Some of football’s leading coaches, including Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti and Roma’s Jose Mourinho, will meet as part of a new Uefa advisory board. The Uefa football board also includes high-profile former players such as Italy legend Paolo Maldini and ex-Wales forward Gareth Bale.
Its first meeting will be on Monday, 24 April. The agenda includes the video assistant referee (VAR) system, handball and player behaviour. Uefa says the board is “designed to give an institutional yet independent voice of experience and expertise on fundamental football-related topics, including the laws of the game, refereeing, match calendar, elite youth development and player well-being”. England manager Gareth Southgate, former England defender Rio Ferdinand and former Liverpool and Everton boss Rafael Benitez are also part of the new body.
European’s football governing body said the “members were selected based on their outstanding club or national team football achievements, impeccable international reputation and extensive experience”. “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,” said Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin.