FAQ
Friday 1 July 2005
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uefa.com's frequently asked questions (FAQ) section is designed to answer the questions you - the users - ask most often and deals with both football related issues and basic navigational queries.
COEFFICIENTS (associations, clubs, access list)
• Calculation system
The allocation of places per association for both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup is made in accordance with a table of performances covering the previous five UEFA club competition seasons (ie. UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup).
This table (UEFA association coefficient rankings) is compiled annually, with the oldest season dropped each time for the purpose of the calculation. The table is compiled as follows: two points for a win (one point for qualifying round matches), one point for a draw (half point for qualifying round matches) and no points for a defeat.
Qualifying round results are taken into account only for the calculation of the association’s coefficient.
Until the 2003/04 season, clubs which reached the quarter-finals, semi-finals or final of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup were awarded an extra point for each round. In addition, one point was awarded for participation in the UEFA Champions League.
From the 2004/05 season, clubs which reach the first knock-out round, quarter-finals, semi-finals or final of the UEFA Champions League or the quarter-finals, semi-finals or final of the UEFA Cup are awarded an extra point for each round. In addition, three points are awarded for participation in the UEFA Champions League.
Results obtained in the UEFA Intertoto Cup do not count for the coefficient rankings determining the number of places in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup.
The points obtained each season by the clubs representing a national association are added, then divided by the combined number of clubs from the said association having taken part in the two UEFA club competitions in question to produce the coefficient value of the national association concerned. Points obtained in the UEFA Intertoto Cup are exempt from this stipulation. Coefficients are calculated to the thousandth, and not rounded up.
Points are awarded only for matches which have actually been played, in accordance with the results ratified by UEFA. Kicks from the penalty mark to determine which club qualifies or to determine the winners of a tie do not affect the actual result of the match.
• Club coefficient
The club coefficient, which is used for seeding purposes is made of the number of points obtained by the said club in the three UEFA club competitions over the last five seasons plus 33 percent of its national association coefficient. Qualifying round matches are not taken into account as far as individual club performances are concerned.
• Access list
The access list determines how many clubs per country will enter a club competition and at which stage.
Places in the UEFA Champions League are allocated as follows:
- title-holders
- three associations with four participants each
- three associations with three participants each
- nine associations with two participants each
- and the remaining associations with one participant each
Places in the UEFA Cup are allocated as follows:
- title-holders
- two associations with four participants each
- 12 associations with three participants each
- three associations with one participant each
- remaining associations with two participants each
- three clubs on the basis of UEFA’s Fair Play assessment
- as well as three clubs from the UEFA Intertoto Cup
- the 16 clubs eliminated in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, which join the UEFA Cup in the first round
- and the eight clubs which finish the first group stage of the UEFA Champions League in third place in their group, which join the UEFA Cup in the third round.
CLUB LICENSING
UEFA and its member associations are working closely on a club licensing system aimed at ensuring a greater stability within European football. In order to obtain a license which is compulsory in order to play in European competitions, clubs have to fulfil various administrative, financial, sporting and juridical criteria as well as proving adequate infrastructures.
The objectives of this system are multiple:
- promoting and improving sporting standards
- increasing the focus on the training and care of young players
- strengthening the economic and financial capacity of clubs, increasing their transparency and credibility, and placing the necessary importance on the protection of creditors
- adopting sporting infrastructures to future requirements so that spectators and the media can visit well-appointed, well-equipped and safe stadia
- improving the quality of the administration in club football; and providing the necessary help, support and education to the national associations, leagues and clubs operating the licensing system.
By being in line with such standards, clubs should be further protected from financial burden that could lead them to bankruptcy.
FAIR PLAY
• Definition
The idea of playing a game fairly and treating an opponent in a sporting manner is one of the finest elements to be found in any sport. In fact, it was sport that gave birth to the now widely used expression and concept of fair play. It remains as vital an ingredient of our sport today as it ever did, and most spectators would agree that only a fair match can be an entertaining one.
The concept of fair play can be broken down into the following principles, which apply as much to the players as to other individuals connected with the game:
- The Laws of the Game and the regulations of the various competitions must be respected.
- Every effort should be made to behave in a sporting manner towards opponents, referees and any other persons involved in matches, such as spectators, officials of other clubs and associations, and representatives of the media.
- Anyone else involved in matches should be encouraged to behave in the manner outlined above before, during and after a match, irrespective of the result of the match and the decisions taken by the match officials.
• Assessment
Conduct according to the spirit of fair play is essential for the successful promotion and development of and involvement in sport. The objective of activities in favour of fair play is to foster a sporting spirit, as well as the sporting behaviour of players, team officials and spectators, thereby increasing the enjoyment of all those involved in the game.
