UEFA•direct No137 out now

Kazakhstan and its capital Astana welcomed the European football family recently for the 38th Ordinary UEFA Congress, and the latest edition of UEFA•direct looks back on a fascinating week of events. The official UEFA publication also begins reviewing 60 years of UEFA history and European football.

The Congress – European football's annual parliament – was notable for the emergence of a blueprint for a new UEFA Nations League for national teams, the announcement of the establishment of a new UEFA children's foundation, and a UEFA programme to set up football academies for talented youngsters. In addition, UEFA's 54 member associations reinforced their contribution to the fight against match-fixing by approving a resolution for the integrity of football.

"Who would have thought," said UEFA President Michel Platini in a speech that marked UEFA's 60th anniversary this year, "when UEFA was established 60 years ago, that this venerable institution would be holding its 38th Ordinary Congress in this beautiful country and this young capital city?"

UEFA•direct covers the Astana Congress and Michel Platini's powerful address in detail.

UEFA was born on 15 June 1954, bringing to fruition the plans and visions of a group of European football pioneers for a strong European umbrella body to take the game forward on this continent. With UEFA 60 years young in 2014, UEFA•direct looks at the road to the birth of the organisation, and its first fledgling steps after its founding.

One of UEFA's primary objectives is to share knowledge across the broad palette of the European game, and the Executive Master in European Sport Governance (MESGO) is one such activity – giving sports organisation managers and staff invaluable training, and the opportunity to exchange knowledge and pursue personal development. Seventeen MESGO graduates were joined by the United Kingdom's former world champion hurdler Colin Jackson at the latest graduation ceremony in Nyon, with UEFA•direct also there to report on proceedings.

The two major UEFA club competition finals are almost upon us. UEFA•direct takes us to Lisbon and Turin, where the climaxes to the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League seasons will take place, and gives the lowdown on both of these football-mad cities, as well as what fans can expect when they go there for two eagerly-awaited showpiece occasions.

Malta is gearing up for the UEFA European Under-17 Championship final round, which starts this week, and the small Mediterranean island is ready to stage a tournament which showcases the young stars of tomorrow. The Malta Football Association (MFA) is staging its biggest ever tournament, and senior association officials tell UEFA•direct about their excitement.

Another national association enjoying exciting times is the Faroe Islands Football Association (FSF), and the association's ambitious national stadium development project comes under the UEFA•direct microscope as it reaches fruition.

UEFA's Football for All Abilities portfolio gives deserving partner bodies the chance to promote and develop their activities. This month, the UEFA•direct spotlight falls on the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA), and its outstanding work on behalf of blind and partially sighted football players.

UEFA•direct – available in English, French and German – is essential reading for anyone who wishes to know more about UEFA and European football. This month's edition also includes UEFA.Medicine Matters, the official UEFA medical publication.