Great news for European Futsal: the UEFA Executive Committee approved yesterday in Gleneagles (Scotland) the extension from 8 to 12 teams for the European Futsal Championship 2009 Final Round.

The Final Round in Porto in 2007 remains with 8 teams.

Below you can read the official press note released by UEFA


Media Release

22/05/2006

Communiqué aux médias No. 061
Medien-Mitteilung

UEFA Executive Committee Gleneagles decisions

Independent European Football Review at heart of discussions
The UEFA Executive Committee has sent its strongest signal yet, ahead of the public presentation of the Independent European Football Review tomorrow in London and Brussels, that it is expecting the review to send out a clear and decisive message to both the political and sports worlds about the potential way forward for a working partnership that will be for the benefit of both.
Speaking after the meeting today, held at Gleneagles in Scotland, UEFA President, Lennart Johansson, said:
“The Independent European Football Review initiated in Leipzig on 8th December 2005 under the auspices of the UK’s Presidency of the EU, and endorsed by the EU Sports Ministers of France, Germany, Italy & Spain, as well as current and future EU Presidencies, and by UEFA and FIFA, is a unique opportunity for football to work with politicians, national governments and the European Commission in a joint approach on some of the biggest issues facing the game that we have seen for many years.
“We are convinced that at the heart of the issue is the need for the specificity of sport to be recognised concretely by the political world and to allow the legitimate role of sports governing bodies to govern their own sport.
“Football is unique in transcending race, gender, colour and creed, and can be used at a political level to aid in improving social inclusion and healthy lifestyles. At the same time we are aware that on a number of issues, such as club financing and salary caps, regulation of agents, ownership of football clubs, protection against match-fixing and corruption and protection of minors, football is in need of the assistance of the EU institutions and national governments.
“We will examine the report in detail once it is issued, but we are convinced that this is a major opportunity for the sport and that by working in tandem, sport and politics, we can help to rid football of many of the excesses and bad habits into which it has fallen over the past decade. This is a window of opportunity, one that we must grasp.”
UEFA also announced that it will make contact with Commissioner Rossi in Italy concerning important issues regarding Italian football clubs competing in European club competitions and the bidding process for UEFA EURO 2012™.
In other decisions taken today the Executive Committee decided to:
Approve the proposed introduction of a European Women’s Under-17 Championship that would act as qualifying for the FIFA Women’s Under-17 World Cup 2008
Approve the recommendations for working together with the Leagues and FIFPro Panel concerning anti-racism measures
Approve the regulations for, the UEFA Super Cup 2006, the European Under-21 Championship 2007-09, the European Futsal Championship 2007
Approve the increase of the size of the final tournament of the Futsal Championship from eight to twelve teams in 2009
Continue with tests of the referee communication system, following positive feedback.
For further information:
UEFA Media Services: ++41 848 04 27 27



Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com