UEFA•direct – a window on to UEFA's work

Activities within UEFA and across the European football landscape are covered in comprehensive detail in the latest edition of UEFA•direct.

The monthly publication has been a cornerstone of UEFA's communications activities for several years and reflects the sterling work being undertaken by European football's governing body and its 54 member national associations.

In his editorial column, UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino underlines the ongoing campaign throughout Europe to eliminate racism in football, as well as the measures being taken against this negative phenomenon. "Action speaks louder than words," Mr Infantino writes. "And UEFA has acted. We will remain vigilant, as racism is a big problem in society that will not be cured overnight. Nevertheless, looking towards 2014, we can say that European football stands both united and proud, because we are at least playing our part and taking real, concrete steps to get rid of racism."

The UEFA Executive Committee's most recent meeting was held in Bilbao, Spain, and UEFA•direct looks at the discussions which took place and the decisions made for the well-being of the European game.

This summer in Brazil, 13 European countries are desperate to make history by becoming the first European team to win the FIFA World Cup on South American soil. UEFA•direct considers each of the European representatives, reviews their qualifying competition exploits and highlights the key players who will be out to make their mark in the final tournament.

A number of draws are dealt with. The World Cup final round draw in Costa do Sauipe, Brazil, in December divided the 32 contenders into eight groups, while all eyes turn to Nice, France, on 23 February and the eagerly awaited draw for the UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying competition, which begins later this year. UEFA•direct also covers the draw for the UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-finals and semi-finals, plus various draws in the European youth competitions.

Staying with youth football, the seventh UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship in England at the end of last year went into the history books as the first to involve eight teams, and UEFA•direct records how Germany claimed the title for a fourth time.

Europe's top futsal national sides travel to Belgium to contest UEFA Futsal EURO 2014 between 28 January and 8 February, and the spotlight falls on the host country and its excellent work to ensure that the event is a true sporting festival.

Women's football is also developing apace thanks to the splendid cooperation between UEFA and its member associations. In its latest edition, UEFA•direct focuses on Scotland and the benefits that substantial new Scottish government funding will give to the women's national team in their bid to qualify for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada.

UEFA•direct moves into new hands with this edition, and tribute is paid to senior publications manager André Vieli who has retired after 31 years. Vieli served UEFA in a variety of communications capacities, including the editorship and production of UEFA•direct and many other publications, writing and drafting communiqués, prefaces and speeches, and organising press conferences and media services for important UEFA events.

As usual, UEFA•direct includes a wealth of information from the national associations, with various FAs taking the opportunity to promote their activities, decisions and plans for the future, all of which have the good health of their domestic football at heart.

UEFA•direct – available in English, French and German – is a must-read publication for anyone wishing to keep in touch with UEFA and its broad palette of activities, as well as the efforts of the national associations not only to improve and nurture their own game, but also to contribute fully to European football's overall development.