2.02 1 European Club Forum 03 Real Madrid triumph in Tokyo 05 Futsal Conference 06 EURO 2008 hosts designated 12 no 09 – december 2002 the UEFA President’s message Christmas 2002 2002 has been an exciting time for football fans all over the world. Of course for the global game the highlight has to have been the World Cup finals in Japan and Korea this summer, when Brazil were crowned world champions for the fifth time. This first FIFA World Cup to be played on Asian soil was clear proof of the extraordinary popularity of football, and the host countries both played a huge role in helping to make the tournament such a success. Although Europe did not produce the winning team, our continent was well represented on and off the field and we can congratulate Germany on reaching the final and Turkey on finishing right behind them in third place. We should also remind ourselves that Belgium won the less prestigious, but very important fair play award – important because, although football is a sport above all and competitive by nature, it must also – on account of its very popularity – promote values such as respect, good manners and solidarity. Away from the World Cup, Europe’s national football associations, and UEFA itself, have also made every effort to promote those values. To single out just a few of the activities undertaken by UEFA in this direction, we have launched a new fair play campaign based on the notion of RESPECT, and initiated further action to eradicate racism in football, by giving financial support to the FARE network (Football Against Racism in Europe) and issuing a ten-point plan of action. At the same time, UEFA continues to acknowledge fair play in all our youth competitions with fair UEFA play trophies, as well as through the overall fair play competition, which rewards sportsmanship with places in the UEFA Cup. Football UEFA has also been pursuing its policy to guarantee a healthy and balanced game. In this respect, work on the introduction of the club licensing amenities are being system is forging ahead, the assistance programmes are preparing to “ expand their scope to embrace all UEFA member associations, and co-opera- improved all over tion with the African Football Confederation (CAF) and its member asso- ciations is ongoing. On the solidarity front, UEFA Champions League revenue Europe, unprecedented has again benefited the whole of European football, and the validity attention is being of its central marketing concept has even been recognised by the European Commission, with whom we have developed a very healthy dialogue. given to the quality Apart from that, football amenities are being improved all over Europe, unprecedented attention is being given to the quality of training and of training and education, and the importance of preparing the next generation is accepted education, and the everywhere. All of which combines to produce a picture of European football at importance of the end of 2002 which is pleasing in many respects, and I would like to thank everyone – players, officials and referees – who, in the course of this year, preparing the next have worked tirelessly for the development of our game, whether in the national associations, clubs, leagues or at UEFA level, in the committees, generation is accepted panels and other bodies. Looking ahead, there is plenty to be excited about in 2003. On the everywhere. field, there will be lots of action to keep the focus on European football, as the decisive phases of club and national team competitions alike draw near. In Seville and Manchester, next year’s UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League finals already promise to be exciting encounters, while, in the national team ” sector, the EURO 2004 qualifiers will be culminating before very long. And even now, the EURO 2008 final round is starting to take shape, with the hosts having just been designated after a bid campaign which was further proof of the desire to move forward across the length and breadth of our continent. So with all of this in mind I wish you and every fan of European football a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year! Lennart Johansson 02 uefadirect 12.02 COVER IN THIS ISSUE EURO 2008 hosts designated 12 Hertha BSC Berlin (Arne Friedrich) Draws 13 vs. FC Fulham in the third Real Madrid triumph in Tokyo 05 round of the current UEFA Cup, Announcements 15 a competition whose future Futsal Conference 06 is the subject of much discussion News from member at the moment. Meridian Cup in Egypt 07 associations 16 PHOTO: BONGARTS The club delegates in the auditorium at the House of European Football. UEFA-HIGUERAS Europeanon the Club right Forum track THE EUROPEAN CLUB FORUM HELD ITS SECOND PLENARY MEETING tives had a strong preference for a system of eight groups of five IN NYON ON 21 NOVEMBER, WITH KARL-HEINZ RUMMENIGGE (FC BAYERN MUNICH), teams (with each team playing CHAIRMAN OF THE FORUM BOARD, IN THE CHAIR. two home and two away games) rather than sixteen groups of three The most urgent item for concerned before the participants split (home and away matches). discussion was the possible reform of into four discussion groups to However, they hoped that UEFA the UEFA Cup, since the Executive express their opinions and points of would examine the commercial Committee was due to announce its view. Finally, everyone returned implications of introducing such decision on this subject a few weeks to the auditorium to hear the outcome a group-match phase. later. However, the agenda also included of the discussions. Furthermore, they could not agree other items, including media rights As far as the format of the on when the new structure should and the UEFA club licensing system for UEFA Cup was concerned, three options be brought in, with some hoping top professional clubs. were suggested to the participants. it could be introduced in 2003/04 The subjects were all dealt with The status quo was unanimously and others preferring to wait in the same manner: a report was given rejected in favour of the introduction another year so that the commercial to provide information about the issue of group matches. The club representa- side could be fine-tuned. UEFA-HIGUERAS Another idea which was well system, due to be introduced in the Forum received was a change to the calendar, 2004/05 season, would be brought members whereby, as far as possible, UEFA Cup in with the necessary flexibility. matches would not be played in They also called for good communi- The European Club the same weeks as UEFA Champions cation with the national associations. Forum is composed of 102 Euro- League games. Separating the two When asked for their opinion on an pean top-division clubs (plus competitions in this way should add expenditure control system recom- clubs admitted on the basis of value to the UEFA Cup which, in mended by a group of European past achievements). The number its present format, was suffering clubs, they expressed support for of clubs from each association from the fact that matches were the principle but were rather scepti- is determined by the classifica- played immediately after two evenings cal about how this type of “gentle- tion of national associations of UEFA’s flagship competition. man’s agreement” would work. drawn up by UEFA on the basis of their clubs’ results in the Guidelines being prepared Specific issues European club competitions. This On the subject of media The Forum also gave its figure varies from one to five. rights, the participants welcomed and views on a number of specific issues. The club(s) with the best commended the activities of a work- None of the participants saw any UEFA coefficient(s) from each ing group, which had been presented reason to increase the number national association is (are) by Peter Kenyon (Manchester of substitutes allowed to sit on the selected. If two clubs have the United, Vice-Chairman of the Forum bench (currently seven). However, same coefficient and only one Board). A set of guidelines, to be they thought that the question of qualifies for a UEFA competition, drawn up and submitted to the next friendly matches between national that club takes precedence. meeting of the European Club Forum, teams, particularly at interconti- However, if both clubs qualify, would be based on the principle nental level, should be discussed priority goes to the club that fin- that the exploitation of new-media in greater detail. ished higher in the last national rights should not compete with the “I am very pleased with championship. No club, whatever sale of television rights and that the the efficiency with which this work its coefficient, may be repre- clubs should only exploit products has been carried out and with sented in the Forum if it does not linked to their club and not to the which the Forum is operating, even play in its top national division. UEFA Champions League itself. though we are still in the learning Permanent membership The introduction of a Euro- phase,” said UEFA Chief Executive is awarded to clubs which pean club licensing system was unani- Gerhard Aigner. “We shall now have won a UEFA competition on mously welcomed as a positive step evaluate what we have heard in at least five occasions. likely to enhance the quality of Euro- preparation for the next meeting.” The Forum members pean football as a whole, although That meeting will be held serve a two-year mandate. the participants hoped that the new on 11 and 12 February 2003.