Hungarian FA president visits UEFA

The new president of the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ), Sándor Csányi, has visited UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Mr Csányi, who was elected president of the Hungarian association in July, was accompanied by his vice-president Sándor Berzi and MLSZ general secretary Márton Vági. Talks with the UEFA president Michel Platini and UEFA national associations director Theodore Theodoridis centred, among other things, on the assistance being given to the association as part of the UEFA HatTrick programme, and the development of football in Hungary.

"It's an important moment to visit UEFA, as a new president, as we are at the beginning of creating new structures in Hungarian football," Mr Csányi told UEFA.com. "We have a lot of plans to develop Hungarian football, and for us, the support we receive from UEFA is important." Hungary is one of 53 UEFA member associations being given crucial sporting and infrastructure assistance as part of the UEFA HatTrick scheme for the overall well-being of the European game. The MLSZ is grateful for UEFA's help.

"With UEFA's support, we have built a modern training centre in Budapest which is vital for the national teams and the youth education programme," said Mr Csányi. "We have also built new headquarters to help us work efficiently. The help is also giving us the chance to educate referees and coaches. Our relationship and cooperation with UEFA is very strong."

In Hungary, football is the most popular sport, and the country's fans are keen to see both the national team and club sides flourish at a European level, emulating the distinguished Hungarian teams and players of the past. Off the field, the MLSZ is working together with the national government to ensure that visiting football stadiums is a family experience and free of safety and security issues.

Hopes are high for the future, as Mr Csányi explains: "Now we are restarting the Bozsik youth development programme [named after József Bozsik, the great Hungarian player and winner of more than 100 caps for his country], and it is working well. We think we can raise the level of our youth football.

"We would also like to increase the number of registered players from 130,000 to around half a million, and involve more and more people, especially young people, in football. As for the national team, I hope that we will be taking part in the [FIFA] World Cup in 2014 and [UEFA] EURO 2016."