A new UEFA panel will see Gareth Bale reunited with his former Real Madrid managers Zinedine Zidane, Carlo Ancelotti, and Rafael Benitez.
On Monday, UEFA will host a summit where a group of well-known football legends based in Europe will come together to provide their expert opinions on important topics in the game of football, such as VAR and handball. They will be urged to prioritize the protection of the sport.
The UEFA football board has been joined by a group of 24 individuals which includes renowned coaches such as Zinedine Zidane, Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho, and Gareth Southgate, as well as former players like Gareth Bale, Paolo Maldini, Luis Figo, Rio Ferdinand, Philipp Lahm, Michael Laudrup, and Robbie Keane.
UEFA names its new panel
The board, which consists entirely of men, will convene for the first time at UEFA’s European House of Football headquarters on Monday.
European football’s governing body said the group will “give an institutional yet independent voice of experience and expertise on fundamental football-related topics”.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said: “UEFA is delighted to see that the very ones who have shaped the game’s history with their talents and philosophy through decades are gathered again around our common goal – to protect the game of football and its essential values. As we always say: football first!”
Ceferin is campaigning for clarity on football’s handball rules, having recently described the law as “really obscure”.
“No one understands it any more,” Ceferin said. “So we really need a conversation here, finding solutions and clarifying some issues.”
According to him, the football board will address the issue, which was confirmed to be on the agenda for their meeting on Thursday. The board will also discuss other topics including the video assistant referee system, but player behavior, and medical issues. UEFA announced that the meeting on Monday will be chaired by Zvonimir Boban, their technical director and chief of football, who is not a member of the newly formed board.
UEFA football board members: Jose Mourinho (Portugal), Carlo Ancelotti (Italy), Zinedine Zidane (France), Paolo Maldini (Italy), Fabio Capello (Italy), Javier Zanetti (Argentina), Luis Figo (Portugal), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Ronald Koeman (Netherlands), Gareth Southgate (England), Rio Ferdinand (England), Michael Laudrup (Denmark), Rafael Benitez (Spain), Roberto Martinez (Spain)
Predrag Mijatovic (Montenegro), Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany), Rudi Voller (Germany), Petr Cech (Czech Republic), Juan Mata (Spain), Robbie Keane (Republic of Ireland), Patrick Vieira (France), Henrik Larsson (Sweden), Eric Abidal (France), Gareth Bale (Wales).
