Fuente : UEFA
http://es.uefa.com/index.html

UEFA: UEFA look to grassroots

/noticias.info/ The issue of local training of players is a key item on the agenda at the XXIX Ordinary UEFA Congress, which takes place in Tallinn, Estonia today.

Recent proposals
Delegates from UEFA's 52 member associations will gather to debate UEFA proposals, which are designed with football's well-being in mind. UEFA's vision of its activities in the coming years and the European body's assistance programme are also up for discussion at what has now become an annual event, given the organisation's growing workload in the service of the game.

Consultation process
UEFA's proposals on the local training of players were unveiled earlier this year, following an extensive consultation process with all of the major stakeholders in European football. These regulations would apply to future UEFA club competitions, and UEFA has asked its associations to consider applying the same rule to their domestic tournaments.

Places reserved
Under the proposals, the 'A' list that teams submit for UEFA club competitions would continue to be limited to 25 players, and from season 2006/07, at least two places on this list would be reserved for players trained by a club's own academy with a further two places for players trained by other clubs from within the same member association. The 'B' list will also continue to exist, involving an unlimited number of Under-21 players who have been at the club for two seasons.

Target for 2008/09
In the following two seasons, one additional place for a club-trained player and one additional place for an association-trained player would be reserved on the 'A' list, so that by the 2008/09 campaign, each club would have in its 25-man squad four club-trained and four association-trained players.

UEFA's concern
UEFA is concerned that some clubs are not training enough of their own players, but simply taking them from elsewhere. The proposed measures have the objective of creating a better balance in domestic competitions, preventing clubs from simply 'hoarding' players in squads and creating a system whereby locally-trained players would be given a greater opportunity to play regularly in club sides - ensuring a large reservoir of talent for national teams.

Strategy and assistance
Delegates at the Tallinn Congress will also hear how UEFA views the coming years in terms of its overall strategy as European football's umbrella body. Over the past 15 years, UEFA has developed from a small administrative body into a modern business organisation dealing with sporting and commercial issues, and is now setting its course for the future amid football's ever-changing environment.

HatTrick update
An update will be given on the progress of UEFA's ambitious HatTrick assistance programme for its member associations and the overall benefit of the European game, in particular the grassroots. The HatTrick programme was launched in August 2003 and will continue until 2008. Its major objective is to assist UEFA's member associations with the funding of projects designed to develop and improve their football infrastructures.

Statutes amendments
Amendments to the UEFA Statutes will also be voted upon, including a proposal that the term of office of the UEFA President and current members of the UEFA Executive Committee be extended, on a one-off basis, by one year to 2007 and 2009 respectively.

Sake of conformity
For the sake of conformity with the election of the FIFA President on the one hand, and with the other continental confederations on the other, all elections - that is, elections of the UEFA President, members of the UEFA Executive Committee, FIFA vice-presidents and members of the FIFA Executive Committee - should be postponed by a year to odd-numbered years. notas_de_prensa_archivo