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UEFA diary: February

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

1 February
Racism is an evil that must be challenged and eliminated from the game - but firm, united action is needed from the entire football community to put across the message that intolerance and discrimination have no place in the sport. Delegates at the pan-European uniteagainstracism conference in Barcelona hear a common clarion call from UEFA, senior Spanish political figures, action groups, non-governmental organisations and former professional footballers for the campaign against racists to take on fresh impetus throughout Europe, with football acting as a catalyst to change and educate minds. Football must use its popularity as a uniting force against racism. "We have to get inside minds of racists, particularly the intelligent ones, to educate people and change their attitudes," says UEFA CEO Lars-Christer Olsson. "Sport can help to bring about change - let's not just kick racism out of football but out of society as a whole."

2 February
UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer Olsson calls for the football community to put dialogue ahead of conflict and court battles to help solve problems within the game. Mr Olsson expresses the view that to seek agreement in other ways than legal proceedings would be in the general interests of football, and would show respect for fans and football's institutions. "A referee is, understandably, needed to settle disputes on the field, but off the field, is it necessary to go to court every time there is a conflict of interest between different parties in the game?" he asks. "Wouldn't it be wiser and in the general interest of our game to seek agreement through dialogue?"

8 February
Player agents, the structure of UEFA club competitions and the forthcoming independent review of European football are all on the agenda at the latest meeting of the European Club Forum at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. "We feel the discussions have been positive," says UEFA professional football director Giorgio Marchetti. "We have tried to stimulate the clubs' participation in the discussions. We are eager to find solutions that will benefit the whole of the football family, and agreements between UEFA and the clubs will bring more stability."

22 February
An independent review of European football is launched in London, with the brief of carrying out a widespread examination of issues that affect the game - with all members of the football family and fans being invited to have their say on how the sport should look in the future. The review will focus on how the European football authorities, European Union (EU) institutions and member states can best implement the 2000 Nice Declaration on the specific characteristics of sport at a European and national level. In the declaration, European governments call on EU member nations to take account of sport's social, educational and cultural functions.

Legal, political and financial experts 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; ownership, control and management of clubs; and levels of expenditure on players, the financial stability or instability and concentration of wealth among clubs at both international and national level. "We fully welcome this report - the timing is perfect," says UEFA CEO Lars-Christer Olsson. notas_de_prensa_archivo