In its efforts to promote fair play, UEFA establishes association fair play rankings for each season, based on all matches played in all UEFA competitions (national representative and club teams) between 1 June and 31 May. In establishing these rankings, only those associations whose teams have played at least the required number of matches (total number of matches assessed divided by the number of associations) are taken into account.
For this purpose, fair play conduct is assessed by the appointed UEFA match delegate. In reward for the fair play example they set, a maximum of three associations which attain a previously-defined standard (average of eight points or more in the rankings) each receive one additional place in the UEFA Cup of the next season. These additional places are reserved for the winners of the respective domestic top-division fair play competition. If the winners of the domestic top-division fair play competition in question have already qualified for a UEFA club competition, the UEFA Cup fair play place goes to the highest team in the domestic top-division fair play rankings which has not already qualified for a UEFA competition.
Following the game which he or she has been appointed to observe, the delegate is expected to complete a Fair Play assessment form, in consultation with the referee and the referee observer. The referee confirms with his signature that he has discussed fair play aspects with the delegate.
• Methods of assessment
The assessment form identifies several criteria for the evaluation of the fair play performance of the teams:
Red and yellow cards (deduction from a maximum of ten points) Yellow card, one point
Red card, three points
Positive play (maximum of ten points)
Positive aspects
- attacking rather then defensive tactics
- acceleration of the game
- efforts to gain time, eg. bringing the ball quickly back into play, even when in a winning position
- continued pursuit of goals, even if the desired result has already been achieved
Negative aspects
- deceleration of the game
- time-wasting
- tactics based on foul play
- play-acting, etc.
Respect of the opponent (maximum five points)
- helping an injured opponent
Respect of the referee (maximum five points)
- positive attitude towards the referee
- acceptance of doubtful decisions without protest
Behaviour of team officials (maximum five points)
- calming or provoking angry players or fans
- acceptance of the referee’s decisions
Behaviour of the crowd (maximum five points)
- encouragement of teams by shouting, singing, etc., in accordance with the spirit of fair play
- respect of the opposing team, of the referee and of the opposing supporters
Overall assessment
- The overall assessment of a team is obtained by adding up the points given for the individual components, dividing this total by the maximum number of points and multiplying the result by ten. - The maximum number of points per game generally equals 40. If, however, a given team is being supported by a negligible amount of fans, and the item 'Behaviour of the crowd' is not being assessed as a result, the maximum number of points obtainable will be 35.
- The general assessment should be calculated to three decimal points and not rounded up.
ISRAEL MEMBERSHIP
According to the UEFA Statutes, in exceptional circumstances, a national football association that is situated in another continent may be admitted for membership, provided that it is not a member of the Confederation of that continent, or of any other Confederation, and that FIFA approves its membership of UEFA.
Due to the tense political situation in this particular part of the world in the beginning of the 1990s, Israel asked for its affiliation to UEFA. Its clubs were not given the chance to participate in club competitions under the umbrella of the Asian Football Confederation as most of the Arab countries objected to meeting Israeli teams. In an effort to contribute to the development of football and to give an opportunity to as many people as possible to enjoy the game, the UEFA Executive Committee decided to accept the affiliation request.
This was done in three steps:
- 19 September 1991 in Montreux, Switzerland: Admission of teams from Israel in European Clubs competitions.
- 19 September 1993 in Cyprus: The UEFA Executive Committee agrees on a provisory admission of the Football Association of Israel (IFA).
- 28 April 1994 in Vienna, Austria: The UEFA Congress agrees on a definite admission of the IFA to UEFA.
CUPS & MEDALS
A challenge cup engraved with the name of the winners is presented to the winning club for one year. A scaled-down replica of the trophy is awarded to the winners. The challenge becomes the property of any club which wins the trophy three consecutive times or five times in total.
In total, 25 gold medals are presented to the winning club and 25 silver medals to the runners-up. Additional medals may not be produced.
TICKETING
With the exception of matches in the UEFA EURO 2008™ final tournament, UEFA only sells tickets for the finals of its club competitions. These tickets are sold through UEFA’s website as of around three months prior to the respective final game.
Tickets for any other games should be bought from the home club for local and neutral supporters, respectively from the visiting club for visiting supporters.
All clubs in the UEFA club competitions must make at least five percent of the total capacity of their stadium available exclusively to visiting supporters, in a segregated, safe area.
The price of tickets for supporters of the visiting club may not exceed the price of tickets of a comparable quality that are sold to supporters of the home club.
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