On Wednesday, January 30, Ukraine got five stars status on European football union (UEFA) Executive Committee within the borders of mass football charter.

One of the first
Executive Committee charter was taken in 2004. Ukraine was one of the first countries who joined it. The executives of the organization want UEFA members to understand that when signing the charter federations as though enter one big club where they can share the experience and get the help from European football union.

Motivation and support
«The idea of the charter is to stimulate the development of mass football by the National Associations, − UEFA technical director Andy Roksburg denotes. − The task of European football Union is to guarantee the federations motivation and support in this aspect. The Charter is directed on the activation of the development of mass football in National Associations, it has to become an instrument which will touch the political administrative and technical level of the game».

On a par with England
The National Associations which join the charter get one star after that they get more stars for mass and children-youth football development. An Association can get up to seven stars and it will mean that there is a deep approach to the politic of mass football development. Up to now only England, Germany, Netherlands, Scotland and Norway had five stars status. Finland joined them together with Ukraine. Denmark got four stars. Russia, Switzerland, Ireland and Nothern Ireland, Wales and Malta got one star status.

Quantity and quality
The second star was given to Ukraine for its social programs in mass football. In particular, it is cooperation with the country within the borders of social rehabilitation through introduction of football into the prisons for minors; the competitions for people with mental defects and limited abilities. The third star mirrors the quantity of constant participants of mass football competitions − 664 433. The forth one reflects the number of women who take part in mass football − 38 667 (5,8%).

Five stars is not a limit
At last the fifth star was given for mass football measures and progress in the quantity of the participants. UEFA marks the tournament «Leather ball» for of 10-13 years (295 084 registered participants) and girls of 13-14 years (3 200), the football festival of village pupils − boys and girls of 14-17 years − «Lets present a joy to the children!» (75 000), and also «The tournament of 1000 teams», which envelops Kharkiv region (1 224). The progress in the number of participants in the mass competitions is 0,2% − from 1,2 of the total number of inhabitants in 2003 to 1,4 at present.