Olsson: UEFA Cup on the up
Friday, December 15, 2006
Article summary
UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer Olsson has spoken approvingly of the resurgence in interest in the UEFA Cup in advance of today's Round of 32 draw in Nyon.
Article body
'Thrilling matches'
"The UEFA Cup group stage has given us some thrilling matches this season," said Mr Olsson. "The great variety of clubs and countries represented in this competition give it its lifeblood. In this year's group stage we have had some 40 clubs representing 19 European countries. It is precisely this colourful and diverse mix of teams that is helping to give the UEFA Cup the feeling of a true Thursday night rendezvous, right across Europe.
'Strong brand image'
"When you add to this the rebranded and increasingly used opening and closing TV bumper sequences, you begin to realise that we are building a strong brand image for this competition," the UEFA CEO added. "This season, for the first time, this will be further enhanced from the quarter-final stage onwards, when we add an element of central marketing for the media and TV rights. This will give us a main presenting sponsor, an official match ball supplier and on-screen credits."
Sporting values
Mr Olsson then stressed the importance of "sporting values", saying: "Paramount to maintaining this resurgence of interest in the competition is maintaining the sporting values and transparency of the game. Sporting values must always remain at the heart of what we do. Clubs, players, and officials should always be the principal ambassadors for the game, through their conduct on and off the pitch, and the respect of rules and of officials is vitally important if we are to set the right example for the football-playing generations of the future."
Solidarity
Mr Olsson welcomed what he described as a breakthrough in the area of solidarity between teams competing in UEFA's club competitions. "For the first time, revenue generated by teams in the UEFA Champions League will be redistributed to clubs who took part in the UEFA Cup - €8m will be shared among the 80 clubs that took part in the first round of the UEFA Cup this year. Solidarity is an important principle for us at UEFA. It means sharing revenue from the top of the football pyramid to those with less at the base. It is this principle of solidarity that keeps the football family together."
