4.03 Rome Congress 03 CEO to step down 07 UEFA Futsal Cup 08 Finals in Manchester and Seville 10 no. 13 – april 2003 no. 13 COVER IN THIS ISSUE The Romanian heroes The official EURO 2004 of Seville 12 XXVII Ordinary UEFA Congress 03 Under-17s head for Portugal 15 mascot, Kinas, was unveiled Gerhard Aigner to step down 07 at the end of March 2004 finals in Germany in Porto, on the occasion Final of the UEFA Futsal Cup 08 and Sweden 16 of a friendly match between Manchester looks forward to hosting News from member Portugal and Brazil. the UEFA Champions League final 10 associations 18 PHOTO: UEFA-BOZZANI assistingeditorial the development of the game Although the general economic picture is not so rosy, UEFA was pleased to be able to present a new assistance programme to the Congress in Rome, making significant financial resources available to its 52 member associations. The 400 million Swiss francs being offered to the national associations comes out of the revenue earned from the increasingly popular European Championship. As announced to the congress dele- gates by UEFA’s treasurer, Mathieu Sprengers, this money will fund a new assistance programme, HatTrick, which replaces the existing programmes, as explained in more detail inside this issue. UEFA’s principle has always been to put the money made by its major competitions back into football. The new assistance programme not only remains true to this principle, but will also ensure that the money is really spent on developing football and improving its infrastructures. All aspects of the HatTrick programme are compatible with these criteria, whether it be grants to cover participation in youth and women’s competitions, encouraging the creation of mini-pitches as part of UEFA’s golden jubilee, contributing to new projects that meet the requirements laid down in a charter, or financial assistance to set up a club licensing system, a measure which itself is intended to strengthen football. The HatTrick scheme should make a substantial contribution towards enabling the associations to accomplish their task of controlling and developing football throughout their respective territories and in the general The development of grassroots football interests of the game. is crucial for the prosperity of football. And what better way to defend the general interests than by measures targeting grassroots football in particular. Gerhard Aigner Chief Executive RBIS TEMPSPORT CO we care about football 02 uefadirect 4.03 ordinary new assistanceUEFA programmecongress The XXVII Congress took place at the Cavalieri Hilton in Rome. UEFA-MEZZELANI THE XXVII ORDINARY UEFA CONGRESS WAS HELD IN ROME ON 27 MARCH, Three-point programme WITH UEFA PRESIDENT LENNART JOHANSSON IN THE CHAIR. On the financial front, having approved the accounts for the 2001/02 Although there were no to Congress was unanimously financial year and the raw budget elections on the agenda this time adopted: starting from the 2004 for 2003/04, the Congress also unan- round, this general assembly of Congress, to be held in Cyprus imously endorsed a new assistance delegates from the 52 UEFA mem- on 22 and 23 April, the Executive programme, presented by treasurer ber associations (all represented in Committee will be authorised to Mathieu Sprengers and open to all Rome) nevertheless tackled, in the appoint one or two additional mem- national associations. This programme form of a proposed amendment bers as long as a three-quarters will replace the existing assistance to the Statutes, an issue closely majority of members agree that the schemes, i.e. the East European connected to elections: the bal- geographical split is insufficiently Assistance Bureau (EEAB), the Kiosk anced geographical representation balanced. Its decision will not be programme and stadium grants. of the national associations within taken on the day of the Congress, at It also replaces the UEFA Champions the UEFA Executive Committee and its constituent meeting, but at its League solidarity payments. how this balance could be protected first ordinary session. The additional Known as “HatTrick”, this without infringing upon the prin- member(s) will be elected by a programme will provide a total of ciples of a totally democratic, direct simple majority. They will not have CHF 400 million in financial assistance, election. the right to vote, but will be entitled funded from the profits of EURO 2004 The response drafted by the to participate in all debates. They that are already guaranteed through Executive Committee and proposed will serve a renewable two-year term. contracts that have been signed. words from the congress The congress began by HatTrick, as its title suggests, The annual solidarity pay- honouring the memory of the servants of European football comprises three main elements: ments are broken down into a basic who passed away in 2002. a) direct financial support grant of CHF 500,000, a payment FIGC President Franco Carraro through a