UEFA•direct No138 out now

The ongoing campaign to eliminate match-fixing from football takes pride of place in the latest edition of UEFA's official publication UEFA•direct, which, as always, offers readers a comprehensive overview of recent events featuring UEFA, its national associations and other sectors of the European football community.

Combatting match-fixing has become a priority for UEFA, and the editorial column by UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino is unequivocal. "We are determined that this menace must gain no foothold in our sport," he says. "UEFA's approach towards match-fixing is well documented. As a governing body, we use the means at our disposal, be it through detection, education or prevention, in order to protect our competitions, our sport and our players and officials.

"This is our role, and we will remain true to our convictions to eradicate the scourge of match-fixing from football. We strongly believe that through more efficient communication and reinforced cooperation, UEFA, state authorities and law enforcement agencies can counter the match-fixing threat."

UEFA•direct has good news to report – the first gathering at UEFA headquarters of a new anti-match-fixing working group featuring ministers, legislators, regulators, prosecutors, police officials, Europol and gambling authorities. UEFA's commitment to stand at the forefront of the fight was also warmly greeted at a fruitful meeting in Nyon.

"UEFA is showing a very honest and committed attitude," said Miguel Cardenal, secretary of state for sport in Spain, "dedicating a lot of financial resources, collaborating openly with all stakeholders who have an interest in the subject. This is vital for defeating the greatest threat to sport in the 21st century."

The latest FIFA World Cup final round is here, and with the action in Brazil about to commence, UEFA•direct examines the reasons why a European team has yet to win the world trophy on South American soil, despite several close misses. "The Europeans will need that extra bit of fighting spirit," is UEFA•direct's viewpoint, "as well as a touch of luck on their side, if they want to lift the trophy on 13 July. It is not going to be easy, that is for sure, but it is not impossible either."

There was a genuine sense of occasion when the inaugural UEFA Youth League season culminated in a popular final round in Nyon. UEFA•direct   looks at "a weekend big on entertainment", as it says, which attracted 12,000 spectators to watch young players who may well be the headline-grabbing names of tomorrow.

Women's football has made sensational progress in recent years – now, UEFA is making a significant contribution to ensuring that more women take up senior positions within European football. UEFA•direct highlights the recent inaugural UEFA Women in Football Leadership Programme (WFLP) seminar. The programme looks to identify potential women leaders and is offering skills support.

European Commissioner for sport Androulla Vassiliou visited the seminar in Nyon, and gave her highly-valued support to UEFA's initiative. Norway has set a shining example with its own inclusion of women in football (and other) leadership positions, and UEFA•direct finds out the reasons from Karen Espelund, the first women to become a full UEFA Executive Committee member.

UEFA celebrates its 60th birthday, this month to be exact, and UEFA•direct  is covering each decade of the European body's sporting history. The latest edition looks back at the 1950s – a period of domination by a brilliant Real Madrid CF team which won five successive European Champion Clubs' Cups – and the birth of the European Nations' Cup for national teams.

FC Barcelona reclaimed the UEFA Futsal Cup – their second title in three years – in a dramatic final round in Baku, Azerbaijan, and UEFA•direct has the lowdown on a splendid tournament in which the decider went to extra time and confirmed the glowing health of European club futsal.

Meanwhile, the Irish Football Association (IFA) in Northern Ireland have recently launched an innovative child-protection tool in the form of a mobile application for smartphones – "a groundbreaking development in safeguarding," says UEFA•direct, "making it a world first not only in football, but in sport as a whole."

Powerchair football is providing sporting joy and social inclusion to many disabled people, and UEFA•direct throws its spotlight on the work of one of UEFA's partners in its Football for all Abilities portfolio, the European Powerchair Football Association (EPFA).

UEFA•direct – available in English, French and German – is essential reading for anyone who wishes to know more about UEFA and European football. The latest edition also includes the UEFA Grassroots Newsletter, which sheds fresh light on the work being carried out by UEFA and its national associations to tend the foundations of the game.