Aigner's Christmas message

By UEFA Chief Executive Gerhard Aigner

2001 has certainly been a full and busy year, both on the field and around the conference table. Among the outstanding events worthy of mention were, to name but a few, the launch of two new competitions (UEFA Women's Cup, UEFA Futsal Cup), the negotiations concerning international transfers, the Congress and the Conference of Presidents and General Secretaries in Prague, not forgetting all the other UEFA competitions and all manner of courses, conferences and seminars, and the meetings of our committees and panels.

Intense activity
This intense activity did not fall off towards the end of the year. Far from it. The Executive Committee just held, in December, a meeting of particular significance in which a number of major decisions had to be taken concerning the UEFA Champions League, namely the future format, the agency that will negotiate the commercial rights, and the venues for the finals of our club competitions in 2003. These decisions already thrust us into the future, as will the draw for the EURO 2004™ qualifying competition in January in Oporto, Portugal, which will set the match calendar for the national teams for the upcoming two years.

Tragic events
Of course all of these events have been overshadowed by the terrible and tragic events of 11 September in the United States, which also had their own impact on all of us. A lot has happened since then and football has also had to move on, but we will never forget these events. As we remember and look forward, let me nevertheless take this opportunity, in the midst of our hectic schedules, to thank once again those who contribute so much to the success of European football and who have once again made 2001 another special year for the game. I hope that your passion for football will continue undiminished and that together we can enjoy a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2002.