Rome Congress and 2020 hosts - UEFA Direct 183 out now

An impressive display of European football unity at UEFA’s recent Congress; the excitement and anticipation of UEFA EURO 2020 host cities Bucharest and Glasgow; and the excellent progress of UEFA’s newest member association Kosovo take pride of place in the latest edition of UEFA Direct.

UEFA’s official magazine runs the rule over events at UEFA’s 43rd Ordinary Congress in Rome last month, when Aleksander Čeferin was re-elected as UEFA President for a new four-year term, pledging that European football would remain “respectful, respectable and respected”.

In Rome, UEFA also unveiled its new strategy for 2019 to 2024 – which promises a bright and prosperous future for European football. UEFA Direct provides the details of this ambitious programme to keep football the most played, trusted and engaging sport across this continent.

While looking at the future, UEFA Direct also pays a warm tribute to one of UEFA’s past pioneers – Pierre Delaunay, the body’s second general secretary (1956-59), who died in February at the age of 99.

UEFA Direct records the positive relations between UEFA and the European Club Association, who signed a new memorandum of understanding in Rome in February – and the spotlight falls on ECA chairman Andrea Agnelli, who tells us in a wide-ranging interview that “I was born a football fan”.

Bucharest (Romania) and Glasgow (Scotland) will both be proud hosts of three group games and one round of 16 match at the UEFA EURO 2020 finals, and UEFA Direct conveys their sense of excitement. Romanian Football Federation (FRF) president Răzvan Burleanu hopes that Romania will carve out a lasting legacy with its contribution to the finals, while Scottish Football Association (SFA) chief executive Ian Maxwell says that the matches will celebrate Scotland’s passion for football as part of a festival that everyone can enjoy.

Leaving behind a difficult past, Kosovo has experienced a true football revolution since being admitted to UEFA as its 55th member association in 2016. An in-depth analysis by UEFA Direct shows how a wealth of talented young players should guarantee a bright future – which has already seen Kosovo earn promotion from League D to League C as winners of their group in the UEFA Nations League.

The introduction of VAR (video assistant referees) is underway in UEFA’s competitions, starting this spring with the UEFA Champions League knockout phase. UEFA chief refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti tells UEFA Direct about the advantages of the system and how it is being implemented.

Elsewhere in UEFA Direct 183

• UEFA’s latest club licensing and benchmarking report reveals healthier club finances
• Georgia's Slovakian coach Vladimir Weiss on his career and coaching philosophies
• 100 years of the Polish Football Association (PZPN)
• News from the UEFA member association

UEFA Direct 183 is available to read in digital format in English, French and German