Media Release Route de Genève 46 Case postale Communiqué aux médias CH-1260 Nyon 2 Union des associations Tel. +41 22 994 45 59 européennes de football Medien-Mitteilung Fax +41 22 994 37 37 uefa.com [email protected] Date: 05/06/2003 No. 78 - 2003 Outcome from UEFA Players Panel meeting Strong endorsement for less matches and UEFA’s anti-racist stance The first meeting between members of the UEFA Executive Committee and the new UEFA Players Panel chaired by UEFA Executive Committee Vice-President Angel Maria Villar Llona took place today in Nyon at the House of European Football. The representatives of the UEFA Players Panel in attendance were, Sergei Aleinikov, Zvonimir Boban, Rune Bratseth, Emilio Butragueño, Giacinto Facchetti, Jean-Pierre Papin, Paul van Himst and Gianluca Vialli. Attendees from the UEFA Executive Committee included Henri Roemer and Dr. Michel D’Hooghe, who is also Chairman of the FIFA Sports Medical Committee, and UEFA CEO Gerhard Aigner. Also in attendance were Volker Roth, Chairman of the Referees Committee and UEFA Directors Andy Roxburgh and Mike Lee. After a morning of full and open discussion the panel members were in broad agreement on a number of key issues. In a discussion on fixture demands they concluded that the decision by UEFA to reduce the number of matches played in the UEFA Champions League starting in the 2003/04 season, by eliminating the second group phase, was in the interests of the players who are suffering physically due to the overload of matches in a season. They agreed that UEFA’s recent Unite Against Racism campaign was a positive message, that the game had a responsibility and duty to stand behind UEFA’s anti-racism message and that star players and ex-players should be seen to back the campaign. It was also agreed that the issue of fair play was an important one and that more should be done to promote this, particularly with restitution of the ball to an opposing team if the ball has been deliberately kicked out of play to allow a player to receive treatment. There were also discussions on the need for new guidelines on the interpretation of the offside law, particularly the meanings of ‘passive’ and ‘active’ offside, the change from the Golden Goal to the Silver Goal, as witnessed in the UEFA Cup final this year, and a positive endorsement for the foreseeable introduction of artificial turf in competitive European matches in the near future. Commenting on the meeting UEFA CEO, Gerhard Aigner, said: “Today we have had an open and positive discussion about footballing issues and for that I thank those members of the UEFA Players Panel who have contributed to the debate. There are many issues here which will need to be followed up and fed into our decision-making processes.” For further information: Mike Lee, Director of Communications and Public Affairs: ++41-79 250 53 71 UEFA Media Services: ++41-22 99 44 55 9 .