Sandu re-elected in Romania

Mircea Sandu was re-elected for a fourth term as president of the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) on Thursday.

Overwhelming support
Of the 114 clubs and football associations that were present in Bucharest, 99 had delegates, and all of them voted in favour of Sandu. When he became president for the first time in 1990, Sandu was 38-years-old and the youngest man ever to undertake the role: his reign coinciding with the national team’s most successful period.

Disappointing results
In a difficult year to digest for fans reared on a 1990s golden era, Romania failed to reach the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the first time they have failed to qualify for a final round since 1986. FC Steaua Bucuresti did not reach the UEFA Champions League, and no Romanian teams involved in the UEFA Cup made it beyond the second round. The Under-21 team did not reach the finals of the UEFA European Championships either.

‘Involved more directly’
As a result, Sandu promised to be involved more directly in the problems of Romanian football, saying "Since today I'll involve myself more directly in the internal football problems. Everybody must understand that football must be played only on the field. It is necessary to convince the fans that I'll take the necessary measures to ensure order is restored in Romanian football."