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UEFA•direct 142 – out now

The latest edition of UEFA's official publication looks at the UEFA EURO 2020 hosts' announcement, three key conferences across Europe, and UEFA and European football in the 1990s.

UEFA•direct appears in English, French and German
UEFA•direct appears in English, French and German ©UEFA

Key football conferences this autumn take pride of place, along with the road to UEFA EURO 2020, in the latest edition of the official UEFA publication UEFA•direct, which opens the window on a wealth of activities within UEFA and European football.

The magazine looks in particular at three recent major events – the UEFA Respect Diversity Conference in Rome, the UEFA/EU Stadium and Security Conference in Warsaw, and the FIFA/UEFA Conference for National Coaches and Technical Directors in St Petersburg.

Over 200 delegates, including UEFA President Michel Platini, attended the Rome diversity summit, to hear the steps taken within the game to eliminate racism, intolerance and discrimination, and the action being taken in an educational sense to help combat these negative phenomena.

UEFA•direct highlights the keynote speech given by Mr Platini. "Football is an extraordinary example of social mixing and diversity of all kinds," he said. "From the most insignificant kickabout in the suburbs to the bright lights of a UEFA Champions League final, the diversity of football – as a reflection of globalisation – is overtly displayed together with all the challenges it poses and the opportunities it offers. The very fact that football has such a huge public following means that it has a duty to convey values that can help to make society more tolerant of diversity. It has to set an example." Sound words from an event that once more underlined that racism has no place in football or society.

In Warsaw, the safety and security of everyone at football matches was emphasised in this traditional start-of-season conference which is attended by police authorities, UEFA security officials, national associations and clubs taking part in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. Security planning for the latter two competitions and the UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying competition were on the agenda.

The security conference underscored the need for football authorities, public authorities and police to work together in close harmony. An integrated approach to the central concerns of safety, security and service was encouraged, along with sharing of best practices and the establishment of multiagency partnerships across public and football authorities at all levels. UEFA•direct reports from the Polish capital on a successful gathering where it was agreed that the game of football must take centre stage as it deals with a wide variety of security issues.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil provided a feast of fine attacking football, and European winners in Germany – the first team from this continent to lift the world title on American soil. The aim of the St Petersburg FIFA/UEFA event was to cascade the knowledge gained from the World Cup down through the game. UEFA•direct reveals how Germany's coach Joachim Löw assessed his side's triumph. "It was not about the coach; it was about the squad," he insisted. "It was not about players; it was about a team. And it was about the team behind the team. My job was essentially to put together the pieces of a puzzle and create a harmonious picture."

The path towards the "EURO for Europe", UEFA EURO 2020, was opened wider in Geneva in September, and UEFA•direct reviews the unveiling of the 13 cities that will host matches at this most unique of EURO final rounds, which celebrates 60 years of the competition into the bargain. UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino, in his editorial, praises UEFA EURO 2020 as "a EURO for football lovers across the continent ... more than just a competition".

The UEFA Executive Committee chose the 2020 host cities following its meeting the previous day, and the outcome of its deliberations in Switzerland – including the selection of club final venues in 2016, a new UEFA Youth League format and new procedures for players suffering concussion – are covered in detail.

UEFA's 60th birthday this year has brought a series of UEFA•direct articles charting each decade of UEFA history. The latest edition takes us back to the 1990s, a decade of political change and far-reaching commercial developments in the European game. Another article shows how deaf footballers are benefiting from UEFA support to the European Deaf Sport Organisation (EDSO). Research projects backed by UEFA are producing interesting insights – UEFA•direct showcases a range of research projects funded by the UEFA Research Grant Programme.

UEFA•direct – available in English, French and German – is essential reading for anyone wishing to know more about UEFA and European football.

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