Former Celtic stars Henrik Larsson and Robbie Keane have been named on a new UEFA football board to be consulted on matters such as VAR and handball rules.
UEFA say the advisory body “will offer an institutional yet independent voice of experience and expertise on fundamental football-related topics”, with the first meeting scheduled for this Monday.
Members were selected based on their outstanding club or national team football achievements, impeccable international reputation and extensive experience.
The full 25-person list has some absolute legends of the game on it including Zinedine Zidane, Paolo Maldini and Philipp Lahm. It’s quite something that two former Celts are included.
Larsson was a genuine superstar at the Bhoys scoring an incredible 242 goals in 315 appearances. He is the greatest Celt of this century so far by a distance and one of the best ever to pull on the shirt.
Keane primarily made his name in England and with the Republic of Ireland but also had a short spell on loan at the Bhoys, netting an impressive 16 goals in just 18 appearances.
UEFA Technical Director and Chief of Football Zvonimir Boban will chair the first meeting of the board on Monday. He will be supported by Giorgio Marchetti, UEFA Deputy General Secretary and Director of Football, on competition-related topics and by UEFA Chief Refereeing Officer Roberto Rosetti on refereeing matters.
It is intended that the meetings will be an annual fixture in the UEFA calendar, but the members will also meet more often if necessary.
Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA President, 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!”
In other news, Premier League star Kaoru Mitoma on his 2021 Celtic option.
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