Grassroots Charter members rise

Seven European national associations have either joined or had their membership of the UEFA Grassroots Charter upgraded by the UEFA Executive Committee at its most recent meeting in Venice.

The decisions were as follows:
Kazakhstan: one-star membership of the charter for fulfilling basic Grassroots Charter criteria.
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: two-star membership (one additional star for social and disability football).
Italy: three-star membership (two additional stars for registered participants and social and disability football).
Czech Republic: five-star membership (two additional stars for promotion and growth, social projects and disability football).
France: five-star membership (four additional stars for registered participants, promotion and growth, social projects and disability football and women and girls participation).
Turkey: five-star membership (two additional stars for women and girls participation and promotion and growth).
Wales: six-star membership (sixth star for a highly developed grassroots programme).

UEFA is motivating and supporting its associations in reinforcing grassroots programmes, and signing the charter means a country has satisfied certain minimum criteria, affording them entry at foundation level.

The top echelon of the UEFA Grassroots Charter is premier level, for associations with the full complement of seven stars. Stars are awarded in relation to excellence in specific grassroots areas, such as social projects including disability football, number of participants, nurturing of women's and girls' football, and promotion of the grassroots game.