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UEFA in 2022: Part 1 – meeting challenges and defending values

The first part of our review of UEFA’s activities in 2022, from January to June, looks back at UEFA’s response to ongoing challenges – while taking decisive action in respecting football's essential values.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin addresses the Ordinary UEFA Congress in Vienna in May
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin addresses the Ordinary UEFA Congress in Vienna in May UEFA via Getty Images

JANUARY

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) gives strong backing to UEFA in a resolution firmly opposing, among others, super league breakaway plans.

Football changes lives – and brings joy
Football changes lives – and brings joyUEFA

The 2020/21 UEFA Foundation for Children Activity report shows the power of football to change lives despite the adversity brought about by the ongoing pandemic. The report highlights stories from children around the world who have benefitted from an array of UEFA Foundation projects.

UEFA commits to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040 and a 50% reduction by 2030 as part of the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action Framework.

FEBRUARY

UEFA says in a statement that it “shares the international community’s significant concern for the security situation developing in Europe and strongly condemns the ongoing Russian military invasion in Ukraine.”

The UEFA Executive Committee decides on 25 February to relocate the 2021/22 UEFA men’s Champions League final on 28 May from Saint Petersburg (Russia) to the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

UEFA also says that it will fully support stakeholders’ efforts to ensure the provision of rescue for football players and their families in Ukraine, and decides that Russian and Ukrainian clubs and national teams taking part in UEFA competitions will be required to play their home matches at neutral venues until further notice.

UEFA Futsal EURO 2022: Goals of the Tournament

Portugal capture their second successive UEFA Futsal EURO title, defeating Russia 4-2 in the final in the Netherlands.

FIFA and UEFA decide together on 28 February that all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or club teams, will be suspended from participation in both FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice.

UEFA releases its latest annual club licensing benchmarking report on European club football – highlighting the unity and solidarity shown by the European football community in confronting various recent challenges.

MARCH

Declarations of interest in hosting UEFA EURO 2028 and 2032 are received from four potential bidders: Russia, Türkiye and UK/Republic of Ireland (potential bids for 2028) and Italy, Russia and Türkiye (potential bids for 2032).**

** UEFA subsequently ruled in May that the potential Russian bid to stage the men’s EURO in either 2028 or 2032 was ineligible.

As UEFA and its South American counterpart CONMEBOL strengthen their long-standing partnership, the two continental confederations reveal that London’s iconic Wembley Stadium will be the setting for the inaugural ‘Finalissima’ – featuring UEFA EURO 2020 winners Italy and CONMEBOL Copa América 2021 champions Argentina – on 1 June.

The UEFA Women's EURO in England draws closer  – as shown here in London
The UEFA Women's EURO in England draws closer – as shown here in London Getty Images

With 100 days to go until the UEFA Women's EURO 2022 kick-off in England on 6 July, tickets are made available to the general public. Over 350,000 of the more than 700,000 tickets available have already been sold during pre-sale and the public ballot window.

Huge global TV audiences, record crowds and a big thumbs-up from the players all point to the success of this season’s inaugural group stage in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Following on from new FIFA rules introduced for players from Ukrainian and Russian clubs, UEFA decides to allow clubs to register a maximum of two new eligible players for the remaining matches in the current European competitions.

The UEFA Executive Committee decides that all Belarusian clubs and national teams taking part in UEFA competitions must play their home matches at neutral venues with immediate effect, and that no spectators will be allowed to attend matches in which the teams from Belarus feature as host.

The UEFA Foundation for Children’s board of trustees allocates the 2022 UEFA Foundation Award of €1m to help children in Ukraine, as well as child refugees in neighbouring countries.

APRIL

The UEFA Executive Committee approves new UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Sustainability Regulations. “The evolution of the football industry, alongside the inevitable financial effects of the pandemic, has shown the need for wholesale reform,” says UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.

In addition, the Executive Committee approves the allocation and distribution criteria of the UEFA EURO 2024 club benefits programme, in which €240m is to be made available to clubs who have contributed to the successful staging of all UEFA's national team competitions by releasing players for those matches.

Benfica celebrate winning the 2021/22 UEFA Youth League
Benfica celebrate winning the 2021/22 UEFA Youth LeagueSportsfile

Benfica emphatically seal a first-ever UEFA Youth League triumph – the Portuguese outfit beating Austrians Salzburg 6-0 in the final in Nyon.

Barça reclaim the UEFA Futsal Champions League trophy in Riga as the Spaniards avenge their 2021 final defeat by Portugal’s Sporting CP.

Five nominees – Belgium, Germany, Moldova, Scotland and Spain – are chosen as winners of the 2021/22 UEFA Grassroots Awards.

