Zagreb: The UEFA launched its Football for Schools program in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Tuesday. The organization described it as 'an exciting new initiative for school children across Europe' in a tweet.
"Getting children to play and enjoy football is a crucial element of Union of European Football Associations's vision - and the body's new Football in Schools program will take this vision an important step forward," Union of European Football Associations said in a statement.
The UEFA will invest $48 million in grassroots football in Europe, of which $12 million will be dedicated to developing and improving football in educational institutions.
The program was launched on Tuesday at a special festival held in Republic Square in Ljubljana, coinciding with the start of the Union of European Football Associations Executive Committee meeting.
In that meeting, the hosts of the finals of various Union of European Football Associations competitions will be designated.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and several former football stars, including retired Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo, held an exhibition match at the festival together with school children from Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, and Slovenia. IANS