UEFA President visits Skopje

UEFA President Michel Platini has visited the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), where he witnessed the country's developing football infrastructure in person and held talks with government and football leaders.

On his arrival in the capital Skopje on Friday, Mr Platini was welcomed by the president of the Football Association of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FFM), Ilcho Gjorgjioski, general secretary Dimitar Zisovski and national teams' sporting director Petar Miloshevski.

The UEFA President was present at the ceremony marking the official opening of the FFM's House of Football and national training centre, built within three years with financial support which included funding from UEFA's HatTrick assistance programme. The FYROM government also contributed to the project through financial aid and provided the free location for the base.

The first such football complex in the country is located alongside the river Vardar in Skopje's Aerodrom municipality and consists of two administrative buildings, one 3,000-seater mini-stadium, eight dressing rooms and three grass pitches, two of which are artificial surfaces. The training centre will house all of FYROM's national teams, from youth to senior level.

The ceremony was attended by the FYROM Prime Minister, Nikola Gruevski, representatives of the city of Skopje, senior UEFA officials, veterans of FYROM football and other dignitaries. During the proceedings, a grassroots event was held involving 100 children aged between eight and ten, who enjoyed the opportunity to shake hands and have their photographs taken with Mr Platini.

Addressing the ceremony, the UEFA President said: "I am very happy to be here again. I was here a few years ago when the construction of the project started and I am especially glad to see a wonderful House of Football and an amazing football centre."

The FFM president thanked UEFA and Mr Platini for their contribution to the work, emphasising that "it would have been impossible to build such a complex without UEFA's assistance". Mr Gjorgjioski also announced that the next project planned by the FFM in collaboration with UEFA through its HatTrick scheme is the construction of ten artificial pitches across the country "which will greatly enhance the training conditions for all football generations".

Mr Platini underlined the intention of UEFA and its member associations to protect the game from racism, doping, violence and match-fixing. "If you attend a match when you know the result beforehand, the thrill is lost," said the UEFA President. "We have the best sport available and we should all unite in order to protect it from such negative phenomena."

Mr Platini's second official visit to the Balkan country continued with talks with Nikola Gruevski at the Prime Minister's office. Both parties agreed that "aiming young people towards sport should remain one of the priorities in society, as this is the best way to prevent modern risks and to build healthy values and competitive spirit within the young population". Mr Platini greeted the FYROM government's investments as "a great example of support for sport by politicians".

Mr Platini, along with other senior UEFA officials, then joined FFM senior staff for an official meal and detailed discussions on further cooperation between European football's governing body and the association. To conclude his visit, Mr Platini attended the FIFA World Cup qualifying match between FYROM and Belgium at the National Arena Filip II Macedonian.

The 32,580-seater stadium has been developed into a modern sports venue following reconstruction work two years ago, with UEFA having given significant financial aid for the project.