MAY

Addressing UEFA’s 46th Ordinary Congress in Vienna, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin hails European football's united response to the various challenges faced by the game during the last two years. He expresses the firm belief that football will continue to provide proof that "a different world is possible, a world of resilience and hope, in which not everything is dictated by power, profit or cynicism".

Increased funding to develop football across Europe
Increased funding to develop football across EuropeAFP/Getty Images

UEFA announces at the Vienna Congress that €935m will be allocated to the sixth cycle of UEFA's highly successful HatTrick development programme (2024-28) for payments to Europe’s national associations. This represents an increase of 21% (€160m) from the €775m available for the HatTrick V cycle (2020–24).

European Commission (EC) vice-president Margaritis Schinas welcomes UEFA's decision to base access to its post-2024 European club competitions on open competition and sporting merit only – describing European football as a "leading success story" of the European sports model.

Amid the ongoing FIFA/UEFA suspension of Russian national teams and clubs, UEFA decides that Portugal will replace Russia at Women’s EURO 2022, while the Russian bid to stage the men’s EURO in either 2028 or 2032 is ruled ineligible.

Real Madrid’s single-goal victory over Liverpool in Paris gives them the UEFA Champions League title – the Spanish club’s 14th success in European club football’s premier competition.

UEFA commissions an independent report into the events surrounding the UEFA Champions League final in Paris, which saw many fans caught up in distressing scenes. The comprehensive review will examine decision-making, responsibility and behaviours of all entities involved in the final.

Frankfurt's celebrations after winning the UEFA Europa League final
Frankfurt's celebrations after winning the UEFA Europa League finalUEFA via Getty Images

Frankfurt win their first European trophy for 42 years. The German side overcome Scotland’s Rangers 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the UEFA Europa League final in Seville.

Italians Roma defeat Dutch rivals Feyenoord 1-0 in the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League final in Tirana to clinch their first-ever major European trophy.

Women's Champions League – top ten goals of the season

The UEFA Women’s Champions League title goes to Lyon, who dethrone Spain’s holders Barcelona with a 3-1 success in Turin to win the competition for the eighth time.

UEFA approves the final format and access list for its club competitions as of the 2024/25 season. No more access will be granted on the basis of club coefficients, and eight matches will take place instead of ten in the new UEFA Champions League group phase. “We are fully committed to respecting the fundamental values of sport and to defending the key principle of open competitions, with qualification based on sporting merit, fully in line with the values and solidarity-based European sports model,” says UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.

Germany beat Spain on penalties in Sarajevo to clinch the European Women’s Under-17 title for the eighth time in 13 editions.

The Olympiastadion in Berlin – seen here in the colours of the UEFA EURO 2024 logo – will stage the tournament final on 14 July 2024
The Olympiastadion in Berlin – seen here in the colours of the UEFA EURO 2024 logo – will stage the tournament final on 14 July 2024Getty Images for DFB

The UEFA Executive Committee approves the match schedule for the UEFA EURO 2024 final tournament, which will take place across ten cities in Germany from 14 June to 14 July 2024. The opening game will be staged at the Fussball Arena in Munich, and the final will be held at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.

The Executive Committee also approves the first dedicated women’s football licensing regulations – designed to help professionalise women’s football clubs, support youth player development and protect the integrity of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

UEFA and the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 hosts, the English Football Association, release the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Impact Report, confirming that the competition in July is on track to be the biggest women’s European sport event in history.

Dutch football legend Clarence Seedorf joins the UEFA Foundation for Children's board of trustees. “He has continually used his experiences to help make the world a better place for others,” says UEFA President and board chairman Aleksander Čeferin.

JUNE

UEFA’s latest Annual and Financial Reports both offer timely reminders of how the European body applies the values of the European sports model at all levels of the football pyramid, and reinvests 97.7% of all UEFA revenues back in the game at all levels.

UEFA issues an apology to all fans caught up in the events at May’s UEFA Champions League final in Paris, and outlines terms of reference for the independent review commissioned after the match.

Action from the inaugural 'Finalissima' between Italy and Argentina at Wembley
Action from the inaugural 'Finalissima' between Italy and Argentina at WembleyUEFA via Getty Images

Reigning South American champions Argentina prove too strong for European counterparts Italy with a 3-0 success in the inaugural UEFA/CONMEBOL ‘Finalissima’ at Wembley.

The European and South American football confederations UEFA and CONMEBOL launch new intercontinental events – the scope of their close co-operation increasing to include ‘Finalissimas’ for women’s football, futsal and youth football.

England claim their second UEFA European Under-19 Championship title, coming from behind to beat Israel 3-1 in Slovakia.

France also overcome a deficit to defeat holders Netherlands 2-1 in Israel and take the European Under-17 title for the third time

In the Czech Republic, Spain score a late winner to give them the European women’s Under-19 crown by the odd goal in three against Norway.