UEFA•direct 146 out now

The UEFA Youth League – which came to an exciting conclusion last week – the UEFA Futsal Cup finals, due at the end of the month, and an unpredictable UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying competition are three of the topics to take the spotlight in the latest edition of UEFA's official publication UEFA•direct.

Nyon's Colovray Stadium welcomed four teams packed with talented youngsters hoping to make the senior grade in the years to come, with English outfit Chelsea FC clinching the UEFA Youth League trophy in a five-goal final against Ukraine's FC Shakhtar Donetsk. In his editorial column, UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino welcomes the competition's positive impact.

"The positive effect is not exclusively in relation to the development of youth talent and the commitment that clubs now have to this development," says Mr Infantino. "It is also because the competition has allowed more exchanges between youth players from different clubs off the field, while providing additional competitive international experience on it.

"But the tournament also delivers additional benefits. As in youth national team competitions, games in the UEFA Youth League are a platform from which to further promote our team education programme by teaching over 1,300 players about integrity."

Lisbon hosts Europe's futsal club summit between 24 and 26 April, and UEFA•direct looks at the four teams contesting the trophy: hosts Sporting Clube de Portugal, holders FC Barcelona, 2013 champions Kairat Almaty and newcomers ISK Dina Moskva. For Kairat's Brazilian forward Joan, the finals cannot come quickly enough. A winner of the UEFA Futsal Cup in 2007 and 2013, Joan would relish lifting the trophy a third time. "You feel you are writing your name in the history of this great game," he says. "Then you feel crazy joy and immeasurable happiness."

The road to France and the UEFA EURO 2016 final tournament is proving to be a bumpy one for some of the more fancied countries, as they are facing stern challenges from less-heralded opposition. UEFA•direct looks at the situation in the various groups, and confirms that there is everything to play for between now and the end of the qualifying competition in November.

A new Respect Fair Play awards system will come into operation next season. Instead of winning places in the UEFA Europa League, winning associations will be awarded prize money to be allocated to fair play or respect-themed projects in their respective countries. UEFA•direct highlights the new system and explains why UEFA has decided to put it in place.

The benefits of UEFA's international development tournaments for male and female Under-16 players are manifold – in particular as a means of young players gleaning invaluable international experience on their career paths, as well as learning about other countries and cultures. "Seeing the impressive numbers of national associations involved in this programme and speaking to the national team coaches, UEFA is delighted to see that it is reaching its main targets," UEFA•direct reflects. "It is complementing the elite youth player pathway across Europe, offering more international experience to talented young players (…) The tournaments also allow coaches to provide players with important game time and education as tailor-made presentations on the dangers of match-fixing have also been introduced for these specific age categories in order to reinforce UEFA's policy on integritry in football."

UEFA's relationship with its 54 member associations includes a mutual desire for excellence and quality, and UEFA•direct covers the latest KISS Marketing Awards, in which associations are rewarded by the European governing body for the calibre of their marketing and promotional programmes. A new book by former UEFA chief publications editor André Vieli reviewing UEFA's eventful 60-year history is promoted – and the national associations give their usual insights into events and activities at domestic level.

UEFA•direct is published in English, French and German, and is essential reading for anyone interested in UEFA's activities and competitions, and the sterling work undertaken by its 54 member associations