UEFA makes more grassroots recruits

Three more UEFA member associations have joined the UEFA Grassroots Charter. The general secretaries of the Armenian, Azerbaijani and Cypriot football associations signed the charter at a ceremony in Nyon, Switzerland, attended by UEFA President Michel Platini and UEFA General Secretary David Taylor.

Would-be members
Altogether, 33 UEFA member associations are now members of the Charter, and another nine associations are in the pipeline to join. The charter was created in 2004 and is an endorsement of national associations' grassroots programmes. UEFA's work centres on encouraging and supporting the associations in reinforcing their grassroots activities.

Basic criteria
Signing the charter means that a national association satisfies certain basic minimum criteria. Associations enter with basic one-star status, and additional stars are given in relation to specific grassroots areas – for example, women's and girls' football, social programmes including disability football, number of participants, and the promotion of grassroots football. Up to seven stars are possible under the endorsement scheme.

Source: uefa.com