Article 79 Media activities on the day before the match - Champions League

Regulations of the UEFA Champions League

Content Type
Competition Regulations
Category
Clubs
Subject
UCL
Edition
2024/25
Language
English
Enforcement Date
2 September 2024
79.01

Both clubs must make their training session on the day before the match open to the media for at least 15 minutes in accordance with the schedule agreed in advance with UEFA. The two training sessions must be arranged by the two clubs and UEFA together, so that the media can attend both. In principle, the visiting club holds its official training session in the stadium where the match will take place on the day before the match, unless otherwise agreed in advance with UEFA. Each club may decide whether the entire training session in question or only the first or last 15 minutes are open to the media. If a club decides to make only 15 minutes open, the club itself may film the entire training session for the exploitation purposes set out in the Club Media Rights Guidelines (see Annex G). No other media activities are permitted during the closed part of the training session. Should a club allow its own photographer to attend the entire training session (of which only 15 minutes are open to the media), the club photographer must provide UEFA, upon request, with photos which UEFA will then make available to the international media. If a club does not hold a full training session on the day before the match, alternative arrangements must be made in agreement with UEFA to provide the media with access to a minimum of 15 minutes of the team’s preparation (e.g. stadium walk-around). Training sessions on the day before the match may be broadcast live regardless of location, and clubs must provide facilities for such live broadcasts, including cable routes and parking for TV vehicles.

79.02

The clubs must communicate the times of their MD-1 press conferences and training sessions to UEFA and the opposing team via the TIME Platform no later than 12:00 CET on the Thursday prior to the match. Clubs must work together to coordinate the timing of their MD-1 press conferences and training sessions, so that the media are able to cover the activities of both teams and the relevant media deadlines are respected. In cases where clubs are unable to reach an agreement, the visiting club has first choice of timing for its press conference and training session, provided that these times are confirmed by the deadline set by UEFA. In the event of a dispute, UEFA’s decision is final. Clubs may only change their MD-1 plans on account of force majeure and with the agreement of UEFA. If both training sessions take place at the stadium, the clubs must ensure that there is a gap of at least 30 minutes between the end of the first training session and the start of the second. Training sessions that start earlier than scheduled must nevertheless be open to the media during the pre-advertised time frame.

79.03

The provisions of Paragraph 79.01 also apply if the away club holds its official MD-1 training session at its own training ground before travelling. In addition, when requested, the club must provide UEFA with high-definition footage of the open part of the training session. If in such cases the away club holds a walk-around at the stadium, this activity must be open to the media.

79.04

Each club must hold a pre-match press conference the day before the match. Each press conference must be attended by the head coach of the team and at least one player. If the head coach is suspended for the match, clubs have the option of making the assistant coach available for the pre-match press conference instead. The two press conferences must be arranged by the two clubs and UEFA together, so that the media can attend both. Press conferences must start between 12.00 and 20.00 local time. Exceptions to these timings must be agreed in advance with UEFA. Press conferences may be broadcast live regardless of location, and clubs must provide facilities for such live broadcasts, including cable routes and parking for TV vehicles.

79.05

The press conferences must take place in the stadium where the match will be played, unless the home club wishes to stage its press conference at its training ground. Visiting clubs must hold their press conferences at the match stadium. In exceptional circumstances, a visiting club may be permitted to stage its press conference in an alternative location, provided the arrangements are approved in advance by UEFA.

79.06

The home club is responsible for providing the necessary technical infrastructure and services at pre-match press conferences at the match stadium, as well as a qualified interpreter with a strong knowledge of football. If the press conferences are held in a location other than the match stadium, each club is responsible for providing the necessary technical infrastructure and services, including an interpreter, at its chosen location. Simultaneous interpreting facilities are mandatory for all press conferences. If a club organises additional pre-match media activities, such as a mixed zone, such activities may supplement but not replace the pre-match press conference.

79.07

Each club must make its head coach and one player available for interviews the day before each match as follows:

  1. The head coach and one player must be available for one interview each with the host broadcaster and the main visiting broadcaster.

  2. Two additional interviews must be provided to other audiovisual rights holders, provided that the overall duration of all interviews with any one player does not exceed 15 minutes.

  3. If either the host broadcaster or the main visiting broadcaster does not use its full quota of interviews, this opportunity passes to other audiovisual rights holders as determined by UEFA.

  4. The player(s) available for interviews must be confirmed to UEFA no later than 10:00 local time on MD-1.