the organisation damaging as a player’s attempt to Introductory Course, they looked like meeting on the morning of the match. deceive the referee frequently leads to athletes; they were highly moti- Referees, like coaches and players, one of the other situations which the vated, willing to learn and very well also do their homework, and Pierluigi referees find disturbing – mass con- prepared.” Collina usually watches at least four frontations.

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