twofold system of annual of CHF 250,000 for the implemen- then welcomed the partici- solidarity payments spread over four tation of the club licensing scheme pants to Rome for the sixth and an additional CHF 250,000 UEFA general assembly to years and one-off grants; for participation in UEFA youth and be held in the Eternal City. He recalled b) payments for the building women’s competitions. that it was 30 years ago exactly since of mini-pitches as part of UEFA’s the Congress had elected Artemio The latter sum is reduced golden jubilee; and Franchi, an unforgettable figure of Italian for associations which do not enter and European football, as UEFA’s presi- c) educational support. one or more of these competitions. dent. Returning to the present and, more precisely, to UEFA’s role today, he said, “UEFA must allow the big asso- aside from the ciations to show their potential, but, at the same time, it has to safeguard the sporting rights of all 52 UEFA member ■ Shortly after the congress, Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi associations”. received a UEFA delegation headed by the UEFA President at the Quirinal Listing the key tasks ahead of UEFA, Palace. Mr Johansson was accompanied by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter. the president of the Italian Football FIGC President Franco Carraro was the first to thank Mr Ciampi, stressing Federation singled out relations with the the importance of football. After mentioning the possibility of Italy bidding European Union, concluding that, “As to host the final round of the European Championship in 2012, Mr Carraro citizens, we certainly all want the Euro- concluded, “We shall continue to do our utmost to ensure that football pean Union to be expanded and strength- helps assert European identity and sets a positive example to all young ened. And as sportspeople, we want people who play the game and follow it keenly”. dialogue between the EU and our organi- Speaking on behalf of UEFA’s 52 member associations, Mr Johansson sation to be based on the premise of the thanked Mr Ciampi and emphasised Italy’s contribution to the history recognition of the specificity of sport”. of football. “I know what football means to the Italian people and, on behalf of UEFA, I would like to say how much we appreciate what you have already given to the football community as a whole.” FIFA President Joseph Mr Ciampi stressed how important football is for young people. S. Blatter remarked that He also pointed to the urgent need to resolve two critical problems: the “something has changed since we last met in Stockholm”, financial difficulties and violence at matches. adding, “We all have a respon- sibility to take care of football”. ■ Two days After mentioning some of before the congress, the the achievements and topical UEFA President awarded issues (co-ordinated calendar, fight a special prize to Nils against doping, fight against discrimina- Liedholm in recognition tion, and artificial turf), Mr Blatter paid of his exceptional career tribute to the referees, stressing that as a player and coach. “We depend on the good control of match- After playing for Norr- es”. He also commended dialogue with köping, Liedholm moved the social and political partners, to Italy to join AC Milan, and not just with economic partners, and where he became one finished his address by stating, “Europe element of the famous plays a key role in football. Thank you Grenoli trio with his UEFA and its national associations”. UEFA-MEZZELANI 04 uefadirect 4.03 The The logo Executive of the new Committee assistance on either programme. side of the UEFA President. UEFA-MEZZELANI In total, each association r esolution for a legal is therefore entitled to CHF 1 million framework per year for the 2004-08 period. “European football has again reached a crucial moment in its relations with the European Union,” said Per Omdal, UEFA vice-president, before going on to explain to the delegates at the XXVII Ordinary Congress that “The new New project challenge we face today concerns the legal basis of sport in the EU Treaty”. Recalling that the Convention on the In addition to this, a one-off Future of Europe had already begun drafting the payment of up to CHF 2.5 million EU’s new Constitutional Treaty and that Euro- is available to each association pean leaders would be debating this document throughout 2004, Per Omdal commented that to pay for the improvement of their “It is no exaggeration to say that the outcome football infrastructure. of the discussions and the nature of the final text may have profound implications for the future of sport in Europe”. UEFA-MEZZELANI The UEFA vice-president pointed out that congress UEFA’s objective, shared by its member associations, was to ensure that the Treaty provided a legal framework for sport that recognised the specific nature of sport and protected the autonomy of European sport’s governing bodies so that they could work on a clear, stable basis.