33rd Ordinary UEFA Congress in Copenhagen 03 11 ... - UEFA.com

UEFA-pjwoods.chThe president,Michel Platini,presentedUEFA’s guidingprinciples.cast (strategic financial outlook) forthe period from 2008/09 to 2013/14,as presented by the UEFA general secretary,David Taylor, remains positive.Under the financial part ofthe agenda, the 2007/08 accountsand 2009/10 budget were approved.Brief reports on the activitiesof the UEFA standing committeesduring the period under review werepresented, in video form.Information was also providedabout the HatTrick programme,which moved into its second cycle(2008–12) last year.HatTrick II has three components:an investment programme,solidarity payments and an educationDanny Jordaan updated the congresson preparations for the FIFA World Cupin South Africa.programme. Each national associationcan apply for EUR 2.5 million forinvestment projects and a maximumof EUR 1.3 million per year by wayof solidarity payments. In addition,EUR 25 million is reserved for education,which includes KISS, the Knowledgeand Information Sharing Scenario.Since HatTrick II got under way, 47investment projects have been approvedfor a total amount of EUR 50 million.The most awaited moment ofthe afternoon was, of course, the electionsfor the UEFA Executive Committee.These were followed by the nominationof four honorary members.UEFA-pjwoods.chd i n g p r i n c i p l e ssport brings to society as a whole.And it is also because the strength offootball lies in its grass roots that wehave to preserve the local, regionaland national identities of our game,always in accordance with the law.6 ● Youth protectionand educationAs governing body ofEuropean football, UEFA has both asporting and a moral responsibility.The international transfer of minorsentails many risks. Let’s not forgetthat players under the age of 18 arechildren or adolescents. We want toprotect the future of children in footballand stop them being uprootedto foreign countries when they aremuch too young.7 ● Sporting integrity and bettingBetting is a source of fundingbut also a risk for football, especiallyto the integrity of competitions. It isonly right that football obtains its fairshare of income from betting. However,our primary focus must continue tobe a total commitment to protectingsporting integrity and the properrunning of our competitions, in orderto preserve the spirit of our game.8 ● Financial fair play andregularity of competitionsUEFA supports fair play bothon and off the pitch. Financial fairplay means that clubs operate transparentlyand responsibly, to protectboth sporting competition and theclubs themselves. Financial fair playmeans clubs not getting into a spiralof debt to compete with their rivalsbut rather competing with theirown means, i.e. the resources theygenerate.9 ● National teams and clubsNational team and clubfootball are vital and complementaryelements of football. UEFA will remaincommitted to ensuring that this balanceis maintained and even strengthened,as the development of ourgame at national, European and internationallevel depends on it.10 ● RespectRespect is a key principleof football. It implies respect forthe game, integrity, diversity, dignity,players’ health, rules, the referee, opponentsand supporters. Our message isclear: zero tolerance of racism, violenceand doping. Football unites people andtranscends differences. The colour ofthe skin is invisible under the jersey andfor UEFA this will always be so. Racismand any other forms of discriminationwill never be tolerated. UEFA will nottolerate violence either on the pitch orin the stands. Football must set anexample.11 ● European sports model andspecificity of sportUEFA is a European body andwe remain totally committed to theEuropean model of sport, a model characterisedby promotion and relegation,the solidarity principle, as well as opencompetitions and opportunity for all.This is what sport – and especially football– is all about. We have to protectthis model because sport is not a businesslike any other and we cannot allowit to be treated as such. We will continueto defend the specificity of sport andare convinced that our arguments willprevail for the good of football.05