Futsal looks to the future

The programme has been finalised for the first UEFA Futsal Conference which takes place in Coverciano, Italy next week.

'The Future of Futsal'
The event, which runs from 26-28 November, will be the biggest ever gathering of European experts in the sport, with 49 of UEFA's 52 member associations represented. The conference, which has the theme 'The Future of Futsal in Europe', will review Futsal developments over the past year and look ahead to forthcoming events.

Guest speakers
Guest speakers will include Spain coach Javier Lozano, whose team are defending the 2003 UEFA European Futsal Championship next February, and the coach of Spanish club side Playas de Castellón, Faustino Pérez, whose team won the inaugural UEFA Futsal Cup earlier this year and are through to the finals of the 2003 event.

Expert contributions
There will be various expert contributions including from international Futsal referee Jyrki Filppu on the laws of the game and Croatian international Mico Martic on the players' perspective.

Discussion groups
There will also be numerous discussion groups and opportunities to gauge feedback from delegates. The final day will see UEFA Futsal committee chairman Petr Fousek touch on the key issues for the sport's development, before UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh reviews the conference.