By Andrew Warshaw
October 17 – Football conferences dealing with the most pressing issues in the world game have sprung up virtually all over the globe in past decade.
Some have more credibility and clout than others, but there’s only place to be on November 7 and 8: in the backyard of FIFA’s Zurich headquarters at the Dolder Grand hotel.
That’s where you will find a galaxy of the game’s movers and shakers convening for the latest annual International Football Arena (IFA) conference, a two-day programme covering a range of subjects that are bound to get tongues wagging given the knowledge, breadth of subject and strong opinions of the football business brains taking part.
Ever since 1999, the IFA has attracted an increasing number of influential speakers in the football industry, not just in Zurich but, for the past four years, at satellite events round the world, notably Asia.
Handpicked decision makers from clubs, leagues, associations, sponsors, agencies and media congregate for cutting-edge information and high-level networking.
This year’s conference is arguably the most enticing of the lot, kicking off with a trademark introduction by Marcel Schmid, the IFA chairman, in conversation with the second most important man in world football, FIFA general secretary Jérôme Valcke (pictured).
Valcke would be the first to admit that this has not always exactly been a smooth year either for himself personally or for FIFA.
With the conference taking place a mere fortnight after the announcement of Sepp Blatter’s eagerly awaited anti-corruption reforms, he will know that every word he utters will quickly be transmitted round the world.
The first main session of the first day is a debate on women’s football, a subject often ignored by grassroots football fans as well as the media but one that is hugely topical.
This summer’s Women’s World Cup in Germany was regarded by everyone involved – cynics included – as a huge success, with high attendances, compelling matches and more global interest than arguably any women’s event in the past.
The session is followed by the themed “Football from craze to madness – an insider’s view on the European leagues”.
Sandro Rosell, President of Barcelona, and Umberto Gandini, director of AC Milan, both take part, prominent voices within the European Club Association.
Their views on the increasingly fractious club-versus-country row in European football are not to be missed and they will be joined on the podium by Nic Coward, general secretary of the Premier League, Loïc Féry, President of FC Lorient, Philipp Hasenbein, managing director SPORTFIVE and Paris de l’Etraz, Professor IE Business School who will add an academic touch to the proceedings.
Hardly a day goes by when the Brazil 2014 World Cup is not in the news and Marcos Motta, partner of RBMF Advogados and a former director of Flamengo, will discuss the marketing opportunities for the most successful nation in World Cup history.
He will be followed by the latest appearance of Alexei Sorokin (pictured), the public face of Russia’s successful 2018 World Cup bid and now chief executive of the local organising committee.
Having overcome the first hurdle of actually winning the bid, Sorokin will draw on that experience as well as relate how the World Cup will change the face of the first eastern European country to stage the tournament.
In the final session of the first day, Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay will explain how the club are exploiting the Asian market – and further beyond – in order to keep pace with rivals at home and abroad.
Gourlay will no doubt be steeling himself too for questions about UEFA’s financial fair play (FFP) rules and how the club plans to tackle them.
Many conferences miss out on arguably the game’s most important ingredient, the fans.
Not this one.
The second day begins with Cathy Long, head of the Premier League’s supporter services discussing the relationship with fans.
Following Long on to the podium will be John Barrow, senior principal at highly respected architects Populous, discussing how best to maximise revenue streams from building new stadiums, one of the exemptions made by UEFA under their FFP rules and a route likely to be taken by a string of clubs over the next few years.
Solar power in football, a new and relatively untapped subject, comes next before the conference wraps up with the latest Euro 2012 progress report from Martin Kallen, UEFA’s operations director.
Kallen has never been afraid to speak his mind and on more than one occasion has admitted that some areas of planning were behind schedule in Poland and Ukraine.
How close are both countries now to meeting operational and infrastructural deadlines?
Find out when Martin winds up a varied and high profile list of speakers and topics.
IFA Zurich 2011 takes place on November 7th and 8th at the Dolder Grand Hotel, Zurich.
To find out how to attend please click here.
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