9.05 Spanish victory in the Regions’ Cup 03 France triumph in the men’s Under-19 Championship 06 Russia win first women’s title 08 UEFA Champions League revenue for the leagues 12 No. 41 – September 2005 – September No. 41 COVER IN THIS ISSUE Interview with Pierre Delaunay 10 The UEFA Intertoto Cup reaches its Basque Country wins the UEFA UEFA Champions League conclusion in August. Olympique revenue for the leagues 12 de Marseille (Sabri Lamouchi, Regions’ Cup 03 in foreground) qualified for one New-look Meridian Project 13 of the final matches at the expense Under-19 titles for France (men) of SS Lazio (Paolo di Canio). and Russia (women) 06 News from member associations 17 PHOTO: FLASH PRESS Respect for referees:Editorial a vital issue Mini-pitches, which originated in northern Europe before being introduced throughout the rest of the continent during UEFA’s Golden Jubilee year, are a welcome and effective response to the disappearance of open spaces in built-up areas and, in theory, give everyone the opportunity to play football – and other games – in a secure, purpose-built environment. In common with all grassroots players, those who play football on mini-pitches dream of emulating their heroes, even though they know that they will not all become another Zidane or Ronaldinho, or even make it to the professional grade. Similarly, the professionals could look to mini-pitch football to remember what football is really all about and to rekindle the enthusiasm that drove them when they still played at that level, where everybody knows that the game is meaningless if it is not played by the rules, despite there being no referee on the field. Therefore, the rules are respected, for pragmatic reasons more than anything else, and though disputes are bound to arise from time to time, they are soon resolved so that the game can continue. Professional football is lucky to have not only one referee but a whole team of referees to oversee a match. In addition, all those referees undergo specific, rigorous training to ensure that they are as fit as possible to officiate and that matches are played according to the Laws of the Game. It is totally unacceptable that some players defy the spirit of the game by treating the referee as a judge who can be influenced by protest or deceit. The one or two cases that have tainted refereeing recently are rare exceptions and in no way should they be allowed to call the integrity of the referee into question. Respecting the referee and his decisions is crucial for football, and the professionals, as well as their coaches and officials, need to realise that they have an example to set in this regard. Lars-Christer Olsson Chief Executive The idea of mini-pitches is to give everyone the possibility to enjoy playing football. IRISH FA we care about football 02 uefadirect 9.05 4th UEFA Regions’ Cup 2004/05 A spirit of fair play UEFA SOME 27 YEARS AFTER ORGANISING THE 29TH INTERNATIONAL YOUTH TOURNAMENT, was used in particular to complete the preparatory work, set up the tourna- POLAND PROVIDED THE SETTING FOR THE FINAL ROUND OF ANOTHER UEFA COMPETITION. ment headquarters, revisit all match stadiums and training grounds, finalise The Regions’ Cup is now the Cup final round is the crowning the room allocations, menu plan only UEFA representative competition moment for European amateur foot- and meeting facilities with the hotel, where the hosts of the final round do ball, offering purely amateur players and prepare the welcome procedure not qualify automatically but the opportunity to fulfil their both for the delegations and for must do so through their per- often lifelong dream of com- the official representatives from UEFA. formances on the field of play. peting on the international After their remarkable results in stage. Friendship, the exchange Saturday, 2 July the intermediary round, Poland of cultural and sporting values The Republic of Ireland and the Malopolska region and, of course, fair play remain Amateurs and Vasca arrived in the applied to stage the final round the raison d’être of the competi- late afternoon on Friday by plane. of the fourth edition of this European tion for all participants. The other six participants, travelling in amateur football championship. In The following account aims to their own coaches, arrived on Satur- December 2004, just seven months capture the special atmosphere of day. For some, it was a journey of over before the final tournament, the UEFA this competition. 