FA president interview: Tomislav Karadžić (Serbia)

Football Association of Serbia (FSS) president Tomislav Karadžić tells UEFA.com about the strides taken by his country in the last two years and his pride at the national team's achievements.

UEFA.com: Can you tell us what your association is doing to contribute to the campaign against racism and intolerance in football?

Tomislav Karadžić: Serbia is an ethnically diverse country and that's why everyone involved in Serbian football is really conscious how important this question is. It is an ongoing task and we are working really hard at it. I think we have achieved good results and we have to remember football can rise above all ideas of racism and nationalism. We can be satisfied and our evaluation is very positive, because we've put in a big effort to suppress this problem. We have lots of activities against racism and we also have our fair play week, so I think our association is on top of this issue. At the same time, we are conscious we have to be very careful and keep an eye out for any issues, because things can always be improved.

UEFA.com: Tell us about the FSS's grassroots activities.

Karadžić: The FSS' biggest input is in the amateur arena. There are 2,200 clubs in Serbia, and almost 95% of them are amateur. It is a big spread which needs a lot of effort, but our results are impressive. We have lots of young footballers, our teams are playing all around Europe and every year we organise lots of tournaments. Every week, people all over Serbia are playing or watching football, and our country can be proud of our amateur leagues. Maybe I shouldn't say this, but I think our amateur set-up is probably one of the best in the region. I am on the UEFA Youth and Amateur Committee, so my mission is to offer my experience in this field and to hear how it works around Europe. Amateur football in Serbia has very good prospects, and that's a great base for the future development of the game in our country.

UEFA.com: The UEFA HatTrick programme provides infrastructure assistance to national associations – how has the FSS benefited from this?

Karadžić: Alongside the work of the FSS, the HatTrick programme has had a big impact on our infrastructure. We have already built nearly 40 mini-pitches around Serbia; we have just signed a contract with the sports ministry and with a Norwegian Government donation we are planning to build another 60. This is going to be one of our best investments, and should be finished by the end of the year. It is going to give young people an opportunity and help them avoid the dangers of the modern world. Youngsters can find motivation through sport.

In the suburbs of Belgrade we are building a huge sports centre with the help of UEFA and FIFA. This is going to be a historic investment for Serbian football. By the end of 2010 it will be completed and we will all be very proud. The project takes in six pitches, floodlights, an athletics track and all the other requirements for footballers of every age and level. They contributed €3m which is a huge amount and with their backing, our government also became a partner. Everyone in Serbia – footballers, youngsters, and the rest of the nation – would like to say thank you to UEFA and FIFA for supporting this project.

UEFA.com: What are doing to promote to the idea of respect in football?

Karadžić: I took part in the UEFA congress that introduced this idea and we fully understand all the messages from the president. These messages were forwarded to all the FSS institutions and we are already working in accordance with them. Alliance, tolerance and respect are the ongoing challenges – we are working well towards this and can already see the results of some specific activities. For example, we have started to promote an ethical code of behaviour in football. This is going to be mandatory for all individuals, groups and clubs. I am sure that we will have the support of all the interested parties in football.

UEFA.com: Can you tell what your plans and objectives are for Serbian football on the international stage?

Karadžić: Our objectives are high, and I hope they are realistic because they are based on data from our programmes with which we have adjusted our sights. Plans formulated two years ago are now being realised. These included qualification for the World Cup in South Africa and drastically updating our infrastructure. We have made big steps in improving our national championship and are very ambitious. The nation has fed off our success and football has probably become the most popular sport in Serbia. We have restored authority and trust – during the World Cup qualifiers, our biggest stadium was sold out in two days. The capacity is 50,000 and only a couple of years ago it was impossible to sell all the tickets.

With the World Cup, we are trying to remain calm and not raise expectations too high. Qualification was like winning the World Cup for us, and we go to South Africa not just to take part, but to play good football. We are all pulling together to put up a good show: the ball is round so anything is possible, but we have already won our most important match. We don't want to put pressure on our team so we don't have any specific goals.

Afterwards, we have to ready ourselves for UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying. We have a young team – the average age is 24 – and it is a chance to take another step forward. We know that the national team is like a locomotive which pulls along all the clubs and the whole nation. It's a big opportunity to take part in two big tournaments inside two years and fulfil the expectations we have. We will do everything we can to achieve good results, playing good football in the spirit of fair play. These are the FSS goals and therefore mine as well, since I am the president. But I am just part of the team. Working together, I hope we can have a good World Cup, continue to improve our infrastructure and our national championship.