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UEFA steps into Charleroi case

/noticias.info/ by Adam Szreterfrom Brussels

Representatives from 35 UEFA member associations gathered yesterday and today at the headquarters of the Belgian Football Association in the shadows of the King Baudouin stadium to appraise themselves of all the issues of joint concern to both UEFA and the European Union.

Oulmers injury
The court case brought by Belgian club R. Charleroi SC against the world governing body was among the first items on the agenda. Charleroi are claiming compensation from FIFA because one of their players, Abdelmajid Oulmers, returned injured from an international friendly match for Morocco last year.

Release of players
"As far as UEFA competitions are concerned, FIFA regulations concerning the release of players for international matches apply as well," said Gianni Infantino, UEFA's Director of Legal Services. "We believe that the FIFA rules are sports rules which make the national team competitions happen, and that without these rules competitions could not take place.

UEFA intervention
"As a consequence this has a significant impact on UEFA as well as all of its member associations, and therefore UEFA has decided to formally intervene in the case in support of FIFA because the case has great significance for the future of football."

'Very happy'
There was unanimous backing for UEFA's stance among the delegates. "We have to see what the Charleroi case will bring but I am very happy to see the effort that UEFA is making to address the problems of European football and relations with the European community as a whole," said Sofoklis Pilavios, president of the Hellenic Football Federation's International Relations Committee.

Football circle
Richard Corbett MEP, a member of UEFA's Friends of Football circle, opened the seminar by assuring delegates that UEFA, through its Brussels office, has made its presence felt strongly and positively in EU circles in recent years.

'Reflection period'
Bernd Biervert, representing the cabinet of Jan Figel, EU Commissioner for Education and Culture, underlined the increasing importance of sport to society as a whole by saying that sport is set to play a significant role in the official "reflection period" for the recently rejected EU Treaty.

Strong support
Jonathan Hill, head of UEFA's Brussels office, explained that around 60 per cent of his team's time had been taken up by the locally trained players issue and stressed that there was now strong support among European politicians for UEFA's proposals.

Grassroots project
Delegates were also informed about UEFA's Position Papers on EU policy, as well as being given practical advice on how to work with politicians for the benefit of football and society as a whole, using UEFA's mini-pitch project as an example of how to work hand in hand with the community.

'Local level'
"It was very inspiring because the national associations were given several ideas about how to approach politicians on a national and local level," said Petr Fousek, general secretary of the Football Association of the Czech Republic. "It is probably working well in some countries, but there is always something new you can bring to your work."

Political questions
"It was very interesting to hear about UEFA's position on a number of issues," said Liutauras Varanavicius, president of the Lithuanian Football Federation. "Usually those are the things that local politicians are questioning, what is all the money being used for and so on, so it is good to know what to say to local people in power and in the European Union." notas_de_prensa_archivo