2,000 km to Krakow. The teams used Executive Committee entrusted the this first day at the tournament venue Polish Football Association and its Wednesday, 29 June – to settle in, hold training sessions regional counterpart with the organi- Friday, 1 July and prepare for the following day’s sation of this event. The majority of the UEFA staff matches. It was a warm atmosphere at From January 2005, the Polish representatives arrived in Krakow on the hotel in the evening and it was FA, the Malopolska regional associa- Wednesday and were welcomed by clear that everybody was desperately tion and UEFA worked hard to prepare the local organising committee. The waiting for the referee’s whistle to get for this tournament. The Regions’ period before the arrival of the teams the tournament started. 03 Bulgarian Alain Arroyo Kiril Hristov scores the (left) attempts winning goal in to steal the final. the ball from Spaniard Lander Urigüen in the final. Sunday, 3 July ment hosts Malopolska. Once again, nament remained excellent. The A warm, sunny day was the almost 3,000 spectators came to teams carried on with their planned ideal setting for the teams to get into watch the elite of European amateur training sessions and continued action. Proszowice, Zabierzow, Brzesko football, making plenty of noise and their excursions to the many and Wolbrom hosted the eight teams creating a wonderful atmosphere. visitor attractions to be found in in their stadiums. The four matches With its second victory in the Malopolska region. produced victories for Vasca and Group B, Spanish team Vasca booked The highlight of today’s South-West Region-Sofia, giving them their place in the final. In the activities was the first-ever coaching the lead in their respective groups, evening, the tournament hotel was round table organised for this com- plus two draws and 13 goals. A total of alive with Basque songs and dances. petition, which was chaired by Jim 2,900 enthusiastic spectators attended In Group A, two teams – South- Boyce, UEFA Youth & Amateur Foot- these matches, creating a colourful, West Region-Sofia and Central ball Committee chairman, and Jozef friendly atmosphere at the grounds. Slovakia – still had a chance to qual- Venglos, vice-chairman of UEFA’s ify for the final. Technical Development Committee. Monday, 4 July The four matches played All the coaches were grateful to UEFA After their long journeys on today produced another 19 goals, for organising this competition for Friday and Saturday and the closely perhaps a sign of some fatigue Europe’s amateur players, agreeing contested matches on Sunday, all the starting to set in. unanimously that it gives the ama- participants were grateful for a rest teurs a new objective and encourages day. A few delegations took the Wednesday, 6 July them to remain within the football opportunity to go sightseeing in the The rain started to fall, pro- family. The coaches made the charming city of Krakow. viding welcome relief for the grounds following comments and proposals: The local organising com- that had suffered from the heat mittee and the UEFA Administration at the beginning of the tournament. ■ excellent organisation of continued their close cooperation, Despite this rather abrupt weather this final round by the Polish and ensuring that any technical hitches change, the atmosphere at the tour- Malopolska FAs; from the first match day were immedi- ately remedied. Results Tuesday, 5 July Group A Replacing Zabierzow as a match 3.7 Zabierzow South-West Region-Sofia – Brno 3-1 (1-1) venue, Libiaz welcomed the tourna- 3.7 Brzesko Malopolska – Central Slovakia 1-1 (1-1) 5.7 Proszowice Central Slovakia – Brno 6-0 (2-0) 5.7 Libiaz Malopolska – South-West Region-Sofia 0-4 (0-0) 7.7 Zabierzow Central Slovakia – South-West Region-Sofia 2-2 (0-0) 7.7 Wolbrom Brno – Malopolska 1-3 (1-1) 1. South-West Region-Sofia (BUL) 3210937 2. Central Slovakia (SVK) 3120935 3. Malopolska (POL) 3111464 4. Brno (CZE) 30032120 Group B 3.7 Proszowice Dacia – Republic of Ireland 1-1 (1-1) 3.7 Wolbrom Vasca – Kahovka-Kzeso 4-1 (2-0) 5.7 Brzesko Republic of Ireland – Kahovka-Kzeso 2-4 (2-0) 5.7 Wolbrom Dacia – Vasca 1-2 (0-1) 7.7 Brzesko Republic of Ireland – Vasca 3-1 (2-1) 7.7 Libiaz Kahovka-Kzeso – Dacia 3-1 (1-0) 1. Vasca (ESP) 3201756 2. Kahovka-Kzeso (UKR) 3201876 3. Republic of Ireland (IRL) 3111664 4. Dacia (ROU) 3012361 Final 9.7 Proszowice South-West Region-Sofia – Vasca 0-1 Malopolska won the fair play competition. 04 uefadirect 9.05 Jaroslav Sidlo The matches of Central attracted Slovakia (left) good crowds. against Piotr Stawarczyk from Poland. ■ 20 instead of 18 players per team The local organising com- The official part of the tour- for future final rounds; mittee and UEFA celebrated their nament was concluded with a final six-month cooperation with a dinner at the Proszowice stadium, ■ stricter controls regarding the joint visit to the famous Wieliczce but Vasca’s celebrations continued eligibility of players in order salt mine.