Decision due on final day of Porto meeting
Wednesday, January 23, 2002
Article summary
UEFA's Executive Committee should decide the UEFA Champions League marketing contract on Thursday.
Article body
The UEFA Executive Committee concludes its two-day meeting in Porto, Portugal on Thursday.
Key items
Following the opening day of discussions, in which UEFA’s executive body approved the procedure for Friday’s EURO 2004™ qualifying competition draw, attention is now turning to the UEFA Champions League marketing agency contract and harmonised transfer periods throughout Europe.
Draw procedure approved
On Wednesday, the committee gave the green light for the procedure for the EURO 2004™ qualifying draw at Europarque in Santa Maria da Feira, Porto. The competition between September 2002 and October 2003 will involve ten qualifying groups of five teams each, with the final-round field in Portugal in summer 2004 narrowed down to the Portuguese hosts, the ten qualifying group winners and the five winners of play-offs between the ten group runners-up in November 2003.
Agency contract
Thursday’s deliberations include the issue of the UEFA Champions League marketing agency contract for the 2003/04 to 2005/06 seasons, on which the Executive Committee is likely to take a final decision.
Shortlist of two
Two bidders, IMG/TWI and Team Marketing AG, have been shortlisted for the agency contract. UEFA has given formal written notice to current partners Team Marketing AG that the existing agency contract will be terminated as of 30 June 2003.
Transfer windows
Another key agenda item is the creation of unified European transfer windows. The Executive Committee is being asked to approve an agreement reached by Europe’s major leagues at a meeting of UEFA’s Professional Football Committee in December.
Summer and winter
Under the agreement, two harmonised transfer periods would be introduced – in the summer, from the end of the domestic season to 31 August, and in the winter, from 1 to 31 January.
Calendar year
In the case of countries with seasons based on the calendar year, the summer period would start on 1 July and end on 31 August, with the winter period taking place between 15 December and 31 January.
