UEFA tribute to loyal football servants

Tuesday night's dinner to mark the XXXIII Ordinary UEFA Congress in Copenhagen on Wednesday gave UEFA the opportunity to honour a number of people who have given loyal and devoted service to football.

Amicale des Anciens
Several European football officials were welcomed into the UEFA circle known as the Amicale des Anciens. To qualify for membership, a person must have served on UEFA committees for at least 12 years.

Long-serving officials
The long-standing officials honoured on this occasion were: Jim Boyce (Northern Ireland), David Collins (Wales), Jacques Liénard (France), Michal Listkiewicz (Poland), Vlatko Marković (Croatia), Volker Roth (Germany) and Rudolf Zavrl (Slovenia).

UEFA Order of Merit
The UEFA Order of Merit has also been awarded to several individuals who have dedicated their talents to the good of the game. The UEFA Order of Merit may be presented to any person who has served the cause of football throughout his or her life and who, through their personal involvement or contribution, has helped bring about particularly meritorious moments in the game, its development or history. The award – in diamond, ruby or emerald – may also be bestowed posthumously.

The Order of Merits announced in Copenhagen:
Ruby
Leszek Rylski (Poland)
Victor Ponedelnik (Russia)
Emerald
Eduard Malofeev (Belarus)
Ante Pavlović (Croatia)
Sir Bobby Robson (England)
Eddie Barry (Northern Ireland)
† Nodar Akhalkatsi (Georgia) – posthumously, and accepted by his son, the current president of the Georgian Football Federation, Nodar Akhalkatsi, in the name of his father.