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UEFA diary: January

/noticias.info/ uefa.com chief writer Mark Chaplin casts an eye back on what happened within European football's governing body during 2006.

24 January
A comprehensive independent review of European football, with UEFA's involvement, is expected to be completed by May. The review will focus on how the European football authorities, European Union (EU) institutions and member states can best implement the Nice Declaration on the specific characteristics of sport at a European and national level. UEFA's Executive Committee hears at its meeting in Nyon, Switzerland that the review will report, among other things, on the central role of the football authorities to govern football in harmony with the EU institutions and member states; the overseeing of the ownership/control and management of clubs; and levels of expenditure on players, considering the financial stability or instability and concentration of wealth among clubs at both international and national level.

In another matter discussed in Nyon, UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer Olsson says that global solutions needed to be sought on issues such as possible payment for the release of players to national teams, and insurance while on duty - especially if players are injured representing their countries. "I think there is a general view that if players had had a proper insurance, we probably wouldn't have had cases in the courts," Mr Olsson says.

26 January
The presidents of the Austrian and Swiss football associations promise that the UEFA EURO 2008™ finals will be a treat for all concerned. Austrian Football Association president Friedrich Stickler and his Swiss Football Association counterpart Ralph Zloczower say they are both determined that the finals will be a great showcase for their nations. "Both countries stand for a healthy world and boast excellent food, wonderful lakes and beautiful mountain panoramas," said Stickler. "We want to organise an event that is perfect in every respect," added Zloczower.

UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer Olsson speaks of a need for better control of players' agents and their activities. Mr Olsson says the necessity for monitoring agents is particularly urgent because many of the agents were handling huge financial amounts, or not conducting themselves in the proper manner. "There are agents that are behaving properly, and doing a good job, but there are also agents who are not," he explains.

27 January
UEFA President Lennart Johansson believes UEFA EURO 2008™ in Austria and Switzerland can be even more successful than the final round in Portugal in 2004. Speaking at the UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying draw ceremony in Montreux, Switzerland, Mr Johansson says there is an "obligation and responsibility" to make UEFA EURO 2008™ the best European final tournament ever. "As you know, the 2004 UEFA European Championship final round in Portugal set new standards," the President explains. "The bar has been set high for Switzerland and Austria, but we are sure that it can be raised even further in 2008."

28 January
UEFA's 52 member associations express their support to UEFA and the world body FIFA in defending rules on the release of players for national teams. The presidents and general secretaries of the member associations pass a resolution after discussions on two court cases that have commenced in Charleroi (Belgium) and Lyon (France). These cases involve challenges to a long established and broadly accepted FIFA ruling, which stipulates that clubs must release players to play for the national team and that clubs are not entitled to be paid for doing so. "It is obvious that this rule is essential for the proper running of international competitions such as the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Football Championship," says UEFA in a statement. "Furthermore, the rule is also a clear expression of sporting and financial solidarity in football." notas_de_prensa_archivo