UEFA Research Grant programme flourishes

The UEFA Research Grant Programme – designed to support the valuable work of doctorate and post-doctorate researchers on European football – continues to attract considerable interest.

By shedding new light on football and the myriad ways in which it interrelates with society as a whole, quality research can help the members of the European football family to fulfil their mission. Research proposals from various disciplines – economics, history, law, management, political sciences, sociology and, from this year, medical sciences – may be submitted for consideration by the UEFA Research Grant Jury.

The second edition of the programme has seen an increasing number of researchers from across the European football family submit applications. By the deadline, 48 applications originating from various countries throughout Europe's academic community had been received – showing great interest in the programme. Indeed, this year's new topic, medical sciences, contributed to the high number as more than 15 applications covered fields such as physiology and sports pedagogy.

Three steps will now be taken as part of the selection process. The UEFA administration will review all the applications to select the ones that could best contribute to European football. These selected files will then be reviewed by the grant jury in order to nominate a shortlist of projects. Finally, the jury will meet again in early June in Nyon to discuss and award four to six projects grants of up to €20,000 each.

The chosen projects will aim to help the European football family make better informed decisions.